-the In... - Puretaboo - Aaliyah Love- Kristen Scott

“Your father,” the lawyer had said gently, “left the lake house to Irene. And to Chloe… a monthly trust, accessible after she turns twenty-five, or upon Irene’s written consent.”

“Why did you marry him?” Chloe finally asked. “If he was a monster?”

Irene descended slowly, each step deliberate. “This is where I kept you safe, Chloe. When Richard was drinking. When he would come home and look at you the way men look at things they want to break. You don’t remember, do you?” PureTaboo - Aaliyah Love- Kristen Scott -The In...

But she did not throw the key away. The next morning, Irene found a note slipped under the front door.

Chloe’s hands trembled. She heard footsteps above. “Your father,” the lawyer had said gently, “left

Chloe walked past her, up the stairs, through the kitchen, out the back door. She did not look back.

“I was hoping you’d find it,” Irene said softly. “I was hoping you’d come down here. So we could finally talk.” Chloe backed against the cold stone wall. “What is this place?” “This is where I kept you safe, Chloe

Chloe had not slept in the east bedroom since she was seventeen — since the night she heard the floorboards creak outside her door and saw Irene’s silhouette pause, then continue down the hall.

Irene’s mask cracked — just for a second. “Because he had you. And I couldn’t save you from the outside.”

Irene stood at the top of the stairs, still in her gallery coat, rain glistening on her hair.