“Feeling better, sweetheart?” Laura asked, concerned.

Emma nodded, quickly hiding the envelope behind her back. “Yeah, a little.”

Laura approached and brushed a strand of hair from Emma’s face. “I’m glad. You had me worried this morning.”

Emma forced a smile, feeling the weight of the envelope heavy in her hands. Her mother moved past her, hanging her coat up, blissfully unaware of the morning’s events. Emma’s heart pounded, each beat echoing the urgency of the secret she held.

“Mom,” Emma blurted out before she could stop herself, “Can we talk?”

Laura turned, noticing the seriousness in Emma’s eyes. She nodded and gestured toward the living room. “Of course, honey. What’s on your mind?”

They settled on the couch, the envelope now nestled in Emma’s lap. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Something happened today while you were at work.”

Laura’s brow furrowed with concern. “What do you mean?”

Emma hesitated, the words tangled in her throat. But she knew she had to tell her. “Aunt Caroline came by. She… she put this in your coat and made a phone call. It sounded… wrong.”

She handed the envelope to her mother, watching as Laura’s expression shifted from confusion to alarm. With trembling fingers, Laura opened the envelope and pulled out a stack of photographs and a small, handwritten note.

Laura sifted through the photos, her face growing paler with each one. They were pictures of her, some taken at work, others at home, all without her knowledge. The note was brief but unsettling: “Make the call tonight, or else.”

Laura’s breath caught in her throat. The implications were clear, and a sense of betrayal washed over her. Her sister, her own flesh and blood, was involved in something insidious—something that could ruin her life.

Emma watched her mother’s face, fear gnawing at her insides. “What do we do, Mom?”

Laura set the photos down, wrapping an arm around Emma. She swallowed hard, her mind racing as she pieced together the few clues she had. “We need to go to the police, Emma. Whatever this is, your aunt can’t get away with it.”

Emma nodded, finding some comfort in her mother’s resolve. The unease lingered, but she knew they were taking the first step toward uncovering the truth.

Together, they gathered the evidence and prepared to head to the police station, the weight of the envelope now shared between them—a silent promise to protect each other, no matter the cost.