As the video played, I watched the grainy footage of the dock, illuminated by the soft glow of distant streetlights and the muted shimmer of the moon on the lake. My heart sank as I saw Theo and my nephew, Jake, standing face to face. Their silhouettes danced against the gentle waves, but the tension between them was palpable even through the pixelated screen.
The audio was faint, but I could make out snippets of their conversation. Jake’s voice, usually so confident and charming, had an edge to it that I hadn’t heard before. “You think you’re something special, don’t you, Theo? Just because Grandma and Grandpa spoil you?” he sneered.
Theo’s response was barely audible, a mixture of defiance and hurt. “I don’t want anything from them. I just want to be left alone.”
