Sophie’s father, Mark Miller, had been working overseas for the past year. Though he regularly sent letters and called whenever he could, he had no idea about the reality his daughter faced. Janet painted a picture of a happy household, with Sophie thriving under her care. But Mark, a devoted father, began to sense something was amiss. He noticed the subdued tone in Sophie’s voice during their phone calls and the way she hurriedly agreed that everything was “fine.”
One evening, while reviewing his finances, Mark stumbled across a peculiar charge—a significant sum withdrawn by Janet for “household expenses,” seemingly inconsistent with the needs of just two people. Alarm bells rang in his mind, compelling him to book the next flight back to Ohio, determined to uncover the truth.
Meanwhile, back in Ohio, Sophie pushed through the pain, completing each chore with mechanical efficiency. As she set the dinner table with trembling hands, the front door suddenly clicked open. It was earlier than expected, and Janet wasn’t in the room. Sophie’s heart skipped a beat as she heard familiar footsteps enter the house.
