Damien Sterling returned to his desk and reopened the video surveillance. On the screen, his entire home was decorated with Bailey's adorable little ornaments, the dining table laden with various dishes and a large cake. Though moved, Damien Sterling couldn't entirely shake off a feeling of unease.
Suddenly, his phone rang. "Hello? It's almost eight o'clock. When are you coming back?" Emma Hart's voice came through, sounding anxious. She had called Damien several times earlier, but he hadn't answered, which had worried her.
Damien glanced at the video feed and hesitated before saying, "I'm sorry, I have a meeting tonight. I might be home very late. You should go to bed first." His cold response was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing Emma Hart's enthusiasm.
"Alright then. Be safe on your way back." Emma's tone was now noticeably unhappy. "Okay, bye." Damien replied curtly and hung up after a long pause.
