The Neighbor

Chapter 65

The drive home from the park is quieter than usual. The boys, exhausted from running and laughing, are dozing in the backseat, their heads resting against each other. Isabella is snuggled in her car seat, her tiny hands clutching at her blanket, her soft breaths filling the otherwise silent car.

You sit in the passenger seat, Wanda's hand resting lightly on your thigh as she drives, but her touch feels different. There's a tension in her fingers, a quiet unease that neither of you has spoken about yet. The light bulb moment from earlier the realization about Emily's degree and the unsettling connection to Vision's autonomous systems weighs heavily on your mind, and you're sure it's on Wanda's mind too.

You glance over at her. Her jaw is set, and her emerald eyes, hidden behind her sunglasses, are fixed on the road ahead. The way her fingers tap lightly against the steering wheel, the occasional tightening of her grip on you-it all tells you she's thinking about the same thing. The same possibility.

The memory of Emily's gaze lingering on you, the way her words felt almost too casual when she talked about her studies, keeps playing in your head like a loop. Finally, you break the silence. "Honey..." you say softly, your voice barely above a whisper. You don't even know where to start, but the words are heavy on your tongue. "Do you think...what Emily said...do you think it means something?"

Wanda doesn't answer right away. Her grip tightens on the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white for a second before she exhales slowly, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"I've been thinking about it too," she admits, her voice low and controlled, though there's a quiet storm brewing beneath her calm surface. "Her degree. That field...."

You nod, your heart sinking as you hear her confirm your own suspicions. You had hoped maybe you were overthinking it, but the way Wanda's gaze hardens, the subtle edge of protectiveness in her voice—it tells you she's just as concerned as you are.

"It's too close to what Vision was doing," you murmur, staring out the window as the trees blur past. "Autonomous systems...that's exactly how he controlled the drones. What if...what if Emily is involved in something?"

Wanda's jaw clenches, her fingers flexing slightly on the steering wheel. She's silent for a moment, as though weighing her words carefully before speaking. "I don't trust her," she says quietly, her voice tight. "I never have. She's...there's always been something off about her. And now this?"

You swallow hard, the weight of her words settling deep in your chest. Wanda's protectiveness has always been fierce, especially when it comes to you and the kids. But now, you can feel a different kind of edge to it—something sharper, more dangerous.

Wanda's free hand tightens around your thigh, her touch possessive as her gaze flickers toward you briefly, even behind her sunglasses. "I won't let anything happen to you," she says quietly, but there's a fierceness in her tone, a promise laced with something much deeper. She's ready to tear the world apart if it means keeping you and the children safe.

You nod, squeezing her hand gently. "I know," you whisper, though the unease still lingers in the pit of your stomach. There's too much unknown, too much that doesn't make sense yet. But one thing is clear—this isn't over.

***
Later That Night

The house is quiet by the time you and Wanda get the kids settled in bed. Tommy and Billy are fast asleep, their limbs tangled together in a pile of blankets, while Isabella has finally drifted off after her feeding, her tiny body curled up in her crib, her little hands balled into fists.

You and Wanda stand in the doorway of Isabella's room for a moment, watching her sleep. The soft glow of the nightlight casts gentle shadows on her peaceful face, and for a moment, the world feels calm again.