Deception in Silicon Heights

Chapter 2: The Unequal Distribution

When Ethan stepped through the front door of his house, he was greeted by the usual noise. Jessica was on the phone, her laughter echoing from the kitchen, and Emma was upstairs, likely blasting music as she always did. He hung his coat by the door and took a deep breath, forcing a smile as he made his way into the kitchen.

"Hi, honey," Jessica said, waving at him while still talking on her phone. Ethan leaned over and kissed her cheek, catching bits of her conversation as she gushed over some new boutique she had discovered. She was always talking about boutiques, social events, or the latest gossip in their circle. It had become background noise to him over the years.

He poured himself a glass of water, watching her from the corner of his eye. Jessica looked flawless, as usual. Her hair was perfectly styled, her clothes chic and expensive. But there was something about the way she interacted with him now—detached, like he was just part of the scenery rather than her husband.

Leaving her to her conversation, Ethan wandered upstairs, hoping to catch a moment with Lily before dinner. As he passed by Emma's room, the door was slightly ajar, and he couldn't help but glance inside.

What he saw stopped him in his tracks.

The room was filled with shopping bags, designer clothes scattered across the bed, and boxes of new shoes lined against the wall. It looked like a high-end store had exploded in her room. Emma was lying on the bed, scrolling through her phone, oblivious to the mess around her.

"Emma, where did all this come from?" Ethan asked, his voice laced with confusion.

She looked up, barely acknowledging him. "Mom got me some new stuff. Do you like it?"

Ethan blinked, trying to process the sheer volume of "new stuff." He knew Jessica liked to spoil Emma, but this was excessive. "All of this? Why?"

Emma shrugged, as if the question didn't matter. "She said I deserved it. I got good grades this semester, so..."

Good grades? Ethan knew Emma was intelligent, but her academic performance had never been stellar. Something felt off. He didn't want to push too hard, though, so he simply nodded and continued down the hall to Lily's room.

He knocked softly and opened the door to find her sitting at her desk, reading a book. Her room was a stark contrast to Emma's—neat and minimal, with only a few personal items on display. No piles of clothes or extravagant gifts. Just Lily, quietly absorbed in her world.

"Hey, Dad," she said, smiling when she saw him.

Ethan's heart warmed. "Hey, sweetheart. How was your day?"

"It was okay," she replied, but Ethan sensed something was bothering her. Lily never complained, but she didn't have to. He could always tell when she was unhappy.

"Anything exciting happens at school?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

Lily hesitated, then shook her head. "No, not really."

He sat on the edge of her bed, feeling the tension rise in his chest again. "You know you can talk to me, right? If something's wrong?"

She smiled at him, a sad sort of smile, and nodded. "I know, Dad."

Ethan didn't push further. Instead, he sat with her for a while, the quiet between them comforting. But in the back of his mind, the imbalance between his daughters gnawed at him. Something wasn't right, and for the first time, he started to question if it was more than just favouritism.