CHAPTER TWENTY SIX – THE EXPLOITED GIRL

Madison stood in the driveway, arms crossed, staring down Kyle. The teenage girl, barely older than Madison herself, shifted nervously on her feet. "Kyle, was it?" Madison asked, her voice firm but not unkind. "Y-yes," Kyle stammered, clutching a worn backpack. "I... I'm sorry." Madison took a deep breath. "Why were you putting cameras in my house?" Kyle flinched, her eyes welling up. "I... I needed the money. A guy, he said he'd pay me if I planted some things in the house. I didn't know it was cameras!" Before Madison could respond, the back door slammed open and Constance stormed out. Her face was flushed with anger. "Cameras? What cameras? What's going on here, Madison?" "Mom, calm down," Madison pleaded, stepping in front of Kyle. "This is Kyle. She..." "She was spying on us!" Veronica cut in, her voice icy. She glared at Kyle, who shrunk back even further. Madison sighed. "It's not that simple, Veronica. Let's just go inside and talk." Inside, the living room buzzed with