Chapter 16
Mercer left under guard.
Not free.
Not harmed.
Contained.
Victor hated that.
He wanted drama.
Men like him mistake spectacle for consequence.
Ethan stayed downstairs with Noah.
Noah refused to sit beside him.
Ethan finally looked at his son.
“I was trying to protect you.”
Noah stared.
“From Uncle Sebastian?”
Silence.
“You said he was dangerous.”
“He is.”
Noah looked at me.
Then back at Ethan.
“He didn’t hit you until you hit him twice.”
Ethan had no answer.
Noah continued:
“You said if I turned off the phone, I’d sleep outside.”
“I was angry.”
“You put my blanket in the garage.”
Ethan looked away.
Noah’s voice shook.
“Was that a joke too?”
Silence.
Victor interrupted.
“Boys need hardship.”
Noah looked at him.
“Then you sleep outside.”
For one second, nobody moved.
I almost smiled.
Victor did not.
Natalie sat apart.
Hands over her stomach.
She looked exhausted.
“I want Lily.”
“No.”
Her head lifted.
“I need to apologize.”
“You want relief.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Neither was her birthday.”
She flinched.
I continued.
“You don’t apologize because guilt hurts.”
“Then when?”
“When she wants to hear you.”
Silence.
Victor scoffed.
“You’re letting a three-year-old set terms.”
“Yes.”
He laughed.
“That child will rule you.”
“No.”
I stood.
“She will trust me.”
Victor shook his head as if I were hopeless.
I looked at Natalie.
“You will not be alone with Lily.”
Her eyes filled.
“You’re taking her from me.”
“She was never yours to control.”
“What about our son?”
“Our son will not be leverage either.”
That landed.
She looked at Victor.
Then Mercer’s empty chair.
Then Ethan.
For the first time, she seemed to understand what every man in her plan had wanted from the unborn child.
Influence.
Access.
Position.
Not love.
She whispered:
“I did the same thing to Lily.”
“Yes.”
No defense.
No softer word.
She closed her eyes.
Upstairs, Lily called:
“Daddy?”
I turned immediately.
Victor laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
I looked back.
“Yes.”
Then I walked upstairs.
Because if my daughter calls, I come.
May you like
That was the weakness they built their entire plan around.
And the reason it failed.
