Chapter 13 - THE RETURN HOME
Police took Lily to a safe location while Ethan and Detective Ruiz returned to his house.
The front door was unlocked.
Every light was on.
The kitchen looked exactly as it had when Ethan first came home.
The bouquet still lay crushed on the floor.
The sink was full of dirty bottles.
The sharp knives remained beside the water.
Lily’s small shoes sat beneath the table.
Ethan stared at them until his eyes burned.
Victoria wanted him to remember.
She wanted him to feel helpless.
Detective Ruiz searched the rooms.
“Stay behind me.”
They found the nursery empty.
The crib had been stripped bare.
On the wall, someone had written a sentence in black marker:
A father who cannot protect his children should not keep them.
Ethan’s breathing became uneven.
Ruiz grabbed his arm.
“Don’t let her control you.”
A laptop sat open on the nursery floor.
The screen showed a live video feed.
Victoria appeared in the kitchen.
She was holding the newborn.
Beside her stood Richard Hale.
Ethan’s former attorney.
Richard looked nervous.
Victoria looked calm.
“You’re watching from the hallway,” she said.
Ethan slowly entered the kitchen.
Ruiz raised her weapon but stayed out of sight.
“Put the baby down.”
Victoria held the infant closer.
“Sign the documents.”
Richard placed a folder on the table.
“This is your last chance,” he said.
Ethan looked at him.
“You helped kidnap a child.”
Richard swallowed.
“I helped Victoria protect herself.”
“She forged the guardianship papers.”
“She paid me.”
Victoria shot him a warning look.
Richard immediately lowered his voice.
Ethan noticed the camera mounted above the refrigerator.
Victoria was recording everything.
She wanted him to explode.
He forced himself to remain calm.
“What happens after I sign?”
“You leave,” Victoria said.
“And the children?”
“You get Lily. The baby stays with me.”
Ethan looked at the newborn.
Victoria’s expression softened for the first time.
“He is mine.”
“No,” Ethan said. “He belongs with Clara.”
Victoria’s face twisted.
So she knew Clara was alive.
She had expected Ethan to discover the truth.
The back door suddenly slammed.
Richard flinched.
Victoria turned toward the sound.
In that instant, Ethan lunged for the baby.
Victoria screamed and pulled away.
A struggle erupted beside the sink.
The newborn began crying.
Richard ran toward the front door.
Detective Ruiz tackled him before he could escape.
Victoria slipped on the wet floor and dropped the baby blanket.
But the baby was no longer in her arms.
Ethan looked down.
May you like
He was holding only the blanket.
Victoria had thrown the baby toward the basement stairs.
