Chapter 6 - The Fall of the Caretaker
The massive iron gates of the estate stood tall against the afternoon sun.
Ethan did not bother using his remote to open them gently.
He drove his heavy SUV directly through the gates.
The metal crashed and buckled under the force of the vehicle.
He slammed on the brakes in front of the grand entrance.
He kicked the front door open.
The loud crash echoed through the silent, empty halls.
Margaret stepped out of her office.
Her face was completely pale.
“Mr. Caldwell!”
“You are supposed to be in London!”
Ethan walked toward her.
He did not say a word.
He grabbed her roughly by the arm and shoved her backward into the office.
Dr. Vance dropped his glass of scotch on the floor.
“Ethan, what is the meaning of this violence?” the doctor demanded.
Ethan pulled out his phone.
He hit a single button.
The audio of their entire conversation played loudly through the room.
“You need to double the dosage of the paralytic. Keep him entirely confined to the wheelchair...”
The color drained entirely from Dr. Vance’s face.
He lunged for the door.
Ethan moved faster.
He delivered a brutal, punishing punch directly to the doctor’s jaw.
Vance collapsed onto the expensive Persian rug.
Margaret screamed and tried to run.
Ethan blocked her path.
“You stole seven years of my son’s life,” Ethan whispered.
“You poisoned my child for money.”
Sirens wailed loudly in the distance.
The police were already swarming the driveway.
Margaret fell to her knees.
She began to sob.
“Please, Mr. Caldwell, I needed the money.”
“I dedicated my life to this house!”
Ethan looked at her with absolute disgust.
“You are going to spend the rest of your life in a concrete cell.”
Armed officers stormed into the room.
They dragged Margaret and Dr. Vance away in handcuffs.
Ethan did not watch them leave.
He ran up the grand staircase.
He opened his son’s bedroom door.
Noah was sitting up in bed, looking terrified by the sirens.
Ethan fell to his knees beside the bed and buried his face in his son’s small chest.
“I am so sorry, Noah.”
“I am so sorry I didn't protect you.”
Noah wrapped his thin arms around his father’s neck.
“It's okay, Dad.”
“Claire is here.”
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Ethan looked up.
Claire was standing in the doorway, tears streaming down her beautiful face.
