Chapter 4 - The Confrontation at the Gates
The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky a dark, bruised violet by the time I pulled back up to my parents' estate. Lily was safe at the hospital under the direct supervision of Dr. Evans and a private security guard I had hired through my logistics firm.
The pink balloons in the front yard had deflated, sagging against the manicured lawn like dead skin. The guests were long gone, leaving only my parents’ luxury sedan and Rebecca’s SUV parked in the driveway.
I didn't knock. I used my physical key to open the front door, stepping into the grand foyer.
The house was dead silent until I reached the formal living room. My father was sitting in his leather armchair, a glass of scotch in his hand, while my mother was pacing the floor near the fireplace. Rebecca sat on the sofa, her arms still crossed, looking up at me with an expression of pure defiance as I entered.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up," Rebecca sneered. "Did the hospital give you a gold star for being the most dramatic father in Austin, Daniel?"
"Daniel, thank goodness you're back," my mother said, stepping toward me with her hands extended in a gesture of false maternal warmth. "We’ve already spoken to the family attorney. He agrees that if we issue a joint statement to the country club about the accident, we can put this ugly business behind us. We even bought Lily a new doll to make up for the scare."
I didn't move. I stood in the center of the Persian rug, looking at the three people who had shared my blood, my childhood, and my trust.
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"The police are on their way, Rebecca," I said, my voice low and level.
My father slammed his glass down on the side table, the amber liquid splashing over the wood. "Are you out of your mind? I told you, we have three witnesses who will swear under oath that the child fell! Your word against ours, Daniel. Who do you think the judge will believe? A grieving widower who has been unstable for two years, or the Vice Principal of the district?"
