CHAPTER 4 — The Man Who Called Him Grandson
The man stepped into the room like he owned every breath inside it.
Clara hugged Lily tighter.
Ethan backed toward the wall.
"Relax," the man said softly. "If I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t have made it through the night."
He looked at Ethan.
"My name is Victor Blackwood. And you, little boy… are my grandson."
Ethan shook his head.
"No. My grandpa died."
Victor’s smile disappeared.
"That is what they told you."
Then he placed a gold locket on the table.
Inside was a picture of Ethan’s real mother holding him as a baby.
Behind the photo was a folded note written in shaking handwriting.
Dad, if anything happens to me, don’t trust Michael. He wants the company, and he knows the children inherit everything.
Ethan felt the room spinning.
Michael.
That was the name of the man he called Dad.
The man who tucked him into bed.
The man who bought him ice cream.
The man who told him Lily was gone.
Victor’s voice became colder.
"Michael was your mother’s husband. He murdered her, faked your sister’s death, and raised you under a false name so he could control the inheritance."
Clara whispered,
"He kept Ethan alive because he needed his signature one day."
Suddenly, tires screeched outside.
Victor turned toward the window.
Too late.
Michael walked up the front steps with police officers behind him.
He pointed at Clara.
"That woman kidnapped my son."
Then he looked at Ethan with fake tears in his eyes.
"Come here, buddy. Daddy’s here."
Ethan didn’t move.
May you like
Michael’s smile twitched.
And for the first time, Ethan saw the monster hiding behind his father’s face.
