Chapter 2 - THE MANSION OF SILENCEThe house Ethan Hayes lived in was not just large; it was a sprawling monument to his success, filled with velvet, polished mahogany, and an oppressive, suffocating silence. As they entered, Emily’s eyes went wide. She had never seen a house so big. She reached out and touched a silk-upholstered chair, pulling her hand back quickly when she realized the luxury.
Ethan watched them, his heart aching. He had built this empire by being ruthless, efficient, and detached. But standing there, watching Sarah try to make her daughter feel comfortable in a place that looked like a museum, he realized he had built a life that was essentially a gilded coffin.
"It’s okay, Emily," Ethan said softly. "You can sit anywhere. It’s just furniture."
