Chapter 2 - CEDRIC CAME HOME WITHOUT WARNINGCedric did not call Prudence.
He did not warn her.
He drove home.
Fast enough to feel every second.
Slow enough not to lose control.
Mateo’s video played in his mind.
Isaac’s wet hair.
His trembling voice.
Prudence calling him a bastard.
Cedric had trusted his sister.
That knowledge burned.
When Hannah died three years earlier, Cedric barely functioned.
Prudence stepped in.
At first from a distance.
Then more often.
Seven months ago, after Prudence’s divorce and financial collapse, Cedric agreed she could stay in the guest suite.
She said she needed time to rebuild.
He believed helping family was what Hannah would have wanted.
Now Cedric wondered what Hannah would say if she had seen that bathroom.
He parked outside the house.
Mateo was near the side garden.
Their eyes met.
Cedric approached.
“Where is Isaac?”
“Upstairs, I think.”
“And Prudence?”
“Kitchen.”
Cedric held up his phone.
“Is there more?”
Mateo nodded.
“I recorded almost two minutes.”
“Send everything.”
Mateo did.
Cedric watched only ten seconds before stopping.
He couldn’t do it yet.
“Thank you.”
Mateo looked uncomfortable.
“I should have said something earlier.”
Cedric’s head lifted.
“Earlier?”
Mateo swallowed.
“I’ve seen Mrs. Prudence shout at him before.”
“How many times?”
“Maybe five.”
Cedric felt cold.
“You never told me.”
“I thought…”
Mateo looked ashamed.
“I thought it wasn’t my place.”
Cedric closed his eyes.
That sentence had protected too many terrible things in too many families.
“It is now.”
“Yes, sir.”
Cedric entered through the front door.
Prudence was pouring coffee.
She smiled.
“You’re early.”
He said nothing.
Her smile faded.
“Cedric?”
“Where’s Isaac?”
“In his room.”
“What happened to him?”
Prudence blinked.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s wet.”
Her expression barely changed.
“He made a mess in the bathroom.”
Cedric stared.
“And?”
“I had him clean it.”
“Why was he crying?”
Prudence sighed.
“He cries over everything lately.”
Cedric’s jaw tightened.
“Go get him.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“Bring Isaac downstairs.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
Cedric’s voice dropped.
“Go.”
Prudence stared at him.
Then walked upstairs.
Cedric opened Mateo’s full video.
He forced himself to watch.
Prudence’s hand on Isaac’s chin.
The insults.
The warning.
Then Isaac asked:
“Where am I going?”
Prudence answered:
“Stop asking questions.”
Cedric froze.
This wasn’t a stray remark.
Isaac had understood it as a literal statement.
A destination.
A plan.
Footsteps came down the stairs.
Isaac appeared first.
His hair was dry now.
Different shirt.
Red eyes.
Prudence followed.
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
Isaac flinched.
Cedric saw it.
“Come here.”
Isaac immediately ran to him.
Cedric crouched.
“Are you okay?”
Isaac looked at Prudence.
Cedric followed his eyes.
“Don’t look at her.”
Isaac looked back.
“Look at me.”
The boy’s lips trembled.
“You’re not in trouble.”
Prudence crossed her arms.
“Cedric, this is ridiculous.”
He held up the phone.
The video played.
Prudence’s face went completely still.
Isaac buried his face against Cedric’s chest.
Cedric stopped the clip.
“What did you do to him?”
Prudence recovered quickly.
“He threw a tantrum.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I disciplined him.”
“You shoved him into the sink.”
“I did not.”
“The video shows him soaked.”
“You don’t see what happened before Mateo started recording.”
Cedric turned toward the kitchen doorway.
Mateo was standing there.
Prudence’s expression changed.
“You recorded me?”
Mateo didn’t move.
“I heard Isaac crying.”
“You had no right.”
Cedric stood.
“Stop.”
Prudence looked at him.
“This man secretly filmed me in my own family’s home.”
“My home.”
Silence.
Cedric continued.
“And right now, Mateo is the only adult in this house who protected my son when I wasn’t here.”
Prudence’s face hardened.
“You’re taking his side over mine?”
“I’m taking Isaac’s.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Cedric stared.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“No. We’re done with nothing.”
He looked down at Isaac.
“Buddy, go with Mateo outside.”
Isaac hesitated.
“Dad?”
“I’m not leaving.”
“You promise?”
Cedric’s heart broke.
“I promise.”
Mateo took Isaac into the backyard.
Prudence waited until the door closed.
Then she whispered:
“You have no idea what that child is like when you’re gone.”
Cedric stared at her.
“That child is my son.”
“I know.”
“Then say his name.”
Prudence looked irritated.
“Isaac.”
“Good.”
Cedric stepped closer.
“Now explain why you told Isaac he wouldn’t be living here in a few weeks.”
For the first time, genuine panic flashed across Prudence’s face.
“I didn’t.”
“It’s recorded.”
“I was angry.”
“Why that sentence?”
“I said something stupid.”
Cedric studied her.
“Why a few weeks?”
No answer.
His stomach tightened.
“Prudence.”
She looked toward the window.
Cedric lowered his voice.
“You know something you’re not supposed to know.”
Her eyes came back.
“What?”
“The house.”
She went still.
Cedric saw it.
Tiny.
But enough.
“You know.”
“Know what?”
He smiled without warmth.
“I didn’t tell you what.”
Silence.
Prudence had just confirmed it.
Cedric stepped backward.
“How did you find out?”
“Find out what?”
“Stop.”
Her face hardened.
“You think because Mateo filmed one bad moment, you can interrogate me?”
“One bad moment?”
Cedric almost shouted.
He caught himself.
Isaac was outside.
He lowered his voice.
“You have ten minutes to pack a bag.”
Prudence stared.
“You’re throwing me out?”
“Yes.”
“Because of one argument?”
“Because my son is afraid of you.”
“You’ll regret this.”
Cedric almost laughed.
“Maybe.”
Then Prudence said something that made his blood run cold.
“You’re making decisions without understanding what’s already in motion.”
Cedric stared.
“What is already in motion?”
She realized too late.
Her face closed again.
“Nothing.”
Cedric pointed upstairs.
“Pack.”
Prudence walked away.
Cedric stood alone.
Then his phone buzzed.
An email.
From his estate attorney, Naomi Brooks.
Cedric, did you authorize your sister to request information about Isaac’s trust? She contacted my office this morning. Please call me immediately.
Cedric read it twice.
Then looked toward the staircase.
May you like
Prudence hadn’t merely learned about the trust.
She had already started making moves around it.
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