Chapter 12 - Willa Had Been Chosen as the Easier OneThe second school was in Oregon.
Not because Corinne preferred Oregon.
Because Malcolm had another referral agreement.
Alistair learned that within forty-eight hours.
Stone Ridge for six to twelve months.
Then, if Willa “stabilized,” a boarding academy.
Theo's pathway was different.
A longer residential track.
The language was clinical.
The intention was not.
Separate the siblings.
Alistair stared at the proposed plan.
“Why separate them?”
Rachel pointed to the notes.
“They were described as reinforcing each other's resistance.”
He almost laughed.
“They protect each other.”
“Corinne called it codependency.”
“They're siblings.”
“Yes.”
Alistair kept reading.
Willa—higher functioning, likely compliant with structured academic environment.
Theo—emotionally reactive, resistant, needs longer containment.
Containment.
He hated the word.
“What did Malcolm mean when he said Willa was easier?”
“Probably this.”
Alistair looked toward the living room.
Willa sat on the floor helping Theo build something from blocks.
She had been protecting him for months.
Corinne interpreted that as a problem to break.
“Does Willa know?”
“No reason she should.”
“Good.”
Rachel closed the folder.
“Don't show them planning documents unless a therapist recommends it.”
“I won't.”
A family-court hearing followed.
Corinne's contact with the children remained suspended.
Malcolm was barred from contact.
Alistair was granted temporary sole decision-making while investigations continued.
He should have felt relief.
Instead he felt exhausted.
The divorce filing went in the same week.
Corinne did not contest separation.
She did contest access to the home.
The judge resolved that quickly.
She would not return while child-safety proceedings remained active.
The Grant house sat empty for eleven days before Alistair entered again.
Beatrice came with him.
The silence felt wrong.
The bathroom door was open.
He stopped outside it.
Beatrice watched.
“You don't have to.”
“Yes.”
He walked inside.
Clean towels.
Dry sink.
Ordinary room.
Alistair stared at the place where Theo had been crying.
“I bought this house because Elise loved the light.”
Beatrice stood near the door.
“I remember.”
“Corinne hated it.”
“The house?”
“No.”
He looked toward the mirror.
“The history.”
Beatrice didn't answer.
Alistair opened the cabinet.
Children's toothpaste.
Theo's dinosaur cup.
Nothing dramatic.
He felt guilt almost physically.
“How many times?”
Beatrice's eyes filled.
“I don't know.”
“I need an estimate.”
“Mr. Grant—”
“Not for police.”
He turned.
“For me.”
Beatrice swallowed.
“I saw her shout at him many times.”
“And the bathroom?”
“Twice before.”
Alistair closed his eyes.
“You saw.”
“Yes.”
“And didn't tell me.”
“I told myself it was strict discipline.”
He looked at her.
“Why?”
Beatrice began crying.
“Because after Mrs. Elise died, I was terrified of losing this family too.”
The answer surprised him.
Beatrice continued.
“When you remarried, Corinne made it very clear I worked for her too.”
“Did she threaten your job?”
“Not directly.”
“Then?”
“She'd say things like, ‘Families change, staff changes too.’”
Alistair stared.
“And you were afraid.”
“Yes.”
He understood fear.
He did not excuse silence.
Neither did Beatrice.
“I failed Theo.”
Alistair shook his head slowly.
“We both did.”
She cried harder.
“No.”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the hallway.
“The difference is we decide what we do after knowing.”
Beatrice nodded.
They searched the children's rooms with police authorization after evidence collection ended.
Willa's room contained something strange.
An empty space behind the dresser.
Alistair moved it.
A small plastic folder fell.
Inside were copies of Corinne's documents.
Willa had photographed or copied more than she ever admitted.
Schedules.
Stone Ridge brochure.
Malcolm's business card.
A printed email.
CORINNE: WILLA WILL BE EASIER ONCE THEO ISN'T THERE TO PERFORM FOR.
MALCOLM: THEN SPLIT THEM EARLY.
Alistair sat on the floor.
His daughter had known they might be separated.
She had carried that fear alone.
Another page.
A handwritten note from Willa.
IF THEY TAKE US, STAY WITH THEO UNTIL SOMEONE MAKES YOU STOP.
Alistair covered his face.
Beatrice knelt beside him.
“Don't let her see you read that.”
“I know.”
He put everything back.
Then noticed something taped beneath the last page.
A key.
Small.
Silver.
Beatrice frowned.
“What is that?”
Alistair didn't know.
There was a label.
MOM'S BOX.
His heart stopped.
Elise's memory box was supposed to be in the safe.
They went downstairs.
The safe opened.
The box was gone.
Alistair stared at the empty shelf.
Corinne had taken Elise's letters.
Now she had taken the entire box.
But the key remained with Willa.
May you like
Which meant his daughter had known Corinne was looking for it.
And maybe she had hidden something important before Corinne could find it.
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