Chapter 4 - CLAIRE’S FIRST EXPLANATION
Dr. Leah Morgan arrived at the mansion at 1:18 a.m.
She examined Noah in the guest bedroom.
Claire objected to using their regular pediatrician.
Daniel ignored her.
Noah was mildly dehydrated.
He had lost nine pounds since his last examination.
Small splinters were embedded in one palm.
His knees were bruised from crawling in and out of the doghouse.
There were no severe injuries.
But Dr. Morgan’s concern did not lessen.
“This did not happen in one night.”
Claire stood near the window.
“He refuses food.”
Dr. Morgan looked at Noah.
“Is that true?”
The boy glanced at Claire.
Daniel asked her to leave.
“This is my home,” Claire said.
“And he is my son.”
“I am his stepmother.”
“Then act like someone concerned about his condition.”
Claire walked out.
Only after the door closed did Noah answer.
“She gives me food if I say I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Dr. Morgan asked.
“For making trouble.”
“What trouble?”
“Seeing things.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“What did you see?”
Noah withdrew again.
Dr. Morgan stopped the questions.
“He needs rest and a safe environment. We can speak later.”
Daniel asked whether Noah should go to the hospital.
Dr. Morgan recommended observation overnight and a complete evaluation in the morning.
Daniel prepared the room beside his own.
Noah stood in the doorway.
“Can the door stay open?”
“Yes.”
“Can the light stay on?”
“Yes.”
“Will Claire come in?”
“No.”
The boy entered.
Daniel placed his travel bag against the open door so it could not close accidentally.
Noah watched him.
“You don’t have to block it.”
“I want you to see that no one is closing it.”
Downstairs, Claire waited in the living room.
She had changed into a silk robe.
Her composure had returned.
“You are humiliating me in front of a doctor.”
“My son has been sleeping outside.”
“He needed consequences.”
“For seeing what?”
Claire looked toward the staircase.
“He found documents in my office.”
“What documents?”
“Household bills. He decided I was stealing from you.”
“Was he wrong?”
Her expression cooled.
“You cannot seriously ask me that.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
It was his company’s security director.
Several renovation invoices had been flagged during his trip.
They carried Daniel’s approval.
He had never seen them.
The payments exceeded four hundred thousand dollars.
Each was connected to the mansion.
Daniel looked at Claire.
“What did Noah find?”
Before she answered, glass shattered upstairs.
Daniel ran.
Noah’s room was empty.
May you like
The window stood open.
On the lawn below, a man was running toward the back gate.
