Chapter 13 - The Clearing of the Hallway
By ten o'clock that night, the rain had eased into a steady, quiet drizzle against the tall stained-glass windows of the grand hallway.
Workmen under Thomas's supervision had carefully re-installed the heavy American flag stand, securing the floor panel mechanism with a high-grade electronic lock system under Ethan's private code.
Ethan walked through the quiet hall, carrying a warm bottle of milk up to the nursery.
The ivory marble floors glistened under the soft light of the restored chandeliers, immaculate and pristine once again.
He stopped near the antique display case, looking down at the polished floor where his mother had fallen hours earlier.
The memory of baby Leo falling through the air flashed through his mind, making his heart squeeze with an instinctual, fiercely protective ache.
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He smoothed the blanket around his son's shoulders, kissing the baby's warm cheek tenderly.
ETHAN: "Nobody is ever going to hurt you in this house again, Leo."
