Chapter 15 - The Threshold of Sixteen
Six months later, early spring brought blooming white cherry blossoms and fresh green lawns to the sprawling estate grounds.
Warm afternoon sunshine poured across the marble terrace where a small birthday table set with bright blue balloons and a cake decorated with one glowing candle stood near the rose garden.
Baby Leo, now eighteen months old, sat in a high chair wearing a small blue suit, happily clapping his little hands as Thomas and the household staff sang a soft birthday song.
Ethan stood beside the high chair, his sharp face softened by a radiant, proud smile as he helped his son blow out the single candle.
Guests and long-time family friends gathered on the lawn, their soft laughter and cheerful conversation filling the crisp afternoon air.
As the guests moved toward the garden buffet, Thomas walked up to Ethan, holding a small, sealed yellow envelope delivered by a private courier.
THOMAS: "This came from the federal probate office ten minutes ago, boss."
Ethan took the envelope, stepping away from the crowd toward the quiet stone balustrade overlooking the valley.
He broke the seal, pulling out a single sheet of heavy legal paper containing a short handwritten note in a precise, unfamiliar handwriting:
The child's voice you heard in the sub-basement wasn't a recording from the past.
Ethan's breath caught sharply in his chest. His blue eyes scanned the sentence three times as his body turned ice-cold despite the warm spring sun.
He turned the paper over, revealing a second line written across the bottom edge:
Your late wife had twins four years ago. Leo was only the first one brought above ground.
Ethan stared at the words in absolute, breathless shock, his heart pounding wildly against his ribs.
He slowly looked back toward the sunlit garden where baby Leo was laughing and playing with a plush toy in his high chair.
May you like
He quietly folded the yellow paper, sliding it deep into his suit jacket pocket as his jaw set in a fierce, unyielding determination.
He turned and walked back toward the dark entrance of the mansion, stepping through the grand doors and the end.
