Chapter 16 - Family Ties
A quiet Sunday morning at the Mercer estate felt entirely different than it had a few months ago. The scent of pancakes and brewed coffee drifted through the newly renovated kitchen as Julian sat at the marble island, enthusiastically drawing a picture of a rocket ship with crayons while Elena flipped pancakes on the stove.
The doorbell rang, sharp and clear.
I paused, setting my coffee mug down on the counter. Marcus, who had dropped by unannounced to drop off some legal clearances from the federal court, raised an eyebrow.
"Expecting company?" Marcus asked.
"No," I said, frowning slightly as I walked toward the heavy oak front door.
I pulled it open, and for a second, I thought the past was playing a cruel trick on my eyes. Standing on the front porch was Chloe, my younger sister. She looked hollowed out, wearing a simple gray prison-issue visitor's jacket over plain clothes, her designer makeup and arrogant demeanor completely gone. Behind her stood a parole officer holding a clipboard.
"Ethan," Chloe whispered, her voice trembling as she looked down at the welcome mat. "I... I know you said you didn't want to see Mother. But the parole board released me early because of my full cooperation against Tyler. I didn't have anywhere else to go."
I didn't open the door any wider. I stood in the threshold, a solid wall between the remnants of my betrayers and the sanctuary I had built for my wife and son.
"Chloe," I said, my voice completely devoid of emotion. "When you helped Tyler lock my wife and son in a freezing shed while you drank champagne inside, you made your choice. You traded your family for a share of a stolen fortune."
"I was stupid, Ethan!" she sobbed, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Tyler lied to us! He said—"
"Tyler used you because you were greedy," I interrupted coldly. "And you let him. You are free from prison now, Chloe. The law has finished with you. But you are not welcome in this house. Do not ever come back here again."
Before she could speak another word, I closed the heavy oak door with a solid, definitive click.
May you like
When I turned around, Elena and Julian were standing at the end of the hallway. Julian looked up at me with wide, questioning eyes, but Elena gave me a soft, understanding nod. I walked over to them, knelt down to hug my son, and knew that the door was finally closed for good.
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