Chapter 2: Unearthing the Fire
Two weeks passed. The physical bruises on Clara’s face began to fade into faint yellow marks, but the psychological scars remained. Security guards now patrolled the perimeter of their estate, and the two grandmothers stayed around the clock to help care for newborn baby Leo.
Ethan, however, had transformed. The weeping man who had dropped his briefcase in despair was gone. In his place was a father fueled by cold, calculated fury. He spent his nights in the study, meticulously piecing together the evidence Thomas Gable desperately wanted destroyed.
"Ethan, you need to sleep," Clara said softly, walking into the study while cradling Leo in her arms.
"I can't, Clara. Not until he is behind bars," Ethan replied, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the financial spreadsheets on his monitor. "The police say the CCTV footage from the break-in isn't enough to tie Thomas directly to the assault. The thugs wore masks. Thomas has an airtight alibi for that night."
Clara walked over and placed a small, cracked object on the desk. It was her old smartphone, the screen shattered from the struggle.
"Before they broke through the nursery door, I started a cloud recording," Clara said, her voice steady. "I hid the phone under the crib. I forgot about it until today when my mother brought the baby's blanket downstairs."
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Ethan quickly plugged the damaged phone into his computer, bypassing the broken screen to download the audio file. As the playback started, the thumping of a door could be heard, followed by a cruel, mocking voice through the wood: "Give us the ledger, lady! Gable said we do whatever it takes to get it back!"
Ethan looked up at Clara, a grim, triumphant smile slowly spreading across his face. "We have him."
