Chapter 19 - Stealing August’s Voice
Lydia looked at Clara.
“It appears to be an affidavit template.”
“For what?”
Lydia’s voice was careful.
“For a statement alleging that August expressed fear of remaining in your care and requested immediate placement with his father.”
Clara held August so tightly he squirmed.
She loosened immediately.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
August looked at Ethan.
His small face folded in confusion.
“I didn’t say that.”
Clara pressed her cheek to his hair.
“I know.”
Ethan’s voice went sharp.
“He might have if you had ever let me speak to him.”
Clara lifted her eyes.
“You brought a hidden recorder and a prewritten statement to my son’s birthday.”
“To protect my rights.”
“No,” she said. “To steal his voice.”
The phrase landed.
Because that was what Ethan had always tried to do.
Steal Clara’s signature.
Steal labor pain.
Steal medical authority.
Steal property.
Steal narrative.
Now he had come for August’s voice.
Lydia turned to Dr. Kessler.
“You will remain available for a sworn statement.”
Dr. Kessler nodded quickly.
“I want counsel.”
“You should.”
Vivienne stepped toward Clara.
“Clara, please. I didn’t know about the device.”
Clara looked at her.
Five years ago, that might have mattered.
Now it did not.
“You knew enough to come.”
Vivienne flinched.
Ethan looked toward the terrace doors.
Sebastian moved slightly.
“Do not run,” he said.
Ethan smiled coldly.
“Are you detaining me?”
“No. I’m describing how guilty people look when they flee from a child’s birthday.”
The first sirens sounded in the distance.
Not loud yet.
Approaching.
August buried his face in Clara’s neck.
“Too loud.”
Clara moved immediately toward the inner library.
“Lydia.”
“Go.”
Ethan stepped as if to follow.
Every adult in the room shifted before Clara did.
Sebastian.
Lydia.
The estate officers.
Even Dr. Kessler, pale and shaking, stepped backward into Ethan’s path instead of away.
Small courage.
Late.
But real.
Clara carried August out of the east salon.
Behind her, Henry Blackthorn’s recorded voice gave one final calm statement through the hidden system.
May you like
“Child Protocol evidence preservation complete.”
The words followed Ethan into silence.
