Chapter 3 - The Basement Safe
Carla laughed loudly as Ernest walked away, leaning her head against Louis’s shoulder.
"I can't believe you actually did it!" Carla giggled, stopping her video recording. "Your dad is so pathetic. How much longer are you going to let him squat in your massive house?"
Louis smirked, taking a sip of his expensive bourbon. "Not much longer, babe. I’m listing this property next week. The real estate market is red hot. Once I sell this place, we are taking that cash and moving to a luxury condo downtown. The old man can figure it out."
Down in the quiet, dimly lit basement, Ernest could hear the heavy thumping of the music restarting upstairs.
He set the dog bowl down on his small wooden desk. He didn't pack a suitcase. He didn't cry.
He walked over to a heavy, fireproof safe hidden behind a bookshelf. He spun the combination lock with practiced, steady hands. The heavy steel door clicked open.
Inside the safe wasn't a small pension or a few family photos.
It was a thick stack of original, notarized legal documents.
Ernest pulled out the top folder. The bold, black text on the first page read: Master Deed and Title of Ownership.
Louis didn't own the massive, multi-million-dollar house upstairs. He had never owned it. Ernest had bought the property fully in cash five years ago. He had simply let Louis live upstairs and play the role of the wealthy homeowner to help him impress his high-society friends.
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Ernest had protected his son's fragile ego for years. But the dog bowl had just shattered that protection forever.
👉 What calculated, lethal phone call is Ernest about to make?
