Chapter 8 - SAY YOU'RE SCARED
The video was fourteen minutes long.
Vivian sat on Lily's bed while the hidden camera recorded from across the room.
"When Doctor Steve asks if you fall down, what do you say?"
Lily, smaller by several months, kicked her feet against the mattress.
"No."
Vivian's voice sharpened.
"Wrong. You say yes."
"But I don't."
"Say yes."
"Yes."
"Good. When he asks if you're scared of loud noises?"
"Yes."
"When he asks if you forget words?"
Lily hesitated.
Vivian leaned close.
"What happens if you don't listen?"
Lily whispered, "Dark room."
Grant walked out before anyone could stop him.
Dante found him in the empty ballroom, gripping the edge of a table so hard his knuckles had turned white.
"I didn't know," Grant said.
"That is not the defense you think it is."
Grant turned. "You think I don't know that now?"
"You heard your kid crying."
"I thought Vivian was strict."
"You chose not to look closer because looking closer would have interrupted your party."
Grant punched the table. "I know!"
The shout echoed.
"I know."
For the first time, he looked less like a billionaire heir and more like a man discovering the exact cost of cowardice.
But consequences were not feelings.
By sunrise, child protective services placed Lily temporarily with Rebecca pending an emergency hearing.
Grant objected once.
Then he saw Lily hide behind Rebecca when he stepped toward her.
Vivian was taken in for questioning on possible child endangerment, coercion, and fraud-related offenses. She left the mansion in a coat over her evening dress, chin high, cameras already gathering beyond the gate.
Before getting into the car, she looked at Grant.
"You think I'm the problem?"
Grant stared at her.
May you like
"Ask your lawyer who paid Dr. Vale the first ten thousand."
Grant slowly turned toward Nathan Cole.
