Chapter 4

He woke to a new, terrifying reality.

The world was still black, a permanent, chemical night.

The searing pain in his legs was gone, replaced by a dull, heavy ache and the alien sensation of... nothingness below his knees.

Amputated.

Eleanor was there, her voice dripping with false remorse.

"Oh, Ethan, my poor boy. This is all so terrible. I never wanted this."

Liar.

Izzy came too, her apology a tearful, hollow whisper.

"I only wanted to delay the engagement, Ethan. Just scare you a little. I never thought... I never meant for it to go this far."

Her words meant nothing. She had lured him. She was complicit.

Eleanor then pressured him, weak as he was, to sign papers.

Annulling the engagement with Izzy.

"It was Marcus who forced the match, you know," Eleanor said, her voice cool. "He always had such unrealistic ambitions for you."

Blaming his father, the kindest man Ethan knew.

Then, the final blow.

"Your father was so distraught," Eleanor informed him, her tone carefully neutral. "His headaches returned, worse than ever. We' ve sent him to a secluded wellness retreat. Victor recommended it highly. He needs peace and quiet to recover from the shock."

A wellness retreat run by Victor Sterling.

Ethan knew, with chilling certainty, that his father was not recovering. He was a prisoner.

His fingers fumbled under the thin hospital blanket for the burner phone his rig crew had insisted he keep, a lifeline from his old life.

He managed to dial a memorized number, his voice a hoarse whisper.

"Sharky? It's me. I need help. Big trouble."