Chapter 26

Brett clung tightly to Heather, as if she were the only anchor keeping him from sinking. His voice trembled with genuine anguish. "Heather, please don't leave me."

For a long moment, Heather remained silent. At the door, Jason stood watching them, his gaze dark and unreadable.

Just then, their father stormed in from outside. The moment he saw Jason, his face contorted with fury. He charged forward and slapped Jason hard across the face.

"You have the nerve to show up here!" their father roared. "Do you even realize what you've done?"

Jason wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, the slap having split his lip. But despite the sting, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "I did what I should have done a long time ago, Father."

Their father's anger turned to disbelief as he stared at Jason's cold expression. He realized, at last, that Jason had known the truth all along.

Still, the father refused to accept his youngest son's actions. Pointing a finger at him, he barked, "You