Chapter 4 - The Estate on the Hill
The gated driveway of Caldwell Manor opened slowly, revealing a magnificent three-story stone estate nestled among fifty acres of ancient oak trees on the outskirts of Columbus.
The black SUV pulled up to the grand front entrance. The driver opened the door, and Ethan stepped out, helping Lily and Emma down onto the brick driveway.
The twins stood frozen, their mouths slightly open, looking up at the sprawling building. They had spent the last six months living in a leaky corner of an abandoned textile factory, sleeping on pile of old coats, hiding from security guards and cold rain.
"Is this... a hotel?" Emma whispered, clutching her small coat tight around herself.
"No, sweetie," Marissa said warmly, walking up beside her. "This is Ethan’s house. And for as long as you want, it's your home too."
A tall, elderly butler in a crisp black suit opened the massive carved mahogany front doors. "Welcome home, Mr. Caldwell. Miss Marissa."
"Arthur," Ethan said, nodding to his long-time house manager. "This is Lily and Emma. Please have Mrs. Higgins prepare the master guest suite on the second floor. Two beds, warm baths, and the best dinner she can cook."
Arthur looked at the two tiny girls with deep, genuine warmth, bowing slightly. "It is an absolute honor to meet you both, Young Ladies. Mrs. Higgins has already prepared homemade chicken noodle soup, fresh bread, and chocolate cake."
Emma’s eyes went wide. "Real cake?"
"The best in Ohio," Arthur smiled.
They walked inside. The grand foyer featured a sweeping marble staircase, a soaring crystal chandelier, and warm light bouncing off hardwood floors.
Lily stopped right inside the doorway, carefully removing her small blue shoes and placing them neatly near the mat. Emma quickly copied her sister.
Ethan watched them, a soft, rare smile breaking across his stern face. "You don't have to take your shoes off here, girls."
"We don't want to get dirt on the floor," Lily said quietly, her voice serious. "At the shelter, if you got dirt on the floor, they made you leave."
Ethan felt a lump form in his throat. He walked over, picked up both pairs of shoes, and set them on a gold-accented bench. "In this house, you never have to worry about being made to leave. Do you understand me? Never."
They were led upstairs to a massive, sunlit suite with twin canopy beds, fluffy feather duvets, and a private balcony overlooking the gardens. On the bed lay several plush teddy bears and new clothes that Marissa had ordered ahead.
While Mrs. Higgins drew a warm bath for the girls, Ethan stood in the hallway with Marissa.
"They're terrified, Ethan," Marissa murmured, leaning against the wall. "They've been through hell since their mother died."
"We're going to fix it," Ethan said, pulling out his personal phone. "I want the best child psychologists, the best pediatricians, and the best private tutors in Ohio on retainer by tomorrow morning. And I want a full investigation into why Child Protective Services failed to locate these girls six months ago."
"I'm already on it," Marissa replied. "But Ethan... you need to check the news again. The man from the park—the one who shouted about the wallet—just identified himself online."
Ethan’s eyes narrowed. "Who is he?"
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"His name is Victor Vance—no relation to Julian. He’s a small-time real estate speculator and a vocal online personality. And he’s not backing down. He just posted a video claiming you’re staging a PR stunt to cover up a failed land acquisition deal in Linden Park."
Ethan took his phone, his thumb swiping across the screen. "He wants attention. Let's see how much attention he likes when his bank accounts are frozen."
