Chapter 4

Cameron's POV

When I finally managed to break the door down, I found April in one of the guest bedrooms downstairs, taking care of a barely conscious Thomas.

The moment her gaze landed on me, the corner of her mouth twitched into a subtle smirk. It was as if she were convinced that I was somehow admitting my mistake and regretting my decision to end things earlier.

But she was about to be disappointed.

I walked right past her and headed straight for Thomas.

"Where's my son?" I asked, my voice trembling.

A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes.

"Why are you asking? He's asleep with the nanny."

April stepped in front of him protectively, her eyes filled with impatience.

"You already made Thomas so mad that he fainted, and now you're trying to stir up more trouble? Can you stop with the act? When have you ever cared so much about Noah?"

I froze, unable to believe those words had come out of her mouth. But I had no time to argue with her. The alarm on my watch was blaring nonstop, and every instinct in my body was screaming that Noah was in danger.

My heart pounded wildly. Without even realizing it, I found myself grabbing Thomas by the collar.

"Where did you hide my son?"

He shook his head innocently. Then, in the next instant, he grabbed my arm and leaned in close.

"That kid is the source of this whole nightmare," he whispered right next to my ear. "I can't stand by and watch April get dragged down with him. You wouldn't want that either, right?"

As he spoke, he pulled up the surveillance feed from the swimming pool in the backyard on his phone.

On the screen, the three-year-old Noah bobbed helplessly in the water, his little arms and legs thrashing wildly.

Every drop of blood in my body seemed to freeze. Unable to take it any longer, I wrapped my hands around his neck and squeezed as hard as I could.

"Give my son back to me, Thomas Balfour!"

But amid the struggle, dark-colored blood—so dark it almost looked black—gushed from my nose and mouth.

Everyone around us gasped.

April stood frozen, staring at me in shock. "What's happening?"

Only I knew the truth. The pills I overdosed were finally starting to take effect. I calmly wiped the blood from my face.

Even if I could only be a father for a little while longer, I was going to protect my son.

I stumbled as I tried to rush toward the swimming pool in the backyard, but April cut me off, blocking my path.

"You think you can assault someone and just run off? Apologize to Thomas right now!"

Lucas stepped in front of me too, his face full of disappointment.

"Thomas has sacrificed so much for you and Noah. Look at what you've done to him. You must apologize to him!"

I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to say a word. Just as I was about to force my way through, April moved faster than I could react and injected me with a sedative.

My body went limp, and I collapsed into her arms.

Through the thick pane of glass, I watched with my own eyes as Noah slowly sank beneath the surface of the pool, until the water finally turned still again.

Lucas' angry roar echoed in my ears.

"Just say the word, and we can have Cameron committed to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. It'll be better for everyone that way. You and Thomas can finally be together out in the open!"

April said nothing. She just quietly helped me back to my room like she always did.

I lay on the familiar bed and slowly closed my eyes.

The blood oozing from the corner of my mouth stained the sheets red, as if it were the last trace of me left in this home.

…

Third-Person POV

April ultimately didn't stay at the hospital to take care of Thomas. Instead, she returned home with a bouquet of flowers.

Walking through the front door, she called out Cameron's name twice, but there was no response.

She headed to the bedroom. But the moment she pushed the door open, her pupils dilated in pure horror.