Chapter 6 - Thirty Minutes Until Everything Collapsed
The nurse at urgent care took one look at Felix and brought us into an examination room.
"What happened, sweetheart?"
Felix stared at his shoes.
I answered for him.
"Hot casserole spilled onto his lap. We cooled the area with running water, but I'd like him examined."
The nurse nodded.
"You did the right thing bringing him in."
She carefully checked his skin and called the attending physician.
Felix squeezed my fingers.
"Am I going to need a shot?"
"No idea, buddy. But if you do, I'll be right here."
He considered that.
"Can I have ice cream afterward?"
"Absolutely."
"Two scoops?"
"You're a tough negotiator."
For the first time since dinner, he almost laughed.
The doctor examined the reddened areas and confirmed that the burns appeared superficial.
He provided appropriate cooling wound care, explained what symptoms to watch for, and advised us to seek further help if Felix developed blistering, increasing pain, or other concerning changes.
He also asked a question that made my stomach tighten.
"Can you tell me how the food came into contact with him?"
I hesitated.
Then I told the truth.
"My mother tipped the dish over his lap during an argument."
The doctor stopped writing.
"Intentionally?"
"I believe so. She told him afterward that it was what he deserved."
The doctor looked at Felix.
My son immediately lowered his eyes.
"I was just trying to get the salt."
"I understand," the doctor said gently.
He documented the injury and the history I'd provided, then explained the appropriate safeguarding steps.
I didn't object.
For too many years, I'd protected my family's reputation at the expense of my own peace.
I wasn't going to hide what had happened to my son.
Before we left, the doctor offered Felix a bright red candy cane.
Felix accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, young man. Have a better Christmas tomorrow."
Outside, the snow had grown heavier.
I helped Felix into the backseat and made sure he was comfortably positioned.
Then I climbed into the driver's seat.
My phone was vibrating.
Again.
And again.
And again.
I glanced at the screen.
Silas — 14 missed calls.
Mom — 8 missed calls.
Dad — 2 missed calls.
Then a video call appeared.
Silas.
I stared at the screen for several seconds.
There was a time when seeing that many calls from my family would have made me panic.
I would have assumed someone was ill.
Someone needed help.
Something terrible had happened.
Now I suspected they had discovered that my money was no longer available on demand.
I accepted the call while the vehicle remained parked.
Silas's face filled the display.
His dark hair was disheveled.
The expensive velvet blazer was still on, but its collar hung crookedly.
He was inside his apartment.
Behind him, I could see the enormous abstract painting he'd purchased on Titan's corporate credit card.
"GIDEON!"
I didn't answer immediately.
"What the hell did you do?"
"Hello, Silas."
"Don't you 'hello' me!"
He pushed his face closer to the camera.
"Apex just sent a notice!"
I remained silent.
"They've suspended the entire funding transaction! Compliance is reviewing our asset declarations, and the term sheet won't be executed!"
"That sounds serious."
"Serious? Nolan just called me! He's furious! He says there are charges on the company account nobody approved!"
I watched my brother's face.
For the first time in years, his confidence was gone.
"What did you do?" he demanded again.
"I didn't create your expenses, Silas."
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Behind him, another voice shouted.
My mother.
A moment later, Eleanor pushed her way into the frame.
She was clutching several printed pages.
"Gideon!"
I heard panic in her voice.
Actual panic.
Not anger masquerading as disappointment.
"The mortgage payment isn't coming through!"
"I canceled my transfer authorization."
"The bank sent another warning!"
"Then you need to contact your lender."
"We're already at the end of the grace period!"
That caught my attention.
I'd known my parents were heavily dependent on my payments.
I hadn't realized they had allowed additional obligations to become overdue.
My mother began crying.
"And Silas says his car has been restricted! The finance company is arranging recovery if he doesn't resolve the account!"
Silas shouted something behind her.
My father appeared in the doorway.
He looked older than he had an hour earlier.
For once, he wasn't holding a whiskey glass.
"Gideon," he said slowly.
I looked at him.
His voice trembled.
"Are you... are you the Gideon Mercer listed as managing partner of Apex Ventures?"
I let the silence stretch.
My father swallowed.
"You helped found that firm?"
"Yes."
My mother stopped crying for a moment.
Silas stared at the screen.
The realization spread across their faces in three different ways.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Then fear.
And although I had imagined many versions of my family finally discovering what I did for a living, I'd never expected the truth to emerge like this.
From the passenger-side dashboard display, another notification appeared.
It was Julian.
Independent committee has voted to terminate Titan's pending investment. Material disclosure concerns confirmed. Full written report to follow.
I looked back at my family.
May you like
Thirty minutes earlier, they'd ordered me out of their house.
Now they desperately wanted me to open a door they had never realized belonged to me.
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