Chapter 6 - Reclaiming the Castle
The purification of the mansion took a full week. I hired a professional biohazard and deep-cleaning crew to completely gut the service kitchen out back, tearing down the stained drywall and replacing it with bright, clean tiling and modern appliances. I took every single piece of expensive clothing, furniture, and jewelry that Gertrude and Prudence had bought with my stolen money and listed them for a massive public asset liquidation sale, channeling every single dollar into a trust fund for Jamie’s future education.
On a warm Saturday morning, I finally brought Sarah and Jamie back to the estate. But this time, we didn't use the back entrance.
I threw open the massive, hand-carved mahogany front doors of the mansion. The interior was spotless, smelling faintly of fresh pine and clean laundry. The sun streamed beautifully through the grand floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the polished marble floors.
Jamie hesitated at the threshold, his small hand gripping my fingers tightly. He looked up at the towering ceiling, his eyes wide with a familiar trace of fear. "Dad... are we allowed to be in here?"
I knelt down, looking my son directly in the eyes. "Jamie, look at this house. Every single brick, every piece of wood, and every light in this place belongs to you and your mom. You are the prince of this castle. You can run, play, and eat wherever you want."
May you like
Jamie looked at Sarah, who gave him a tearful, encouraging nod. With a bright, joyful shout, my little boy took off, his sneakers clicking happily against the marble floors as he sprinted into the grand living room, finally free to be a child again.
Sarah walked up beside me, resting her head against my shoulder. For the first time in five years, the heavy, crushing weight in my chest disappeared entirely.
