Chapter 5 - SHADOWS IN THE MANSION
The weeks that followed were a grueling test of endurance. Nathan formally stepped back from the daily operations of Caldwell Systems, appointing his COO as interim CEO. His full-time job was now his daughters.
But the trauma of Vanessa’s reign ran deep.
One evening in late January, a thunderstorm rolled over the Aspen mountains. A loud crack of thunder shook the windows. Nathan, who was reading in the living room, heard a terrified scream from the girls' wing.
He sprinted down the hall, throwing open the door to their shared bedroom. The beds were empty.
Panic seized his throat. "Emma? Lily? Grace? Sophie?"
No answer. Only the sound of the howling wind outside.
He dropped to his knees, checking under the beds, his chest heaving. Finally, he checked the walk-in closet. There, huddled in the darkest corner behind a row of winter coats, were all four girls. They were clinging to each other, shaking violently.
"Girls," Nathan said softly, reaching out.
"Don't lock us in!" Sophie sobbed, burying her face in Emma’s shoulder. "We won't cry! We promise we won't cry!"
Nathan’s blood ran cold. Don't lock us in.
He crawled into the cramped space, ignoring the expensive suits crushing against his shoulders, and pulled all four of them into his lap. "You're safe," he murmured, tears pricking his own eyes. "No one is ever locking you in the dark again. Daddy is here. I’m right here."
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The next morning, Nathan called Dr. Sarah Jenkins. She had been visiting weekly to monitor their physical health, but it was clear they needed more. She recommended a specialized play-therapist, but she also stayed for dinner.
Over roasted chicken and mashed potatoes—a meal the girls finally ate with enthusiasm—Sarah’s warm presence seemed to anchor the room. She didn't treat them like fragile glass; she treated them like normal, bright five-year-olds. Nathan found himself watching her laugh at one of Emma’s jokes, feeling a strange, unfamiliar warmth in his chest. It was the first time since Claire died that the house felt like a home.
