DETACHED

Chapter 11: Two parents, Two actions

The room was unusually quiet.

Xavier sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the plate Emilia had quietly brought him only moments earlier. The aroma of the warm meal filled the room, but his appetite had long disappeared. Even so, Emilia's gentle insistence echoed in his ears.

"Nothing will change even if you stay hungry"

After several moments of hesitation, he finally picked up the spoon. The taste filled his mouth, he was hungry but scared his father will punish him if found out but anyways there was no harm trying. He closed his eyes to salvor his mind trailed back to Amara again.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her standing silently in the classroom while everyone believed she was a thief. He remembered the look on her face when Miss Martha announced that every locker would be searched, he remembered all the harsh words they said to her on his behalf. He remembered how she had never pointed a finger at him, even when she had every reason to. She could have exposed him, she didn't.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered to himself.

Before he could take another bite, three gentle knocks sounded on the bedroom door.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

The door opened slowly. Uncle Mark stepped inside with his usual calm expression.

His neatly pressed suit made him look as composed as ever, but there was something unusually serious in his eyes.

"Xavier." Xavier looked up as he hurried put the spoon down.

"Your father would like to see you." He said

The spoon fell from the tray, they both looked at it

"He... wants to see me now?" Xavier questioned as he raised his head.

Uncle Mark nodded

Xavier lowered his and glanced once at the untouched food.

"I'll finish eating later."

"I don't believe that will be possible," Uncle Mark replied gently.

"Your father asked that you come immediately."

Xavier let out a quiet sigh.

He already knew what this was about.

Slowly, he pushed the plate away and stood. Emilia, who had been waiting anxiously outside the room, caught his eye as he stepped into the hallway.

Without saying a word, she offered him a small, reassuring smile. It wasn't enough to calm the storm inside him.

Uncle Mark led the way through the long corridor of the Cole residence.

Neither of them spoke.

The silence between them felt heavier with every step. At last, they stopped before a large wooden door at the end of the hallway. It was Sebastian Cole's private study.

Uncle Mark knocked once.

"Sir, Xavier is here."

A firm voice answered from inside.

"Send him in."

Uncle Mark slowly opened the door before stepping aside.

"You may go in."

Xavier swallowed hard before walking into the study. The room was exactly as he remembered. Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling. Every file on the desk was arranged perfectly. Not a single object was out of place. Sebastian Cole stood beside the window with his hands clasped behind his back.

He wasn't angry, he wasn't shouting. He simply watched the afternoon sunlight spill across the gardens outside. The quiet somehow made him even more intimidating.

Without turning around, he spoke.

"Close the door."

Xavier obeyed.

The soft click of the door echoed through the room.

Only then did Sebastian turn to face his son. His expression was calm, unreadable, gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.

"Sit down."

Xavier slowly lowered himself into the chair, his heartbeat growing louder with every passing second.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Sebastian studied him carefully, as though searching for the right words.

Finally, he broke the silence.

"What I'm about to tell you will change your future." He said looking at him

" I have reached a decision Xavier" He paused and looked his son.

"Xavier, you are going abroad" Sabastain Cole dropped the bomb and relaxed back on his seat.

A sharp, rhythmic beeping echoed through the hospital room.

The sound was steady, constant, almost comforting.

Amara lay motionless beneath a white blanket, her face unusually pale against the pillow. A bandage wrapped around her forehead while another covered the deep wound on her leg. Her breathing was slow, helped by the oxygen tube resting beneath her nose.

Just outside the room, Grandma Ruth sat quietly on a wooden bench. Her hands were clasped together so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Every few seconds, she glanced toward the operating theatre doors, hoping someone would come out with good news. She had found the little girl unconscious outside her gate only hours earlier.

Now, somehow... She was never leaving

The doors finally opened.

A doctor stepped into the hallway, removing his surgical gloves.

Grandma Ruth immediately stood.

"Doctor..." She called impatiently

"How is she?" She ask nervously. The doctor offered a tired smile.

"The surgery was successful." He said clasping his hands together

Grandma Ruth released a shaky breath.

"Thank God."

"But..." The doctor's expression became serious again.

"There are things we'd like to discuss with you." Her heart tightened.

"Is something wrong?" She asked worryingly

"The injury to her leg has been treated."

"The bleeding in her abdomen has been controlled."

"But..." He paused and opened the medical file in his hands.

"We discovered several older injuries."

Grandma Ruth frowned.

"Older injuries?" Grandma Ruth ask confused The doctor nodded.

"Bruises in different stages of healing."

"Scars, signs that suggest this child has been hurt more than once."

Grandma Ruth lowered her eyes.

She remembered how frightened Amara had looked even while unconscious, as if her body had forgotten how to feel safe. The doctor spoke gently.

"Do you know her parents?"

Grandma Ruth look down and said nothing. The doctor nodded slowly.

The doctor looked at the sleeping girl through the glass window.

"Then you did the right thing" he stated

He closed the file.

"Because of what we've found, the hospital is required to notify social services."

Grandma Ruth's eyes widened.

"Social services?"

"Yes, we have reason to believe this child may have been abused." He said and walk away.

Grandma Ruth slowly turned toward the hospital room once more. The little girl slept peacefully for the first time since she had found her, she deserved that peace. No matter what happened next.

Far across town, inside the small wooden house, Chief Marcus pushed open the front door. The house was silent.

"Amara!"

No answer.

He checked the tiny bedroom.

Empty.

The kitchen.

Empty.

His voice grew louder.

"Amara!"

Still...

Nothing.