Chapter 3: The Confrontation
Thomas marched back toward the glowing string lights of the patio.
Each step he took felt heavy and deliberate.
The wet grass gave way to the polished stone of the terrace.
The soft jazz music felt like a cruel mockery of the nightmare hiding in the dark.
Guests continued to laugh and clink their expensive crystal glasses.
They were completely oblivious to the monster standing among them.
Thomas locked his eyes on Vanessa.
She was still standing in the exact same spot.
The gold sequins of her dress shimmered as she shifted her weight.
She was chatting with a dark-haired woman in a formal gown.
The guest held a champagne flute and looked moderately curious.
Thomas approached them from behind, his footsteps completely silent over the music.
"Where is your stepson?"
The dark-haired guest asked the question politely.
Vanessa did not even hesitate.
She smirked, taking a slow, confident sip of her champagne.
"He is exactly where I left him."
The words had barely left her lips before Thomas struck.
He violently lunged into the frame of their conversation.
He grabbed Vanessa tightly by the bare shoulders.
The sudden impact caused her champagne glass to slip and shatter against the stone floor.
He spun her around to face him.
He screamed in her face with a pure, explosive rage.
"Give me the key!"
Her smug expression shattered instantly into sudden terror.
The dark-haired guest let out a sharp gasp and stumbled backward.
The jazz music seemed to fade away as the entire party went dead silent.
Dozens of wealthy guests turned to stare in shock.
Vanessa's eyes were wide with genuine fear as she stared up at her furious husband.
She tried to pull away, but his grip was like iron.
"Thomas, you are hurting me!"
She whimpered, her confident facade entirely gone.
"Where is the key to the cage, Vanessa?"
His voice was a low, dangerous growl that echoed across the quiet patio.
Whispers erupted among the crowd as the terrible word registered in their minds.
Vanessa trembled, reaching a shaking hand into the small pocket of her sequined dress.
She pulled out a small, heavy brass key.
Thomas snatched it from her palm without a second thought.
He shoved her away in pure disgust.
Vanessa stumbled in her high heels and fell hard against a cocktail table.
Thomas did not look back at her.
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He sprinted away from the blinding lights.
He ran back into the saving darkness to rescue his boy.
