Chapter 944

"After that incident, my parents fought constantly," Frederick said. "Our rooms shared a wall. Every night, I’d hear them arguing, shouting, smashing things. And after what happened, the staff started watching me more closely. I never had a chance to visit him again." "Then, one weekend... my father came home in broad daylight, completely enraged. He slapped my mother for the first time right in front of me, demanding to know if she’d helped ‘that little bastard’ escape." Jane's breath caught. "I was relieved," Frederick said softly. "Relieved to know he was no longer locked in that basement room. And that day was the first time I saw my mother stand up to my father. She didn’t deny it—she admitted she’d helped him run. She told him... to go find his real father." Frederick’s voice faltered for a moment. "Those words drove my father into a frenzy. He grabbed her by the collar, screamed the vilest things. I’d never seen him like that—like a demon." Jane gently cupped his cold hand betwe