Chapter 141

Long seconds passed. Finally, Damon pulled his phone from his pocket. He lifted it, angled the camera toward his son, and hit record. His voice was low, dangerously calm. “Caleb,” he said, “do you want your mother back?” Caleb didn’t hesitate. He nodded so hard his hair bounced. “Yes! Yes, Dad, please. I want things to be like before.” “Good,” Damon said. “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see her.” Caleb lit up like fireworks. “Really?! You mean it?!” “Yes.” Damon forced a smile. “Now go rest. If you look worn out, your mother might think you’ve been neglected.” That worked. Caleb allowed the nanny to tuck him in, finally settling down with exhausted sniffles. Damon waited until the boy was asleep. Then he stepped into the hallway, replayed the emotional video of Caleb crying for Sloane, trimmed it with clinical precision, and sent it directly to her phone. No context. No explanation. Just a message he knew would cut straight to the softest part of her heart. *** Inside the theater, the anim