Chapter 9 - The Child Everyone Called Broken Became the Boy Who Changed the Thompson Family Forever—and I Finally Understood Why I Had Been ChosenYears passed.
Ethan became a teenager.
He could hear.
He spoke constantly.
Far too much, according to Caleb.
He learned piano.
He played badly.
Then better.
He volunteered at the children's hospital.
He told every child:
“You're not broken.”
I watched him become everything his family had denied him.
Caleb changed too.
He was still powerful.
Still intimidating.
But he smiled more.
He came home for dinner.
He learned to cook.
He took vacations.
He stopped carrying a weapon everywhere.
We had a daughter together.
Her name was Lily.
Ethan adored her.
He became the protective older brother.
Our house was loud.
Happy.
Messy.
Exactly the opposite of the old mansion.
One evening, Ethan asked me something.
“Do you regret coming here?”
I shook my head.
“Never.”
“Even the scary part?”
“Especially the scary part.”
He smiled.
“Why?”
“Because it brought me to you.”
He hugged me.
Then Caleb entered.
“What's going on?”
“Mom was telling me she loves me more than you.”
Caleb frowned.
“Impossible.”
I laughed.
“Don't worry.”
“You're still my favorite.”
He pointed at Lily.
“What about her?”
“She is your problem.”
We laughed.
Then Ethan became serious.
“I want to study medicine.”
Caleb smiled.
“Why?”
“Because someone needs to be the doctor who listens.”
May you like
I hugged him.
And I knew he would.
