DEVIS HOUSE – JONATHAN'S POV
The room was suffocatingly quiet.
No one spoke… not even the children.
Everyone sat with the same haunted expression—the kind that comes after nearly losing someone precious.
Jonathan glanced around, guilt tightening his chest.
Jonathan (inner thought):
How… how did I not notice Laurant's behavior all these years?
How blind was I? 🥲
His eyes settled first on Joseph.
Joseph sat stiff, face blank, eyes hollow—clearly shaken more than he would ever admit.
Then Jonathan looked at Justin.
His son sat curled slightly, trembling.
His eyes were wide… unfocused…
still seeing the image of himself hanging above the piranha tank.
Still hearing the sound of the rope snapping.
Justin: 😨
Jonathan's heart broke again.
Then he looked at the other kids—
Emily sat quietly with her hands folded, lips pressed tight.
Thomas stared at the floor, fists clenched in pure anger.
Eric… little Eric… eyes swollen, tears barely held back.
Jonathan moved closer.
Jonathan:
"Eric… what's wrong, dear?" 😶
Eric's lips trembled.
Eric:
"L… l… l…" 🥲
Justin immediately turned to him, protective as always.
Emily leaned forward.
Emily:
"What happened? Tell us." 🙂
Eric opened his mouth—
But nothing came out.
Just trembling lips and wet eyes.
Lussy gently held his hand.
Lussy:
"It's okay… we're here. Tell us." 😊
And that was all it took.
Eric burst into tears.
He collapsed forward, crying uncontrollably.
Eric:
"It's all because of me!" 😭
Jonathan froze.
Everyone stared.
Jonathan:
"What do you mean by that, sweetheart?" 🙁
Eric wiped his tears, but they kept flowing.
Eric:
"A‑aunt… Amber… she only came late because… because she came to rescue me." 🥲
"If she was even a little more late… Justin… h‑he… he would've…"
His eyes widened, remembering the moment Justin slipped—
the tank beneath him—
the helplessness—
the terror.
His breath hitched.
Eric: 😱
And of course he was terrified.
Justin wasn't just a friend to him anymore.
Justin was his world.
Megan suddenly sat up straight.
Megan:
"What do you mean she rescued you, Eric?
Rescued you from what?" 😱
Eric wiped his face again.
Took a shaking breath.
Then looked around at everyone staring at him.
His heart pounded.
He needed to convince them.
He needed to act.
(Eric's inner thought:)
Come on, Eric… act well.
You need them to believe Aunt Amber came late for a real reason.
Protect her. Protect Justin's mother…
He ran into Megan's arms, hugging her tight.
Eric (crying loudly):
"T‑they kidnapped me, Meghan Auntie!!" 😭
"They said… they s‑said my body looked good…"
"…and when I grow up, they will sell me to some rich people!" 😭
Everyone in the room: 😱
Shock.
Horror.
Fear.
Rage.
Disbelief.
A chill ran across the entire Devis household.
Jonathan's fists clenched.
Joseph's face twisted.
Thomas looked ready to break something.
Emily covered her mouth.
Justin's eyes widened in terror for Eric.
Eric clung to Megan's neck tightly, sobbing harder.
Eric:
"A‑and Aunt Amber saved me… all alone…
If she didn't come…
I… I… would not be here now…" 😭
---
Would you like the next part, where:
Jonathan softens toward Amber
Justin quietly goes to check on his mother
Eric comforts Justin
a huge emotional family moment happens
continue...