Chapter 3My Ghost Still Protects My Son

Toby ran back toward the main elevators, clutching the blanket like it was a holy relic.

But as he reached the lobby, he ran straight into Sebastian.

Sebastian wasn't in his wheelchair anymore. He was standing, holding his dog, looking perfectly healthy. When he saw Toby, his face twisted into a mask of pure loathing.

"Get out of my way, you little brat."

He looked down at his pristine cashmere sweater. "Do you have any idea what this costs? If you get your filth on me, I’ll sell you to pay for the dry cleaning."

"Just like your father. Pathetic. A bottom-feeding loser."

Before Toby could even react, Sebastian pulled back his foot and kicked him—hard—right in the stomach.

Toby crumpled. The blanket slid across the floor. Gasping for air, he tried to crawl toward it, but Sebastian’s expensive leather loafer came down on his hand. He ground his heel into Toby’s small fingers.

"Listen to me, you little sh*t," Sebastian hissed, leaning down, his eyes gleaming with malice. "If you ever try to pull that 'sad orphan' act in front of Madeline again, I will make sure you and your loser dad are dumped in a ditch. Do you hear me?"

He looked like he wanted Toby to simply cease to exist.

I screamed. I lunged at him, trying to wrap my spectral fingers around his throat, trying to shove him off my son.

Leave him alone! Take it out on me! Don't you touch him!

I roared until my throat felt like it was tearing, but Sebastian heard nothing. He just watched with sadistic pleasure as Toby’s face turned red from the pain.

Toby’s arm began to spasm, but he didn't cry out. He looked up, his eyes bloodshot and fierce, staring directly into Sebastian’s soul.

"My daddy isn't a loser. He’s the best man in the world."

"You’re the monster. Don't you dare talk about my daddy."

Then, Toby leaned forward and bit Sebastian’s ankle as hard as he could.

Sebastian let out a yelp of pure fury. He lost his grip on the dog and delivered a brutal, heavy kick to Toby’s ribs.

"You little bastard!"

I screamed again, throwing myself over Toby’s body to shield him. But the kick passed right through me. Toby was thrown back against the marble wall with a sickening thud. He spat out a mouthful of dark blood.

Even then, he didn't wail. He just reached out, his hand shaking, searching the floor.

"The... the blanket..." he wheezed. "Dad needs... the blanket..."

Sebastian wasn't finished. He stepped toward the boy and raised his hand to strike him again.

"Sebastian?"

Madeline’s voice cut through the lobby like a blade. Everyone froze.

Toby’s eyes flickered with a desperate, dying hope. "Mommy..." he whimpered through a split lip.

Madeline started to move toward him, but Sebastian was faster. He intercepted her, his face instantly transforming into a mask of fragile distress. He leaned into her, hiding Toby’s broken form with his body.

"Madeline! Oh, thank God you're here."

He guided her into an embrace, subtly signaling the guards to move in front of Toby. Madeline frowned, sensing something was wrong.

"Sebastian, was that Toby on the floor? Did you hit him?"

Sebastian’s eyes welled with tears instantly. "Madeline, I’m so sorry. I didn't want to tell you. While you were upstairs, Toby... I don't know who’s been talking to him, but he came into my room and said such horrible things about us. I tried to calm him down, but then he just... he lunged at me."

He clutched his chest, breathing shallowly. "You know what the surgeon said about my recovery... my heart..."

Madeline’s face hardened. The concern for her son vanished, replaced by a cold, protective rage for the man in her arms.

"Ben is a worse father than I thought. He’s poisoning that child’s mind."

"You’re fragile right now, Sebastian. If his antics cause you a relapse, I will never forgive them. Either of them."

I stood inches from her face, screaming the truth. He’s lying! Madeline, look at your son! He’s bleeding! Sebastian is a sociopath!

From behind the guards, Toby managed one more broken plea. "Mommy..."

A guard’s hand immediately clamped over his mouth.

Madeline paused. She looked toward the guards. "Did he just call for me?"

Sebastian’s expression darkened for a split second before he pulled away, looking "bravely" wounded. "Go to him, then. I’ll be fine. I’ll just go back to my room and try to forget that his father almost killed me by proxy today... I forgive him, Madeline. He’s just a child."

That did it. The mention of the "heart attack" Sebastian had faked weeks ago cemented her resolve.

Madeline let out a sharp, disgusted breath. She turned her back on Toby and began to walk away.

"If Ben won't discipline him, then you do it, Sebastian. He needs to learn. Spare the rod, spoil the child... if he isn't taught a lesson now, he’ll grow up to be just as pathetic as his father."

"I’ll wait for you upstairs."

As she disappeared into the elevator, Toby’s struggles became frantic.

Sebastian turned back to him. The "frail" act was gone. He delivered three sharp, stinging slaps to Toby’s face. Toby’s cheeks swelled, his lip splitting further, blood dripping onto the floor.

But the boy wouldn't let go of that blanket.

Sebastian leaned down, his long nails digging into the skin near Toby’s eye, drawing a thin line of red.

"You’re just like your father," he whispered. "Garbage."

I tried to strangle him. I tried to set the building on fire with my mind. Nothing worked. I was forced to watch, a ghost of a man, as my son was systematically broken. I fell to my knees, begging the empty air, begging Sebastian, begging God.

He’s just a baby. Please. Stop.

The abuse only stopped when Sebastian’s dog began to bark, startled by the violence.

"Oh, did we scare you, Princess?" Sebastian cooed, smoothing the dog’s fur.

He seemed bored now. He stepped back and signaled the guards to drop the boy. Then, he placed the heavy heel of his shoe directly onto Toby’s bruised cheek, pressing him into the cold tile.

"Look at that," Sebastian mocked. "Even your mother doesn't want you."

"Pathetic."