Chapter 5 - The Resurrection of the Dead
Julian pulled the child tightly against his chest, collapsing onto his heels on the dust-covered floor. The boy buried his small, filthy face into the crook of Julian's neck, his arms wrapping around his father’s throat with a frantic, life-saving grip. Dirt, grease, and insulation fibers smeared across Julian’s pristine white shirt and dark tuxedo jacket, but Julian held him tighter, burying his face in the child's dust-matted hair as hot tears cut clear tracks down his own chalk-dusted cheeks.
The gallery went dead silent. The elite crowd stood frozen, watching the powerful real-estate tycoon weep over the child pulled from the hollow bones of his own mansion.
Julian slowly raised his head, his face contorted with agonizing fury as his eyes locked onto Evelyn.
She was leaning weakly against the security guards, shivering uncontrollably, her blue silk gown rumpled and covered in white powder.
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"You told me my boy died in the hospital," Julian said, his voice dropping into a low, deadly rumble that resonated through the room. "Seven months ago... after the accident... you told me he stopped breathing in the ICU. You gave me an empty urn."
Evelyn shook her head frantically, her tears ruining her heavy makeup. "Julian... please... it was for his own good... he was broken... he was unstable..." she stammered, her voice hollow as her elaborate web of lies collapsed around her feet.
