After I left, they begged for Forgiveness

Chapter 53-Being a better man

The ticking wall clock was the only sound in the room, slicing the silence like a blade. Mr. Quinn stood like a statue behind the mahogany desk, arms crossed, his sharp gaze locked onto the boy kneeling before him.

"Look at me, Caleb."

The boy flinched, his eyes fixed on the floor. His knees pressed hard against the cold tile, jeans stained with dirt and something darker. He dared not raise his head.

Mr. Quinn's voice dropped, slower, colder.

"You want to be seen? You want the world to follow you? Then you must learn the rule…"

He paused, taking slow steps forward, the floor groaning under his boots.

"—the world only follows a man who doesn't feel pain."

Caleb swallowed hard. He didn’t understand the world. Not really. All he knew was that love had a face in his house—and it wasn’t his.

It was Elijah.

Always Elijah.

Mr. Quinn reached for a small wooden shelf to his right. On it lay scattered tools—papers, files, a half-empty bottle of whiskey, and beneath it all, a rusted hammer. He p