Chapter 3
The sudden disconnection of the call left Leo in a terrifying vacuum of silence, broken only by the steady, rhythmic roar of city traffic rising from the avenue far below. He stood up on shaking legs, pressing his ear directly against the glass door, straining to hear what was happening inside the apartment. The rhythmic pounding at the front entryway had stopped, replaced by muffled shouts and the heavy thud of a shoulder slamming against solid wood.
Inside, the amber silhouette of Nyah froze mid-stride. The frantic pacing stopped instantly. For a terrifying second, the entire apartment held its breath. Then, a sharp, splintering crack echoed through the walls, followed by the metallic clatter of a chain lock snapping under brute force.
"Nyah! Open this damn door right now!" Evelyn’s voice boomed from the hallway, sharp and furious enough to penetrate the interior walls.
Leo heard the scuffle before he saw it—the sharp rustle of fabric, a startled gasp from his mother, and the heavy thud of someone stumbling against the living room furniture. The sheer curtain over the balcony door billowed violently as a draft rushed through the newly opened apartment door.
"What the hell do you think you're doing breaking into my home?" Nyah’s voice rang out, sharp, defensive, and completely devoid of remorse. "Get out of my apartment, Mother! You have no right!"
"I have every right when you leave a seven-year-old boy freezing on a high-rise ledge over a spilled glass of juice!" Evelyn fired back, her breathing ragged from the sprint up the service stairs.
Leo reached out, his cold fingers grabbing the hem of the sheer curtain and yanking it aside. The sudden rush of light blinded him for a fraction of a second. Inside the luxurious living room, the scene was chaotic. The dark puddle of orange juice still glistened near the center of the wooden floor, perfectly undisturbed. Nyah stood near the kitchen island, her sparkling beige dress ruined, her short-haired bald head slick with sweat, glaring daggers at Evelyn. Evelyn stood chest-to-chest with her daughter, her face flushed with righteous fury, clutching the heavy emergency key fob in her trembling grip.
Nyah’s eyes darted past Evelyn, locking onto Leo through the glass. Her expression didn't soften; instead, a cold, calculated mask settled over her features. She reached behind her, gripped the handle of the sliding door, and shoved it wide open.
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"Fine," Nyah spat, her voice chillingly calm as she stared directly at her mother. "Take him. Take the ungrateful little monster right now. But don't ever expect me to ask for him back."
Evelyn gasped, turning slowly toward the balcony, her eyes wide with horror as she looked at Leo.
