Chapter 457: The Door That Should Have Broken Sooner

Inside Hope’s house...

Yvonne’s voice remained sharp.

Cold.

Impatient.

"Just turn eighteen and leave us for good."

Hope’s quiet voice came through the speakers.

"I..."

A pause.

"I’m really sorry."

Yvonne snapped immediately.

"Sorry what?"

There was silence.

Then Hope answered again.

"S... sorry, Mother."

Yvonne’s voice became even colder.

"Say it nicely."

A small sound followed.

Not loud.

But enough.

Hope gasped.

"Ahh..."

Then her voice trembled.

"It hurts."

"Mother, please let me go."

Nick heard everything through the live feed inside his car.

His fingers slowly curled into a fist.

His jaw tightened.

Inside the van...

Gareth still hadn’t moved.

But the anger on his face was no longer hidden.

The next shout came through.

"You..."

Yvonne sounded furious.

"How dare you talk back?"

Gareth stood.

His voice was unnaturally calm.

"Can you help me break the door?"

Miles looked at him.

Gareth’s eyes remained fixed on the house.

"I don’t have a key."

Miles immediately stood.

"Leave it to me."

Gareth turned toward him.

"Please arrange her arrest."

Miles’ expression didn’t change.

Gareth continued,

"I don’t want that woman anywhere near my daughter again."

Miles looked toward the Sterling Security agent near the van door.

The agent understood instantly.

He stepped aside and touched his comms.

"Contacting local enforcement."

Gareth didn’t wait.

He stepped out.

Then started walking toward the house.

Fast.

Miles followed.

The live feed continued on Derek’s console.

More movement.

More voices.

Hope’s crying.

Yvonne’s angry words.

Miles looked toward Gareth.

That expression...

He knew it.

It wasn’t rage without control.

It was worse.

The kind that came after someone understood exactly what had happened.

The kind of anger that had already gone cold.

Miles increased his pace.

They reached the front door.

Miles looked toward Gareth.

"Step back."

Gareth moved aside.

Miles adjusted his jacket.

Then took one short step back.

His eyes locked onto the door.

The next second...

He rushed forward.

One kick.

A sharp crack exploded through the entrance.

The lock broke.

The door slammed inward.

The sound echoed through the house.

Both people inside turned instantly.

Yvonne stood near the hallway.

One hand was wrapped tightly around Hope’s wrist.

Hope’s face was wet with tears.

Her other hand was trying to pull herself free.

Gareth stopped.

For a moment...

He simply stared.

Hope’s eyes widened.

"Dad?"

Yvonne loosened her grip in shock.

Hope immediately pulled her wrist free.

Then ran.

"Dad!"

She crashed into Gareth’s arms.

He caught her.

Held her tightly.

Hope buried her face against his chest.

The moment he felt her trembling...

Something inside him broke.

One tear slipped down his cheek.

His hand moved over her back.

Slowly.

Carefully.

It was shaking.

"It’ll be alright, sweetie."

His voice cracked slightly.

"I’m here."

Hope held him tighter.

"I’m here now."

Yvonne finally recovered.

"Darling..."

Gareth’s eyes lifted.

"This isn’t what it looks like."

His face changed instantly.

"Shut the hell up."

Yvonne froze.

Gareth tightened one arm around Hope.

He didn’t move toward Yvonne.

Didn’t shout again.

Didn’t touch her.

But the hatred in his eyes was enough.

Miles watched for one more second.

Then turned away.

This part didn’t belong to him anymore.

Hope had her father.

And now...

Her father finally understood what he had failed to see.

Miles walked back outside.

Derek had already stepped out of the van.

Nick arrived from his car moments later.

Miles looked toward the Sterling Security agent.

"Stay here."

"Yes, Boss."

"Make sure nothing goes wrong until law enforcement arrives."

The agent nodded.

Miles continued,

"Arrange a doctor too."

"Tonight."

"Have Hope examined properly."

The agent’s expression became serious.

"Understood."

"Check for any other signs of physical assault."

"Old injuries too."

"Anything that needs treatment."

The agent nodded.

Miles added,

"And get Gareth a lawyer."

"Someone experienced with family and child protection cases."

"Copy that, Boss."

Nick looked toward Miles.

"You alright?"

Miles nodded.

"I’m good."

Then looked back toward the house.

"Let’s leave."

Nick frowned slightly.

"Already?"

"Yes."

Miles looked toward the doorway.

"Gareth needs to handle the rest."

"Law enforcement will take over."

Neighbors were already turning on lights.

Curtains moved.

A few doors opened.

People looked toward the broken entrance.

Miles sighed.

Nick shook his head.

"That woman is heartless."

Miles began walking toward the vehicles.

"She’ll get whatever the law decides she deserves."

He glanced back once.

"I’m just glad Hope is safe."

Nick followed beside him.

Then suddenly realized something.

"Her name is Hope too."

Miles looked toward him.

Nick nodded slowly.

"That explains why you were so angry."

Miles gave him a look.

Nick smiled faintly.

"Salute to you, General."

Miles frowned.

"For what?"

"Stepping in for someone you barely know."

Miles became quiet.

Then replied,

"She’s a good kid."

Nick listened.

"Cheerful."

"Helpful."

"She has dreams."

Miles’ expression softened.

"She deserves a future where she gets to chase them."

He looked back toward the house.

"Not one where she spends years trying to recover from the past."

Derek had remained quiet until then.

Finally he said,

"I hope her father learns something from this."

Miles looked toward him.

Then a small smirk appeared.

"That sounded personal."

Derek immediately looked at him.

"What?"

Miles continued walking.

"Relatable?"

Derek didn’t answer.

But the surprise on his face was enough.

Miles glanced toward him.

"Come on, Mr. Huxley."

Derek slowed.

Miles smiled.

"I know about your billionaire family."

Derek froze for half a second.

Nick’s head immediately turned.

Derek stared at Miles.

"Huh?"

Then his expression changed.

"My surname..."

He sighed.

"...is probably the most vulnerable piece of information about me."

Miles nodded.

"Exactly why I checked."

Derek looked away.

Miles continued,

"Tell your father you have a real job."

Derek scoffed.

"Maybe he’ll accept you back."

"Who cares about him?"

Nick immediately stepped closer.

"Wait."

Derek looked at him.

Nick pointed between them.

"What?"

Then toward Derek.

"Billionaire family?"

Miles smiled.

Nick continued,

"Tell me."

"This already sounds interesting."

Derek rubbed his forehead.

"It’s not."

Nick grinned.

"It definitely is."

Miles looked toward the time.

"Come on."

"It’s late."

Nick frowned.

"You can’t drop that and leave."

Miles started toward his car.

"We should sleep."

Then smiled.

"Chloe is waiting."

Nick sighed.

"Okay."

Miles looked toward one of the remaining agents.

"Give Derek a lift."

"Yes, Boss."

"Take him to his apartment."

Miles looked toward Derek.

Then back toward the agent.

"And arrange wheels for him."

Derek immediately replied,

"A bike is fine."

Miles slowly looked at him.

Derek smiled.

"I’m serious."

Miles studied him for a moment.

Despite being around Miles’ age...

The man still somehow acted much younger whenever he wasn’t hiding behind a screen.

Miles looked toward the agent.

"Remove two wheels for him."

The agent nodded seriously.

"Alright, Boss."

Derek stared.

"What?"

Nick burst out laughing.

Miles opened the car door.

Derek sighed.

Then smiled.

"Good night, Boss."

Miles looked back.

Derek continued,

"This might actually be the best day of my life."

Miles smiled.

"Oh..."

"It’s just begun."

Nick pointed at Derek.

"Bye, buddy."

Then added quickly,

"Before I leave Star Harbor, I need the full story."

Derek groaned.

"Fine."

"It’s not that great anyway."

Nick smiled.

"I’ll decide that."

Miles and Nick left toward Pearl Villa.

Behind them...

Police vehicles arrived one after another.

Their lights reflected across the street.

Local officers entered the house.

Statements were taken.

The Sterling Security agent provided the collected evidence.

Audio.

Timelines.

Known injuries.

And the circumstances that brought Gareth there.

Not long afterward...

Yvonne was escorted out.

She argued.

Tried explaining.

Tried calling Gareth.

But he never stepped outside.

The police vehicle door closed.

And she was taken away.

...

A doctor arrived later that night.

A female physician.

A nurse accompanied her.

Hope was examined privately.

Gareth waited outside the room.

He hadn’t changed position for several minutes.

His hands remained clasped.

His head lowered.

Every few seconds...

His eyes moved toward the closed door.

When it finally opened...

He stood instantly.

The doctor stepped out with the nurse.

Her expression wasn’t pleasant.

"Mr. Fenwick?"

"Yes."

Gareth moved closer.

"How is she?"

The doctor looked at him for several seconds.

Then said,

"This is not how you raise a child."

Gareth lowered his eyes.

The doctor continued,

"She has several bruises."

"Some newer."

"Some already healing."

Gareth’s face slowly lost color.

The doctor continued,

"She’s been through more than what she told you."

His lips parted.

But no words came.

The doctor looked directly at him.

"I hope this never happens again."

"It won’t."

His answer came immediately.

The doctor raised one hand.

"Listen to me first."

Gareth stopped.

"If I see anything like this again..."

"If she comes back with unexplained injuries..."

"If there’s any indication that she’s unsafe..."

"I’ll contact Child Protection Services myself."

Gareth nodded.

"I understand."

"They can remove her from your custody too."

Gareth’s jaw tightened.

The doctor continued,

"This isn’t only about the woman who hurt her."

"It’s also about the parent who was supposed to notice."

Those words landed heavily.

Gareth looked down.

"I understand."

The doctor’s expression softened slightly.

"I’ll send the full report to law enforcement."

She looked toward Hope’s room.

"That woman needs to face consequences."

Gareth nodded.

"She will."

The doctor stepped away.

Then stopped.

"Take care of your daughter."

Gareth looked toward the room.

"From now on..."

"I will."

The doctor and nurse left.

For a few seconds...

Gareth remained standing alone.

Then the door opened.

Hope stepped out.

She had changed clothes.

Her wrist had been treated.

A small dressing covered one of the bruises.

Gareth looked at her.

Then opened his arms.

Hope didn’t hesitate.

She walked into them.

He held her tightly.

Not too tightly.

Carefully.

His hand moved over her hair.

Slowly.

"I’m sorry, sweetie."

Hope closed her eyes.

Gareth’s voice trembled.

"I failed you."

He swallowed.

"And your mother."

At the mention of Marianne...

Hope’s fingers tightened around his clothes.

Gareth continued,

"I promised her I’d take care of you."

His eyes closed.

"And I wasn’t even here."

Hope lifted her face slightly.

"I’m fine, dad."

Gareth looked down at her.

She gave him a small smile.

"I’m glad you came back."

He almost cried again.

Then Hope looked toward the front entrance.

Workers were already repairing the broken door.

The damaged lock had been removed.

A temporary replacement was being fitted.

Hope stared at it.

Then looked at Gareth.

"He was there, right?"

Gareth frowned.

"Who?"

"Brother Miles."

Gareth became confused.

"Miles?"

Hope nodded.

"The person who was standing beside you when the door opened."

"You mean..."

"The person from law enforcement?"

Hope shook her head.

"No."

Gareth looked at her.

Hope smiled faintly.

"He’s Brother Miles."

Gareth stared.

Hope continued,

"Miles Sterling."

Gareth’s expression froze.

"Wait."

He pulled back slightly.

"Miles Sterling?"

Hope nodded.

"The Chairman of Sterling Enterprises?"

"Yes."

Gareth looked toward the broken door.

Then toward his daughter again.

Hope continued innocently,

"He gave me a lift yesterday too."

Gareth stared.

"Yesterday?"

Hope nodded.

"I was walking home."

"He saw me."

"So he dropped me nearby."

Gareth slowly lowered his head.

Shame settled over his face.

"A man like that..."

Hope frowned.

Gareth continued,

"Someone with that much responsibility..."

"He noticed something was wrong with you."

His voice became quieter.

"And your own father didn’t."

Hope tightened her arms around him again.

"Don’t worry, Dad."

Gareth closed his eyes.

"I’m not mad."

That somehow hurt worse.

Hope rested her head against him.

Then said,

"Let’s visit Mother tomorrow."

Gareth opened his eyes.

He knew exactly what she meant.

Marianne.

Her grave.

Gareth nodded slowly.

"Yes."

"We’ll go."

Hope smiled.

Gareth added,

"And after that..."

"We’ll go thank him."

Hope looked up.

"In person?"

"Yes."

Gareth smiled weakly.

"We owe him that."

Hope nodded.

"Okay."

...

Pearl Villa.

Late night.

Miles sat on the edge of the bed.

His shoulders finally relaxed.

The long day had ended.

Or at least...

As much as Miles’ days ever ended.

Chloe sat behind him.

Her hands rested on his shoulders.

She gently pressed her fingers into the muscles.

Miles closed his eyes.

Chloe smiled.

"I feel bad for Hope."

Miles nodded.

"Me too."

Her hands continued moving.

Then she said softly,

"Thanks to you..."

"She’ll be happier now."

Miles opened his eyes slightly.

"I’m happy too."

Chloe smiled.

"Of course."

She leaned closer.

"I’m happy too."

Miles glanced toward her.

Chloe kissed his cheek.

"My husband is the best."

Miles smiled.

Then tilted his head.

"Do I get a reward?"

Chloe stopped massaging.

"A reward?"

Miles nodded.

"For being the best."

Chloe thought dramatically.

"Hmm."

Miles waited.

Then she moved her hands away.

"How about..."

She turned slightly.

"You massage my shoulders too."

Miles looked at her.

Chloe smiled.

"And then..."

"I’ll give you a reward."

Miles stood immediately.

"Any time."