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🕑 Added 2025-06-12 21:54:38 +0000 UTCThe episode outlines were finally laid out for Lucas. It wasn’t exactly a secret—he owned shares in Netflix and had more than a little experience when it came to creative control. Joel didn’t mind at all. If anything, having Lucas involved made things easier.
They spent nearly two hours in deep discussion before Lucas finally stretched and stood up.
“I hope you weren’t bored with all that talk,” he said, glancing at Jennifer with a grin.
Jennifer let out a soft laugh. “What do you take me for? You keep forgetting that besides being your fiancée, I’m an actress. I’m built for sitting through long, boring meetings.”
“I know,” Lucas smirked. “Just thought I’d fake a little concern to win some points.”
Jennifer gave him a playful smack on the shoulder. “Points denied.”
They left for the nearby hotel shortly after. With their security detail surrounding them like a phalanx, even local thugs kept their distance, recognizing the couple immediately and deciding it wasn’t worth the trouble.
—
Days passed.
The documentary was now fully greenlit. Lucas had signed off on the outline, and Netflix wasted no time moving production forward. Experts, analysts, and insiders were already lined up for interviews in the Netflix studio—Joel overseeing it all with his usual calm precision.
Then came the victims.
Several had agreed to be interviewed, willing to speak on-camera about the figures who had once abused them—figures who now might have a motive to silence Lucas. They remembered how Lucas had stood up for them when no one else did. Some even believed that’s why he was targeted in the first place.
When Lucas and Jennifer arrived at the studio, their presence caused a quiet ripple among those already inside. Victims and experts alike nodded respectfully toward them—but no one dared approach. The guards flanking them sent a clear message: Do not get too close.
Still, two women in particular stood out—Ella and Becca.
Ella had once suffered at the hands of Vince Knight.
Becca had been manipulated and abused by Katherine, Vince’s daughter.
They had every reason to feel conflicted, every reason to keep their heads down. And yet, it was Lucas who had—quietly and without asking for credit—helped bring their abusers to justice. Even though those abusers were his own blood.
The two hesitated, eyes flicking between each other, before slowly approaching.
Jack, ever watchful, immediately clocked their movement. He stepped in to intercept.
“Wait,” Ella said quickly. “We just want to say thank you.”
“We’re not here to cause trouble,” Becca added.
Jack studied them both for a moment. Then he gave a slow nod and walked back to Lucas.
Lucas paused his conversation with Joel. “What’s up?”
Jack gestured subtly toward the two women. “Ella and Becca. They’d like a word with you.”
Lucas gently excused himself from Joel and approached the two women. “Hi,” he greeted with a nod.
Before he could say more, both women bowed their heads slightly.
“Lucas… we just wanted to say thank you,” Ella said softly. “For helping bring justice.”
Becca nodded, her eyes filled with quiet emotion. “If it weren’t for you, those two wouldn’t be behind bars.”
Lucas tilted his head. “Those two?”
“Your father… and your half-sister, Katherine,” Ella clarified.
Lucas gave a faint nod, understanding now. “You don’t have to thank me. They’re in prison because of their own actions.”
“Maybe,” Ella replied. “But without you pushing back, no one would’ve listened. You changed that.”
Lucas let out a small sigh, then gestured toward the nearby table. “Come. Let’s sit down for a bit.”
Across the room, Jennifer was speaking quietly with another survivor who had stayed behind. The woman’s voice lowered as she muttered, “That guy—he was obsessed with baby oil. Said it helped him ‘set the mood.’ Sick bastard.”
Jennifer blinked. “Baby oil?”
“Always kept a bottle nearby,” the woman added, shaking her head. “Like it was part of some ritual.”
Jennifer’s jaw tightened, but her voice stayed calm. “Let’s hope the next spotlight he gets is under real heat.”
•••••••••
Meanwhile, at Lucas’s table, he listened carefully as Ella and Becca shared more of their experiences. He remained composed, but the tension in his jaw told a different story.
Becca leaned in slightly, voice low. “Katherine… she liked both men and women. But she didn’t care who got hurt in the process. She enjoyed the power.”
Lucas’s brows furrowed. ‘I suspected it from the reports… but hearing it from a victim’s mouth hits different.’
Ella added, “Your father was worse. When he was in a good mood… he’d whip people. Like it was a game.”
Lucas clenched his fists beneath the table. ‘The hell is wrong with them... They deserve more than just prison.’
He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. “I’m sorry. For everything they did.”
The women nodded. And for a few moments, they just sat there. Not as victim and savior, but as people who’d been through hell… and were still finding their way back.
Lucas spent time not just talking to his family’s victims—but truly listening. He offered what comfort he could, though deep down, he knew he wasn’t sure what to say.
He hadn’t been through what they had. He didn’t have the right words. No amount of empathy could bridge the distance between knowing and experiencing.
So he chose honesty. Quiet support. Presence.
By the time he rejoined Joel, there was a heaviness in his expression.
Joel gave a small nod, understanding without asking. Then he checked his watch and said, “We’ll begin the interviews in a few minutes.”
Soon enough, the cameras rolled. One by one, the victims sat down in front of the lens—faces raw, voices steady at first… until they weren’t.
They spoke of what had been done to them. How long it went ignored. How those responsible walked freely for years. And how, eventually, Lucas stepped in—when no one else did.
Midway through her interview, Becca’s voice cracked. Her breathing grew shallow. Her hands trembled as she tried to hold back sobs.
Joel raised a hand, alert. “Medic—get in here.”
But Becca waved them off, trembling. “No… I’m okay. I just—” She clutched a handkerchief, wiping at her face. “It’s just a lot. That’s all.”
She dabbed her face with a handkerchief, trying to steady herself.
Jennifer watched from the sidelines, her hands balled into fists. Her jaw clenched. Rage buzzed beneath her skin.
‘How are people like that still walking free?’ she thought. ‘How is that even possible?’
She didn’t just feel sympathy—she wanted justice. Revenge, even. But she knew she couldn’t act on it. That wouldn’t help anyone.
Lucas noticed her tension. He reached out, resting a hand gently on her shoulder, and leaned in.
“They survived,” he whispered. “They’re still here. That’s strength we can’t even measure. And now… they’re finally being heard.”
Jennifer closed her eyes, breathing out slowly. The heat in her chest softened, if only slightly.
She nodded.
---
Episode one had been progressing smoothly. Joel had already interviewed several investigators—some hired privately by Netflix, others from law enforcement. With the proper clearances, they even secured on-camera interviews with an FBI agent and a lead officer from the Richmond Police Department.
A week into production, the team traveled to Richmond, Virginia—the last known location of the three shooters. Field interviews, reconstructions, and background footage followed.
By the second week, Joel returned to Netflix Studios to resume filming. Lucas and Jennifer arrived as usual, expecting to meet more victims or experts.
But today… was different.
The moment they stepped into the studio, they sensed something was off. The atmosphere buzzed. Around thirty people filled the space, chatting softly, their energy different from the solemn tone they were used to.
Lucas paused near the entrance, scanning the crowd—until his gaze landed on someone familiar.
Liza.
He blinked. He hadn’t heard a word about her being there. He took a step forward, instinctively moving toward her—then stopped.
Because right beside her were the real surprises.
James. Nicole. Ryan. Jonathan.
His breath caught.
They were older now—taller, healthier. No longer the fragile kids he once volunteered with during their cancer treatments. Teenagers now. Smiling. Alive.
And just behind them were Jonas and Marian—the older ones from the same hospital program, now young adults in their twenties.
“Lucas!” Liza called out, her face lighting up as she waved.
The kids—all grown—turned at the sound of her voice. The moment their eyes landed on Lucas, they lit up with joy and disbelief.
Lucas didn’t wait.
He ignored his guards and hurried across the room. Jennifer, surprised by his sudden burst of emotion, followed close behind.
As he reached them, Lucas’s voice trembled with emotion. “Liza… is this really them? The kids?”
Liza nodded, smiling warmly. “They are.”
She glanced at the group, then back at him. “They heard what happened. They were worried sick and asked if there was any way they could see you. Netflix found out—and thought it would be powerful to include the people you once helped. So… here we are.”
Lucas looked down at them—James, Nicole, Ryan, and Jonathan.
The kids who used to curl up in his lap were now nearly shoulder-height, teenagers with longer limbs and brighter eyes, but the same warmth he remembered.
He turned to Jonas and Marian, who gave him quiet nods of recognition.
‘They were just teens back then… and now look at them,’ he thought, eyes lingering on their grown-up faces.
Then, a soft voice broke the air.
“Dylan…” Nicole said, barely above a whisper. Her voice caught in her throat. “It’s… been a long time.”
That name.
It hit him like a wave.
‘Dylan.’
The name they used to call him back then, convinced he was really that Dylan from Modern Family. He never had the heart to correct them.
Before he even realized, a single tear escaped down his cheek. He didn’t wipe it. More followed—quiet, steady—but his face remained calm, almost serene.
“You’ve all gotten taller,” Lucas said with a small, choked chuckle, looking at Nicole.
Nicole’s lips trembled as her eyes filled with tears. James sniffled beside her. Ryan wiped at his face. Jonathan looked overwhelmed, holding back emotion.
Then suddenly, they all moved—rushing into his arms without hesitation.
Lucas didn’t resist.
He wrapped them in a strong embrace, holding them like he never wanted to let go.
Liza stood nearby, covering her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes, a bittersweet smile breaking through.
Jonas and Marian exchanged glances, then stepped forward too—joining the hug with quiet tears of their own.
A few feet away, Jennifer stood frozen, her eyes glassy. ‘So these are the kids you always told me about…’ she thought, a tear slipping down her cheek before she could stop it. She wiped it quickly—only for another to fall right after.
Even the guards stood respectfully, moved by the unexpected scene.
Across the studio, some of the other guests and survivors Lucas had helped through his charity paused to watch, hands pressed to their chests, eyes glistening.
And behind one of the cameras—Joel remained silent, but not idle.
He had started recording from the moment Lucas stepped into the room.
He didn’t have to say “action.”
The truth had already started speaking for itself.
Comments
Navi
Such a well written chapter. I couldn't stop crying.
Gabriel Rieper
I need more chapterrrrr
