The air in the hallway suddenly felt heavier.

The polite smile on Edgar’s face slowly faded, replaced by an expression of tension and alertness.

“A report?” he repeated, feeling his stomach tighten. “What exactly was reported?”

The two professionals exchanged a brief glance, the kind shared by people who had handled situations like this countless times before.

“Are you Mr. Edgar Sterling?” the social worker confirmed.

“Yes,” he replied, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry... please, come in.”

He e