Chapter 8 - What Eleanor Had Left BehindLily finally told Julian everything she remembered.
Her mother had lived quietly after leaving the Vance estate.
She had worked small jobs.
She had protected Lily.
And she had kept telling her daughter that one day, "Uncle Julian" would come.
Then everything changed.
Men arrived.
Their house was seized.
Documents disappeared.
Eleanor became increasingly frightened.
One night, she gave Lily a small velvet pouch.
"Keep these," she had whispered.
"Why?"
"Because they know who you are."
Those were the last words Lily remembered clearly.
Julian listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he gently held her hand.
"You don't have to remember anything else tonight."
Lily looked at him.
"Are you going to leave me too?"
May you like
Julian's eyes burned.
"Never."
Related Stories
Chapter 9 - The First Crack in the EmpireJulian's investigators uncovered something shocking.
Chapter 10 - The ConfessionThe old attorney revealed that Eleanor had tried to expose financial crimes inside the family foundation.
Chapter 11 - Beneath the BallroomJulian returned to the ballroom with investigators.
Chapter 12 - Genevieve's Last PerformanceGenevieve held another press event.
Chapter 13 - The Girl's VoiceLily stood beside Julian.
Chapter 14 - The Fall of the QueenGenevieve was eventually confronted with evidence she could no longer deny.
