Chapter 2 - A Letter Written in Dust|
The surname echoed in Max's ears like a gong. Rochester.
Lily rummaged franticly inside her purple backpack before pulling out a worn white envelope with Charlotte's familiar, elegant script on the front.
Max accepted the paper, his manicured fingers trembling slightly. His phone buzzed in his pocket—his assistant, no doubt—but for the first time in his career, he ignored it.
"How did you get here?" he asked, lowering himself to one knee on the cold airport floor.
"Aunt Regina works for the airline," Lily whispered, her small hands clutching her backpack straps. "She had a list of your flights. I ran away from the house this morning while she was asleep."
"You ran away?" Shock finally broke through Max's icy facade. "Lily, that's dangerous. We need to call her right now."
"No!" Lily grabbed his tailored sleeve, her eyes brimming with sudden tears. "Please read it first! Mom said if anything ever happened to her, I had to give it to you."
Max looked at the frantic child, then down at the worn envelope. The noise of Terminal 4 receded into a dull hum.
"All right," Max said gently, guiding her toward a quiet row of airport terminal seats. "Let's sit down."
He broke the seal of the envelope and unfolded the single sheet of paper inside.
Max,
If you are reading this, it means Lily was brave enough to find you. I never told you I was pregnant when the divorce papers were signed because you had made it clear there was no room in your life for anything but your empire. But my time is running out. The cancer has returned, and I cannot leave our daughter alone. She needs a father, Max. Not your money—your heart. Please don't let her grow up cold.
May you like
— Charlotte
Max stared at the words, the paper shaking violently in his hands.
