Chapter 2 - THE NAME NO ONE WAS ALLOWED TO SAYThe old man moved forward.
His security team immediately followed.
But he raised one hand.
They stopped.
Lily stood perfectly still.
She did not know whether to run.
The old man looked at her as if he were seeing a ghost.
“How do you know my name?” she asked.
His eyes filled with something she could not understand.
Pain.
Shock.
Regret.
“You are Lily.”
She shook her head.
“My name is Lily Carter.”
The old man took another step.
“Who is your mother?”
The girl tightened her grip on the cloth bag.
“Anna.”
The old man closed his eyes.
A woman near the champagne table gasped.
Evelyn turned sharply.
“What is going on?”
The old man opened his eyes.
“Where is your mother?”
Lily looked down.
“She’s sick.”
The room became silent.
“Is she alone?”
Lily nodded.
“She told me to find you.”
The old man stared at her.
“Why?”
Lily slowly opened the cloth bag.
Inside was a small envelope.
The paper was old.
The handwriting was faded.
The old man recognized it immediately.
His hands began to tremble.
That handwriting belonged to his daughter.
A daughter he had believed was dead.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Charles, what is that?”
The old man did not answer.
He took the envelope.
The seal had been broken.
Inside was a single sentence.
Father, if Lily ever finds you, please do not let them take her.
Charles looked at the little girl.
Then his face became hard.
“Who has been taking care of you?”
Lily hesitated.
Before she could answer, Evelyn suddenly stepped forward.
“Security.”
Two guards approached.
Charles turned.
“Stop.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“This child does not belong here.”
May you like
Charles’ voice became dangerously quiet.
“Neither does your cruelty.”
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