Chapter 2: The Letter Claire Left Behind
Caleb asked everyone except Nora and Lily to leave the ballroom.
Sloane protested.
"This engagement party isn't over."
"It is," Caleb replied without raising his voice.
"My guests are leaving."
"And so are you."
For the first time since anyone had known her, Sloane had no audience left to impress.
She stormed out, followed by embarrassed socialites pretending they hadn't witnessed the humiliation.
Alone in the library, Nora opened a worn envelope she had carried for years.
"I promised Claire I would only give you this if Lily was ever in danger."
Caleb carefully unfolded the letter.
Caleb,
If you're reading this, something happened before I could come home.
Lily is my daughter.
I never told anyone because I discovered people close to our family were trying to force me into signing away my inheritance.
If anything happens to me, trust Nora.
She saved Lily when I couldn't.
Please don't let our daughter grow up believing she was abandoned.
Love,
Claire
Caleb lowered the letter.
His hands trembled.
Claire hadn't died in the accident everyone described.
May you like
She had been running.
Running to protect her child.
