Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Recognized Lily
Victoria did not mention the messages.
She did not need to.
The following morning, she began watching Grace.
It was subtle at first.
A pause in the kitchen doorway.
A glance toward Grace’s phone.
A question about Lily’s preschool.
Then came the questions about Sarah.
“How did your sister die?”
Grace stopped polishing a silver tray.
Victoria stood at the marble island drinking coffee.
“Car accident.”
“When?”
“Eighteen months ago.”
“How sad.”
Grace said nothing.
Victoria stirred her coffee although she had not added sugar.
“Was Lily in the car?”
“No.”
“Her father?”
Grace looked up.
“What about him?”
“Surely he helps support the child.”
“He doesn’t know she exists.”
The spoon stopped.
Grace saw it.
Only for a second.
Then Victoria resumed stirring.
“How irresponsible.”
“You don’t know anything about him.”
Victoria smiled.
“Neither do you, apparently.”
Grace felt anger rise.
She forced it down.
She could not afford to lose this job.
Not yet.
She needed five minutes alone with Nathan.
That was all.
Five minutes.
But Nathan worked constantly.
He left before sunrise.
Returned after Lily slept.
When he was home, Victoria was almost always beside him.
Grace tried twice to approach him.
Both times Victoria interrupted.
On the third attempt, Nathan was eating breakfast alone.
Grace entered carrying coffee.
“Mr. Cole?”
He looked up from his tablet.
“Yes?”
“There’s something I need to give you.”
His attention shifted fully to her.
“What is it?”
Grace’s pulse accelerated.
She reached toward the pocket of her apron.
Victoria entered.
“There you are.”
Grace’s hand stopped.
Victoria kissed Nathan’s cheek.
“We’re going to be late.”
“For what?”
“The Whitmore foundation meeting.”
Nathan checked his watch.
“That’s at ten.”
“It’s forty minutes away.”
Nathan sighed.
He looked back at Grace.
“You needed something?”
Victoria looked at her.
Grace knew the warning immediately.
“Cleaning approval for the upstairs library.”
Nathan frowned slightly.
“You don’t need my approval for that.”
“No.”
Grace lowered her eyes.
“Of course.”
That evening, Victoria entered Grace’s room without knocking.
Lily was drawing at the small desk.
Grace stood immediately.
“Can I help you?”
Victoria closed the door.
“I’m going to say this once.”
Grace moved between Victoria and Lily.
“You don’t come near her.”
Victoria laughed softly.
“That protective instinct. Your sister had it too.”
Grace froze.
Lily kept drawing.
“You knew Sarah.”
“I knew of Sarah.”
“You intercepted my letters.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
“Do you have proof?”
“I will.”
“No. You won’t.”
Victoria walked toward the desk.
Grace blocked her.
“What do you want?”
“I want you gone.”
“I’m not leaving until Nathan knows the truth.”
Victoria looked past her.
Lily was humming.
“You think that child is going to become some little heiress?”
“This isn’t about money.”
“It always is.”
“Sarah never wanted his money.”
Victoria’s expression sharpened.
“She wanted him.”
“She loved him.”
Victoria slapped Grace.
The sound cracked through the small room.
Lily turned.
“Aunt Grace?”
Grace did not react.
She stared at Victoria.
Victoria spoke quietly.
“Pack your things.”
“No.”
“You have no idea who you are dealing with.”
“I know exactly who I’m dealing with.”
Victoria smiled.
“No, Grace. You don’t.”
She opened the door.
Then Lily called out.
“Lady?”
Victoria looked back.
Lily held up her drawing.
It showed three stick figures.
Grace.
Lily.
And a tall man.
“Who is that?” Victoria asked.
Lily smiled.
“The man from Mommy’s box.”
Grace went cold.
Victoria walked back.
“What man?”
Lily pointed at the brown-haired figure.
“The man Mommy said loved us before I was born.”
Victoria stared at the picture.
Then at Grace.
For the first time, Grace saw genuine panic.
That night, someone entered Grace’s room while she and Lily were downstairs.
The mattress had been lifted.
The suitcase had been opened.
The false bottom had been torn out.
But Sarah’s envelope was not there.
Grace had moved it that morning.
She stood in the destroyed room and realized the situation had changed.
May you like
Victoria was no longer trying to scare them away.
She was searching for evidence.
