Chapter 1 – The Pearl That Shouldn't Exist
Julian Ashcombe stared at the tiny pearl resting in his palm.
His fingers tightened.
The ballroom around him faded into silence.
The crest engraved on the pearl wasn't decorative.
It was the Ashcombe family seal.
Only twelve pearls like it had ever been made.
His grandfather had commissioned them forty years earlier—one for every direct heir.
Every pearl had been accounted for.
Except one.
The one buried with Julian's infant sister.
"Where did you get this?" he asked quietly.
The little girl wiped her eyes with the back of her dirty sleeve.
"My mommy gave it to me."
"When?"
"Before she went to heaven."
Julian swallowed hard.
"What's your name?"
"Lily."
"And your mommy?"
"Rose."
The name hit him like a punch.
Rose.
His aunt.
The woman who had disappeared twenty-six years ago after being accused of stealing from the Ashcombe family.
Impossible.
His fiancée, Victoria, walked over with several security guards behind her.
"Julian."
Her voice was cold.
"What are you doing?"
He didn't answer.
Victoria looked at Lily with obvious disgust.
"Security, remove her immediately."
Lily shrank behind Julian.
"I'm sorry..."
Julian stood.
"No."
Every guest stopped talking.
Victoria blinked.
"What did you say?"
"I said no."
His voice echoed through the ballroom.
"No one touches this child."
The room exploded into whispers.
Victoria forced a smile.
"Julian... she's filthy."
Julian slowly held up the pearl.
"Then explain why she's carrying something that belongs to my family."
Victoria's smile disappeared.
Before anyone could speak...
An elderly woman near the back suddenly gasped.
"My God..."
Everyone turned.
It was Margaret.
The Ashcombe family's former housekeeper.
May you like
She stared at Lily as tears filled her eyes.
"...she has Rose's eyes."
