Chapter 3: The Daughter Who Remembered
Lily refused to sleep that night.
She stayed wrapped in Liam’s arms, holding onto his shirt like she was afraid he would disappear.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Are you mad at me?”
The question shattered him.
Liam looked down.
“Why would I ever be mad at you?”
“Because everyone said I was bad.”
His heart stopped.
“Who said that?”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t know.”
“Lily.”
She looked away.
“Someone told me I ruined everything.”
Liam felt something inside him break.
His daughter was only six years old.
She should have worried about cartoons.
School.
Birthday parties.
Not whether she was a problem.
“Who told you that?”
Lily remained silent.
Then she whispered:
“It was Aunt Clara.”
The name hit him harder than expected.
Clara.
His younger sister.
The person he had trusted more than anyone.
The person who had helped raise Lily after Victoria returned to work.
The person who always said:
“Lily is like my own daughter.”
Liam left the room without another word.
He found Clara in the mansion library.
She was pouring herself a drink.
Too calm.
Too comfortable.
“You hurt my daughter.”
Clara froze.
Then she laughed softly.
“Liam, listen to yourself.”
“I asked you a question.”
“You think I would hurt Lily?”
“Yes.”
The smile disappeared.
“You actually believe that?”
“I believe my daughter.”
Those words changed everything.
Clara’s face hardened.
“You always did that.”
“Did what?”
“Choose her.”
Liam stared at her.
“She’s my child.”
“No.”
Clara stepped closer.
“She’s the reason you destroyed this family.”
A cold silence filled the room.
“What are you talking about?”
Clara smiled bitterly.
“You really don’t know, do you?”
Liam felt his stomach tighten.
“Know what?”
May you like
Clara leaned closer.
“The truth about Lily.”
