Chapter 4 - The Mansion's Secrets
The morning sun filtered beautifully through the massive stained-glass windows of the Sterling Estate.
Lily woke up slowly, her small hands clutching the softest silk sheets she had ever felt.
She blinked, looking around the enormous bedroom painted in soft pinks and creams.
For a terrifying second, she thought she was still sleeping on the cold pavement and this was just a wonderful dream.
But then, the heavy oak door gently clicked open.
Arthur walked in, carrying a large silver tray filled with pancakes, fresh strawberries, and warm syrup.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Arthur smiled warmly, placing the tray on the edge of the enormous bed.
Lily sat up quickly, her eyes widening at the mountain of delicious food.
"Is all of this really for me?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"Everything in this house is yours, Lily," Arthur replied, sitting down beside her.
He watched with immense joy as she began to eat, her tiny face lighting up with every bite.
After she finished her breakfast, Arthur handed her a small, beautifully wrapped box.
Lily carefully opened it and gasped in absolute shock.
Inside rested the silver necklace, perfectly repaired and polished until it shined like a star.
"I had my best jeweler fix it late last night," Arthur explained softly.
"It belongs around your neck, right where your mother wanted it."
Lily carefully put the necklace on, holding the rose pendant tightly against her heart.
"Thank you, Grandpa," she whispered, leaning over to give the old man a fierce, tight hug.
Arthur hugged her back, fighting back a fresh wave of tears.
"Lily, I need to ask you some important questions about your mommy," Arthur said gently, pulling back to look at her face.
Lily's smile faded slightly, but she nodded bravely.
"Mommy was sick for a very long time," Lily started, looking down at her hands.
"She coughed a lot, and we didn't have money for the medicine doctor."
Arthur clenched his jaw, furious at himself for not finding them sooner.
"Did your mommy ever tell you why she didn't come home to me?" he asked.
Lily frowned, thinking hard about the memories hidden in her mind.
"She said a bad lady with red hair chased her away," Lily explained slowly.
"She said the bad lady told her that the king wanted to hurt us."
Arthur's blood instantly ran cold in his veins.
A bad lady with red hair.
Eleanor had bright, fiery red hair.
"Did this bad lady ever visit you?" Arthur demanded, his voice suddenly sharp.
Lily nodded, her small shoulders shivering at the memory.
"She came to our dirty apartment right before Mommy got really sick."
"She yelled at Mommy and pushed her on the floor."
Arthur stood up from the bed, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned completely white.
The pieces of the puzzle were finally slamming together in his brilliant mind.
His daughter hadn't just run away; she had been terrorized and driven into hiding by the very woman he had treated like family.
"Don't worry, Lily," Arthur said, his voice dangerously calm.
"Grandpa is going to make sure the bad lady never hurts anyone ever again."
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Arthur walked out of the bedroom, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
It was time to call his private security team and prepare for absolute war.
