Chapter 3 - Unearthing the Past
Over the next week, the penthouse transformed. The sterile environment was invaded by coloring books, stuffed animals, and the sound of cartoons. Julian, a man known for working hundred-hour weeks, cancelled his meetings, directing his empire from a laptop on the kitchen island while Lily painted watercolors at the dining table.
But outside the glass walls, a storm was brewing.
Julian had unleashed a team of private investigators to retrace Elena’s life over the past eight years. The reports were a harrowing read. She had lived in shelters. She had worked three minimum-wage jobs. And through it all, she had refused to reach out to the Vance family, terrified that Julian’s ruthless grandfather would take Lily away from her.
One evening, Julian sat on the edge of Lily’s massive new bed, reading her a story.
"Did Mama hate me?" Julian asked softly when he closed the book, unable to hold back the question that had been haunting him.
Lily looked up at him, her green eyes wide. "No. Mama cried every night looking at your picture. She said you were a prince trapped in a castle of ice. She said we couldn't go to the castle until the old dragon was gone."
Julian’s breath hitched. The old dragon. His grandfather. Elena had loved him until the very end. She was just waiting for it to be safe. But time had run out.
"The dragon is gone, Lily," Julian whispered, kissing her forehead. "I promise."
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The next morning, Silas intercepted Julian in the hallway. "Sir. The board is getting restless. Your uncle Richard is calling an emergency meeting. Word has leaked about the girl."
Julian adjusted his cuffs, his face hardening into the mask of the ruthless CEO the world feared. "Assemble my legal team. It’s time to introduce the heir to the throne."
