Chapter 3 - The Sealed Letter
The heavy silence in the dining hall was broken only by the hum of the central heating and Lily’s quiet, rhythmic breathing as she began to calm down in Arthur’s arms.
Arthur gestured toward the head of the security detail standing near the entrance. “Take Victoria and Damon to the holding quarters in the east wing. Strip them of their phones, their access cards, and lock the doors.”
“Arthur, please!” Victoria cried out, her voice cracking as two security guards seized her arms. “Julian gave us the instructions! He sent the message from your encrypted server! He told us Lily was a fraud!”
“Out,” Arthur said coldly, not even looking at her as she and Damon were dragged away, their frantic protests fading down the long hallway.
Once the double doors were shut, only Arthur, Julian, and the tiny girl covered in cake frosting remained in the massive room.
Julian walked over to the birthday table, casually picking up a silver cake server and setting it aside. He reached into the inner pocket of his charcoal tailored jacket and pulled out a thick, cream-colored envelope sealed with red wax—the official crest of the Sterling family estate.
“I believe this belongs to you, Father,” Julian said, extending the letter. “Found it in the safe at the London townhouse. It was written by Mother three days before her accident ten years ago.”
Arthur’s face visibly drained of color. The Donald Trump-inspired composure he maintained at all times flickered for the first time. “That safe was destroyed.”
“You thought it was,” Julian corrected gently. “Mother was always smarter than you gave her credit for. She knew what you intended to do with the Sterling legacy. And she knew about Lily.”
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Arthur lowered Lily gently onto a velvet armchair near the table, crouching down to face his son directly. “Lily is my son Thomas’s only child. She is the rightful heir.”
Julian let out a quiet, bitter laugh. “Is she? Read the letter, Father. Or should I read the postscript aloud for the little girl to hear?”
