Chapter 5 - Shadows on the Water
Peace in Havenbrook, however, was fragile. By early spring, the legal fallout from Bennett Holdings reached a fever pitch. Victoria had been ousted from the board, but her vast personal wealth remained largely intact, and her obsession with controlling the narrative had metastasized into resentment.
One afternoon, while shopping at the local general store, Eleanor noticed a black sedan with out-of-state plates parked near the pier. Inside sat an unfamiliar man in dark sunglasses, an open notebook resting against the steering wheel.
A cold dread settled in Eleanor’s stomach. She returned home quickly, locking the front door behind her.
"Julian," she said, setting her groceries on the counter with trembling hands. "Someone is watching the house."
Julian looked out through the sheer curtains. The vehicle was parked discreetly behind a grove of spruce trees down the lane. He recognized the modus operandi immediately: Victoria’s long-term security contractor, Raymond Vance.
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"She wants to take Lily through custody litigation," Julian said, his jaw tightening. "She wants to prove we're unfit parents living in an unstable environment."
Eleanor knelt beside Lily's playpen, her voice trembling but defiant. "She couldn't protect Lily when she held her in her arms. She will not take her from ours."
