Chapter 2 - The Silver Locket
Julian’s breath seized in his throat. The locket resting in Lily’s small palm was engraved with an intricate forget-me-not vine, worn smooth by years of touch. It was a one-of-a-kind heirloom he had personally commissioned for his late wife, Evelyn, on the day their daughter, Mia, was born. On the terrible night the yacht went down off the southern coast, the sea had claimed Evelyn and their baby girl. The Coast Guard had declared no survivors. Julian had spent four years drowning in grief, building an impenetrable empire to numb the agony.
Yet here it was.
""Where did you get this?"" Julian demanded, his voice trembling despite his efforts to remain imposing.
Lily extended her arm, offering the pendant to him without hesitation. ""Mommy wears it every night. But she told me to give it to the man at the head of the long table if she couldn't walk up the hill herself.""
Clara gasped from behind, pressing her palms against her mouth. The guards exchanged uneasy glances. Julian slowly reached out, his fingertips grazing the cold metal. As he flipped the delicate latch, the clasp sprang open. Inside was a tiny, faded photograph of a newborn baby with the inscription: Forever Our Light.
A harsh tremor ran down Julian’s spine. He looked from the locket to Lily’s delicate features. The shape of her jaw, the slight curve of her upper lip—it wasn't just a resemblance. It was a mirror.
""Where is your mother right now?"" Julian asked, standing up abruptly. His chair scraped against the hardwood floor with a sharp, piercing screech.
Lily pointed toward the tall, arched bay windows that overlooked the sweeping grounds of the estate. Rain had begun to lash against the glass, blurring the dark silhouettes of the towering pine trees.
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""She’s waiting by the stone bridge,"" Lily whispered softly, her hazel eyes dimming with sudden worry. ""She told me she was very tired and had to lie down.""
Julian didn't wait for another word. He vaulted over the dining table, ignoring the protocol, ignoring Clara’s cries, and tore toward the terrace doors. Outside, the night sky was torn apart by a sudden flash of lightning, illuminating an ominous shadow slumped against the stone railing near the edge of the rushing river.
