CHAPTER 1 — “The Name She Was Never Told”
The dining hall didn’t recover from silence.
Chloe still sat on the marble floor, one hand wrapped gently around the silver anklet.
Victoria stood frozen near the head of the table.
For the first time, her composure cracked.
Mr. Hale stepped closer, his voice low, controlled—but shaking underneath.
“Where did your mother get that anklet?”
Chloe blinked.
“She said it was hers.”
A long pause.
Mr. Hale’s eyes darkened.
“That’s impossible…”
The pianist turned slightly toward Victoria.
“She told me those anklets were destroyed.”
Victoria’s lips parted—but no sound came out.
A servant dropped a glass in the background.
The sound felt too loud.
Mr. Hale whispered again, almost to himself:
“There were only ever two.”
“And both were supposed to be buried with the twins.”
Chloe frowned.
“Twins?”
That single word broke something in Victoria’s face.
May you like
Not sadness.
Fear.
