Chapter 7 - Lily
Lily sat across from Nathan at breakfast.
She pushed cereal around her bowl.
“Are you really my daddy?”
Nathan felt his throat tighten.
“Yes.”
She looked at him carefully.
“Why didn't you come?”
Nathan couldn't answer.
How could he explain five years of lies to a four-year-old?
“I didn't know where you were.”
Lily frowned.
“Mommy said you were looking for us.”
Nathan looked up.
“She told you that?”
Lily nodded.
“She showed me your picture.”
Nathan smiled sadly.
“Did she?”
Lily reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a tiny photograph.
Nathan saw himself five years younger.
Standing beside Grace.
His eyes filled with tears.
“She kept that?”
“She said you were a good man.”
Nathan looked away.
For the first time since childhood, he cried.
Lily climbed onto his lap.
“Don't cry, Daddy.”
Nathan held her.
“I missed you.”
“But you didn't know me.”
“I know.”
“Will you know me now?”
Nathan kissed her hair.
“Every day.”
Outside the dining room, someone watched them.
Daniel.
And behind him stood a detective Nathan had hired privately.
The detective held a new file.
“We found something.”
Nathan looked up.
“What?”
“The person who ordered the attack on Grace.”
Nathan's face hardened.
“Who?”
The detective hesitated.
“Your father's former security chief.”
Nathan frowned.
“He disappeared five years ago.”
“Not disappeared.”
The detective placed a photograph on the table.
May you like
“He has been working for Victoria's father ever since.”
---
