Chapter 16 - Claire’s Final Letter
Naomi arrived the next morning carrying an envelope.
It had been recovered from Claire’s old safe-deposit box.
The bank had discovered it during the federal investigation.
Victor recognized Claire’s handwriting immediately.
FOR VICTOR.
His hands shook as he opened it.
Lily offered to leave.
Victor stopped her.
“Stay.”
He unfolded the letter.
Claire had written it four days before her death.
Victor read silently at first.
Then his voice failed.
Lily gently took the letter.
Victor nodded for her to continue.
She read aloud.
“Victor, if you are reading this, then something has gone terribly wrong.”
Lily paused.
Victor looked toward the window.
She continued.
“I need you to understand that I did not keep secrets because I doubted you.”
“I kept them because I knew how deeply you loved your family.”
Victor closed his eyes.
“Richard has spent years teaching you that protecting the Blackwood name is the same thing as protecting the people you love.”
“It isn’t.”
Victor’s breathing became uneven.
Lily continued.
“A name cannot love Oliver.”
“A company cannot hold him when he cries.”
“A fortune cannot teach him right from wrong.”
“People do that.”
Lily’s voice shook.
Then came the line that changed everything.
“If Lily Carter is still with Oliver, trust her.”
Victor looked at Lily.
She froze.
Claire continued through the letter.
“I chose her because she has something our world often lacks.”
“She knows the difference between loyalty and obedience.”
Lily stopped reading.
Tears filled her eyes.
Victor took the letter back.
The final paragraph was short.
“If I cannot raise our son, give him a life built on truth.”
“And Victor, please give yourself permission to have one too.”
“Love, Claire.”
Victor lowered the page.
Neither spoke for a long time.
Then Lily whispered.
“She knew.”
Victor nodded.
“She knew more than any of us.”
Oliver crawled across the carpet.
He picked up the stuffed bear.
Then he held it toward Victor.
Victor took it.
For the first time since Claire’s death, holding something connected to her did not feel like falling backward.
It felt like being pushed forward.
Victor looked at Lily.
“I’m moving.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“This mansion.”
He looked around.
“Claire died trying to expose what happened here.”
“Serena used these walls against Oliver.”
“I don’t want him growing up inside it.”
Lily smiled slightly.
“Where will you go?”
Victor looked toward his son.
“Somewhere smaller.”
“How small?”
“Maybe only twelve bedrooms.”
Lily laughed.
Victor smiled.
It was the first real laugh either of them had shared in weeks.
Then he asked.
“Will you come?”
Lily hesitated.
Not because she didn’t care.
Because she cared too much.
Finally, she looked at Oliver.
“One condition.”
Victor waited.
“No hidden hallways.”
May you like
Victor smiled.
“Deal.”
