Chapter 2: The Truth Between Them
Chapter 2: The Truth Between Them
The woman—Victoria—could barely breathe.
She looked at Lily.
Really looked at her.
The same green eyes.
The same small dimple in her chin.
The same stubborn expression.
Pieces of herself stared back at her.
"Why didn't you come sooner?" Victoria asked softly.
Lily lowered her head.
"I tried."
Victoria's heart stopped.
"What do you mean?"
Lily reached into her worn backpack and pulled out several unopened letters.
Every one of them had Victoria's name on it.
Every one had been returned.
Victoria examined them carefully.
Then she realized the terrible truth.
For years, her assistant had filtered her mail.
The letters had never reached her.
Lily had been searching for her mother long before today.
But fate had kept them apart.
Victoria felt guilt crash over her like a wave.
While she built a successful business empire...
While she attended charity galas...
While she traveled the world...
Her daughter had been struggling to survive.
"Where have you been living?" Victoria asked.
Lily hesitated.
"In shelters."
The answer shattered her.
Victoria wrapped her arms around the child.
At first, Lily remained stiff.
Uncertain.
Afraid.
Then slowly, she began to cry.
Not the desperate tears from before.
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But the tears of someone who had finally stopped running.
For the first time in her life, she allowed herself to believe she wasn't alone anymore.
