Chapter 4: Shadows of the Cottage
The morning sun flooded the penthouse living room, casting warm geometric patterns across the hardwood floor. Lily woke up slowly, blinking against the brightness. For a few seconds, confusion clouded her small face as she looked around the unfamiliar, luxurious room. Then the door opened, and Julian walked in carrying a tray stacked with fresh pancakes, sliced strawberries, and a glass of warm milk. A tentative, beautiful smile broke across the little girl’s face. She sat up, pulling the thick duvet around her shoulders, and accepted the plate. Watching her eat with genuine enjoyment brought a lump to Julian’s throat.
While Lily was happily absorbed in breakfast, Julian and Marcus sat at the sleek glass dining table, reviewing a preliminary packet of digital documents. Marcus had spent the entire night deploying private investigators to secure access to the grounds of Beatrice’s estate before the locks could be changed.
"Here," Marcus tapped a finger on a high-resolution aerial photograph of the property. "This is the converted carriage house at the northeast perimeter. No security cameras pointed toward it, and the smart-lock access logs show it hadn't been opened by main-house staff in over eighteen months. The groceries delivered to the main kitchen never made it out here. We found a stash of expired canned goods and a single space heater."
Julian felt a cold fury ripple through his veins. "She kept her in a shed while entertaining guests in the main house," he said, each word deliberate and chillingly quiet.
"Worse," Marcus replied, sliding a medical report across the table. "Our medic on the ground managed to secure Lily’s old immunization records from the local clinic Beatrice claimed she visited. They were completely fabricated. Lily hasn't seen a pediatrician since she was two years old. The malnutrition is documented in the baseline vitals our team took last night."
Julian stood up abruptly, pacing toward the balcony doors. The urge to storm back to the estate and demand immediate justice clawed at his throat, but he forced himself to breathe. Reckless anger would play directly into Beatrice’s hands. She was a master manipulator, well-connected within the legal and social circles of the city, accustomed to twisting narratives to suit her desires. To defeat her, they needed an airtight case that even her expensive legal team could not dismantle.
"We need financial auditors to trace every dollar of those wire transfers," Julian said, turning back to his attorney. "And we need a formal statement from the household staff. I refuse to believe none of the maids or cooks knew what was happening in that cottage."
May you like
Marcus nodded grimly. "I’ve already dispatched investigators to track down former employees who left the estate over the last three years. Fear kept them quiet, but guilt might just make them talk."
***
