Chapter 1: The First Breath
The cold mist from the nebulizer pooled around Lily’s pale lips as her tiny lungs expanded. Julian held the plastic mask with trembling fingers, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.
“Breathe, baby. Daddy’s got you,” he murmured, his voice cracking beneath the weight of absolute terror.
Elena sank to her knees beside them on the cold marble floor, her expensive silk blouse stained with dust. She reached out with shaking hands, her fingers tracing Lily’s soft cheek. The broken wine glass glistened near the baseboards, a sharp red stain marking where panic had broken out only minutes prior.
Arthur stood in the doorway, the heavy brass key still clutched tightly in his gloved palm. His old eyes were filled with unspoken sorrow. “Sir,” Arthur whispered softly, “shall I call Dr. Mercer?”
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“Yes! Now!” Julian snapped, though his gaze never left his daughter’s eyes. Lily’s lashes fluttered open, her big hazel eyes filled with lingering shadows. She squeezed her plush bunny closer to her chest.
In that quiet kitchen, surrounded by extreme wealth and pristine architecture, Julian felt smaller than he ever had in his life. All the money in the world couldn't buy back the minutes his child had spent trapped behind that steel door.
