CHAPTER 10: The Secret Room
Determined to protect Lily’s rights and clear his father’s name, Julian decided to visit his family’s ancestral countryside estate—a house that had been locked since his father’s death.
Taking Lily with him, they drove two hours outside the city to a quiet coastal town where the old manor stood surrounded by ancient oak trees.
Lily walked through the dusty grand hallway, her hand holding Julian’s. ""Mommy talked about this place,"" she murmured, looking up at the high ceilings and oil paintings. ""She said there was a secret room where the sun shines brightest.""
Julian paused. ""A secret room?""
Lily walked over to the library at the end of the hall. She walked straight to a large wooden bookshelf decorated with carved crown patterns—identical to the crest on her silver hairpin. She reached out her tiny hand and pressed a small decorative brass lion on the lower shelf.
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With a soft click and the sound of old gears moving, a portion of the bookshelf swung open, revealing a hidden room illuminated by a stained-glass skylight.
Julian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
