Chapter 4: The Gilded Cage**
Inside the Montgomery penthouse on Lake Shore Drive, Leo refused to eat. The breakfast table was laden with imported fruit and silver-domed platters, but the boy sat with his arms crossed, staring down at his plate. Victoria paced the length of the dining room, her diamond rings clicking against her porcelain teacup. "He needs to see Dr. Mercer," Victoria told Julian sharply. "The boy is clearly having trauma-induced delusions from that lunatic."
Julian looked at his son, seeing the undeniable slope of Claire’s jawline and the fire in his eyes. Guilt, heavy and rancid, weighed in Julian’s chest. He remembered the night his mother told him the girl from the bakery had taken a cash payoff and vanished. Julian had believed the lie because it was convenient, allowing him to inherit the family board seat and marry a socialite whose trust fund bailed out their shipping line. "He didn’t make it up, Victoria," Julian said softly. "The look on her face... she wasn’t asking for money. She was holding her son." Victoria turned on him with venomous precision. "If this gets out, the merger collapses. Fix it, or I will."
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