Chapter 3: What Lies Inside
Julian guided Louis to the velvet sofa in the corner of the boutique, sitting beside him and ignoring Adriana entirely. He gently wiped a stray tear from his son’s cheek with his thumb.
"Hey, buddy," Julian whispered softly. "What did you want to show Adriana?"
Louis sniffled, looking cautiously from his father to the trembling, furious woman standing in the center of the showroom. With small, trembling hands, Louis reached out and clicked open the brass clasp of the blue velvet box.
Inside lay not only Clara’s sapphire pendant, but a folded, yellowed piece of paper.
"Mom wrote this before she went to heaven," Louis murmured, his voice cracking. "She told me that whenever Dad found someone new to love, I should give her this letter. Mom said... she said the woman who loves Dad would cherish her words, and love me too."
Julian felt an agonizing ache pierce his chest. He carefully unfolded the note. Clara’s elegant handwriting danced across the page, penned in her final weeks:
> *"To the woman who holds Julian’s hand after me: Thank you for bringing laughter back into his eyes. Please, love our little boy. He is sensitive, he loves blueberry pancakes on Saturdays, and he gets scared of thunder. Protect his gentle heart, and Julian will give you the world."*
A heavy, solemn weight descended upon the room. Julian stared at the letter, feeling the utter gravity of his late wife’s selflessness—and the horrifying reality of what he had almost brought into their home.
Adriana had never loved Louis. She had tolerated him in front of cameras, bought him expensive gadgets she never played with him, and smiled when Julian was looking. But behind closed doors, she saw the boy as an obstacle—a reminder of another woman, an impediment to full control of the Vance estate.
Julian looked up from the letter. His eyes were devoid of doubt.
May you like
"Take off the dress, Adriana," Julian said quietly.
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