haven

Chapter 5 - The Ice in the Aunt's Smile

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At 8:30 the following morning, the elevator to the Vance penthouse chimed.

Victoria Vance—Alexander’s thirty-eight-year-old cousin and the Senior Vice President of the Vance Philanthropic Foundation—stepped into the foyer in an immaculate cream Chanel suit, her diamond drop earrings glittering in the morning sunlight.

Behind her walked her private bodyguard, Craig Miller.

“Alexander, darling!” Victoria cried out in a melodious, performative tone, clutching a handkerchief to her lips. “I received the terrifying alert from security at dawn! I rushed over from the Hamptons as fast as my driver could manage! Is our sweet Ethan alright?!”

She stopped dead in the middle of the grand living room.

Sitting at the dining table on a high-backed velvet chair was me. I was clean, my hair neatly brushed into braids, wearing a soft pastel blue cashmere sweater and velvet trousers that Mrs. Gable had tailored for me that morning. I was eating warm blueberry pancakes beside Ethan, who was propped up in a customized wheelchair.

Victoria’s eyes narrowed into venomous slits. Her polished smile vanished for a fraction of a second before snapping back into place.

“Alexander...” Victoria asked, her voice tight with disdain. “Who is this... person sitting at our family table?”

Alexander walked in from the terrace, dressed in a sharp charcoal three-piece suit, holding a cup of black coffee.

“This is Lily,” Alexander stated with icy neutrality. “She saved Ethan’s life when your personal driver abandoned him in the freezing snow at eight o'clock last night.”

Victoria gasped theatrically, taking a step back. “My driver?! Alexander, that is preposterous! Craig and I were at a charity dinner in Westchester all evening! Ethan must have wandered away from his security escort during his afternoon walk! You know how hyperactive he can be!”

“Craig,” Alexander said, ignoring Victoria completely and looking directly at the muscular bodyguard standing near the elevator.

Craig swallowed hard, his hand twitching near his suit jacket. “Yes, Mr. Vance?”

“Where is the dashcam drive from the Foundation’s grey Mercedes van that was parked on 72nd Street last night at 7:55 PM?”

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Craig’s face drained of every drop of color.

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