Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER IN THE LOCKET
“Vincent.”
Dominic whispered the name like it was a prayer he had forgotten how to say.
He stared at the tiny photograph of his younger brother. Vincent had died nine years ago in a fiery car crash on the interstate.
The official police report said he lost control in the rain.
The family had grieved. Dominic had buried him.
And now, Vincent’s face was inside a locket belonging to Meredith’s secret daughter.
Dominic slowly turned toward Meredith.
“Lily is Vincent’s child?”
Meredith was trembling so hard her gold silk dress shook. “Dominic, listen to me. Vincent and I… we were young. It was a mistake. He was reckless. He was going to ruin my life.”
“He was my brother.”
“He was a drunk!” Meredith screamed, the polished facade entirely gone. “He drank, he gambled, and he was going to drag me and my baby down with him! I had to protect her!”
Walter stood up from his chair.
His white rose caught the light of the chandelier.
“Don’t talk about him like that,” Walter said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it held a heavy, immovable weight. “Not tonight.”
Dominic looked at the older man. “You knew, Walter? You knew Vincent was Lily’s father?”
“Yes, sir.”
“For eight years, you drove my cars, you lived on my payroll, and you never told me my niece was alive?”
The betrayal in Dominic’s voice was agonizing.
Walter looked down at his worn, polished shoes. “I couldn’t, Mr. Caruso. If I told you, Meredith swore she would take Lily away. She promised I would never see my granddaughter again.”
Walter looked at the little girl on the stairs.
“She is all I have left.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened. He looked back at Meredith.
“You dated my brother. You had his child. You hid her. And then, years later, you orchestrated a meeting with me at a charity gala.”
Meredith swallowed hard. “I fell in love with you, Dominic.”
“You fell in love with the Caruso name. The one Vincent was supposed to inherit before he died.”
Dominic closed the silver locket with a sharp click.
“Get out of my house.”
Meredith froze. “What?”
“You heard me. The engagement is over. Leave.”
“You can’t do this to me in front of these people!” she cried, gesturing to the silent, staring guests.
“I just did.” Dominic turned to his head of security, a massive man standing near the terrace. “Marcus. Escort Miss Vale to the door. Allow her to take her purse. Have her belongings boxed and sent to a hotel.”
“Yes, sir,” Marcus said, stepping forward.
Meredith’s face twisted into something ugly.
“Fine,” she spat. She marched toward the staircase and grabbed Lily’s arm violently. “Come on, Lily. We’re leaving.”
Lily cried out, dropping her coloring book.
Walter lunged forward. “Let her go!”
“She’s my daughter!” Meredith shrieked, pulling the terrified child. “You have no rights to her! Neither of you do!”
Dominic stepped onto the stairs, blocking her path.
He didn’t touch Meredith, but his presence was a physical wall.
“She stays,” Dominic said.
“You have no legal right!” Meredith shot back, her eyes wild. “If you try to keep her, I’ll call the police and have you arrested for kidnapping. She is mine!”
It was true. We all knew it. Dominic was Lily’s biological uncle, but without a DNA test or legal standing, the police would side with the mother.
Meredith yanked Lily again. The little girl sobbed, reaching out toward her grandfather.
I couldn’t stand it. I dropped the silver tray. It clattered loudly onto the marble floor.
“Wait,” I said.
Meredith glared at me. “I told you to shut up, you worthless maid!”
I ignored her. I looked at Walter.
I remembered something he had done earlier that evening in the kitchen. He had been adjusting his cheap navy jacket, carefully transferring a folded piece of heavy parchment paper from his everyday uniform into his inner breast pocket.
May you like
He had told me it was the only thing keeping him alive.
“Walter,” I said quietly. “Show him the paper.”
