The Girl They Called Trash Was His Lost Sister

Chapter 3: The Gold Purse

The gala ended in chaos.

Guests were asked to leave. Reporters gathered outside. Charles, Adrian, Lily, the family lawyer, and the doctor moved into a private room upstairs.

Lily sat on a sofa with a blanket around her shoulders. She held her little gold purse tightly against her chest, as if it were the only thing she owned in the world.

Adrian sat beside her. "Who brought you here, Lily?"

She looked at him carefully. "Aunt Anna told me to come here if anything happened to her."

"Who is Aunt Anna?"

"The lady who raised me."

Charles leaned forward. "Where is she now?"

Lily's eyes filled with tears. "She died last week."

The room fell silent.

Lily opened the gold purse with shaking hands. "She said I should only give this to the lion man."

Adrian looked at his family ring.

The crowned lion.

Lily pulled out three things: a faded photograph, a silver key, and a folded letter.

Adrian took the photograph first.

It showed his mother, Catherine, holding a newborn baby girl. On the back, in Catherine's handwriting, were the words:

My Sophia. If I cannot protect her, send her to Adrian.

Charles went pale.

Adrian unfolded the letter.

My darling son, if this letter reaches you, then Vanessa has found a way to take my daughter. Trust no one who says I died in the fire. I was alive when they took Sophia from my arms.

Adrian's hand began to shake.

Charles whispered, "That is your mother's handwriting."

Vanessa stood near the door, her face tight. "Or a very good forgery."

Adrian looked at her. "You seem more worried than surprised."

Before Vanessa could answer, the doctor entered with the first rapid blood result.

"The child is Ashford blood," he said.

Charles closed his eyes as tears ran down his face.

Adrian looked down at the silver key. The words stamped on it were old but readable.

Saint Helena Private Care.

The family lawyer stiffened. "That is a long-term psychiatric facility."

Adrian turned to his father.

"Mother may still be alive."

Vanessa stepped back.

For the first time, she looked like a woman who had run out of time.