CHAPTER 2 — The Secret Behind the Golden Locket
The ballroom remained silent.
Nobody cared about the auction anymore.
Nobody cared about the business deals.
Everyone was staring at Lily.
And the small golden locket hanging around her neck.
Because the symbol engraved on it belonged to the Carter Royal Foundation.
A family name that had disappeared eight years ago.
A family that once controlled half of the city's financial empire.
Until tragedy destroyed them.
Everyone believed the Carter bloodline was gone.
But now...
A little girl was standing in front of them wearing their symbol.
The elderly businessman walked closer.
His name was Richard Hale.
He had worked with Lily's grandfather decades ago.
His voice shook.
"That necklace belonged to Alexander Carter."
Elena froze.
Vivian's expression changed.
"That's impossible."
Richard looked at Lily.
"Who is your father?"
Nobody spoke.
Elena looked down.
She knew this moment would eventually come.
"My husband's name was Daniel Carter."
The room exploded with whispers.
Daniel Carter.
The missing heir.
The man everyone thought died in the same accident that killed his parents.
Vivian stepped back.
"No."
Elena looked at her.
"You knew him?"
Vivian's face became uncomfortable.
Only for a second.
But everyone noticed.
Richard noticed too.
"What are you hiding, Vivian?"
She quickly recovered.
"Nothing."
But nobody believed her.
Because Daniel Carter's disappearance had always been suspicious.
The official story said his family plane crashed.
No survivors.
The Carter fortune was divided among several companies.
Including some controlled by the Whitmore family.
But now...
Lily existed.
Which meant the inheritance was never gone.
It had simply been waiting.
Vivian looked at Elena.
"You planned this."
Elena frowned.
"What?"
"You brought her here deliberately."
Vivian's voice became louder.
"You wanted attention. You wanted money."
The guests watched.
But this time...
Something was different.
They weren't afraid anymore.
Because they realized Vivian might not be the most powerful person in the room.
Elena slowly opened her purse.
Inside was a small envelope.
"I never wanted this."
She placed it on the table.
Richard picked it up.
Inside was a document.
A legal document.
Everyone watched as he read it.
His eyes widened.
"This..."
He looked at Lily.
"This proves she owns the Carter family trust."
The ballroom went silent again.
Vivian's face lost all color.
Because the little girl she called a street rat...
Owned assets worth billions.
Elena looked directly at Vivian.
"For seven years, I protected my daughter from this world."
She paused.
"But tonight, you forced me to show everyone who she really is."
Then the ballroom doors opened.
Several lawyers walked inside.
The lead attorney placed a folder on the table.
"Mrs. Carter, we apologize for being late."
He looked around.
"Tonight, we officially begin the investigation into the illegal transfer of Carter family assets."
Everyone turned toward Vivian.
Because suddenly...
May you like
The woman who controlled the city...
Was the woman being investigated.
