Chapter 11 - Unseen Threads
Two weeks passed.
The news storm surrounding the Sterling family began to settle.
Lady Eleanor and Victoria were both held in federal custody awaiting trial.
Julian had been reinstated as the undisputed CEO and Chairman of Sterling Enterprises.
The mansion was quiet once again, but the atmosphere remained heavy.
Chloe was sitting in the garden, helping Lily paint pictures with watercolors.
Lily’s burn scar was healing well, though a faint pink mark remained near her forehead.
Julian walked out onto the terrace, carrying two cups of warm coffee.
He walked over and handed one to Chloe.
"She looks happy," Julian observed softly, watching his daughter paint bright suns on paper.
"She is resilient," Chloe replied with a gentle smile.
"Children heal faster than adults if they feel safe."
Julian sat down on the wooden bench beside her.
"Chloe, I want to formally offer you a permanent position," Julian said sincerely.
"Not as a maid."
"I want you to be Lily's official guardian and the estate manager."
"You will have your own wing of the house, a full staff under you, and complete authority."
Chloe looked at him in surprise.
"Mr. Sterling... I don't know what to say."
"Say yes," Julian requested softly, looking directly into her eyes.
"We need you here."
"Daddy! Look!" Lily called out, running over with a sheet of paper.
It was a painting of three people standing hand in hand under a rainbow: Julian, Lily, and Chloe.
Julian smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest that he hadn't felt in years.
Suddenly, Julian’s phone rang in his jacket pocket.
He pulled it out and saw an unknown caller ID.
He answered it.
"Mr. Sterling?" an unfamiliar voice spoke on the line.
"Who is this?" Julian asked.
"This is Dr. Harrison from the forensic toxicology department," the voice said in an urgent tone.
"We just finished running the deep-tissue toxicology re-analysis on Clara Sterling’s preserved samples."
Julian’s posture stiffened instantly.
"And what did you find?"
"The cardiac paralyzer found in her system... it wasn't purchased by Victoria," Dr. Harrison revealed.
"The purchase order came from an encrypted account inside your own household."
"And the order was signed three days after Victoria was already in police custody."
Julian’s blood ran cold.
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"What are you saying?" Julian whispered.
"I'm saying the killer who provided the poison is still inside your home."
