Chapter 16 - The Uninvited GuestIt was an late autumn evening a year later. The wind howled off the Atlantic, driving rain against the tall glass windows of the Montauk house. Julian was reading a bedtime story to Lily in her upstairs bedroom when the soft chime of the front doorbell echoed through the house.
Julian froze. No one knew this address except Marcus and his elite security detail.
He reassured Lily with a soft smile, lowered the lights, and stepped quietly down the staircase. He checked the security monitor near the entryway. The video feed showed a figure standing on the porch under the dim light, wrapped in a wet, dark trench coat.
Julian opened the door, keeping the heavy security chain engaged.
The hood of the coat fell back, revealing Victoria.
She looked unrecognizable. The glamorous, immaculate woman who once wore wine-red sequined gowns was gone. Her hair was unkempt, her face pale and drawn, with dark hollows under her eyes. She looked frail, haunted, and deeply disturbed.
"Julian... please," she whispered, her voice hoarse and trembling against the wind. "Please, just let me see her for one minute."
May you like
"Victoria," Julian said, his voice tightening with immediate caution. "You are violating a strict court order. You need to leave right now before I press the panic alarm."
"I don't care about the court order!" she cried out, tears mixing with the rain on her cold face. "I'm sick, Julian! I'm losing my mind! I just need to know she's okay!"
Related Stories
