Chapter 24
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The house felt agonizingly quiet when Julian returned home in the middle of the afternoon. He placed his briefcase heavily on the entryway console and walked into the living room, loosening his tie with a defeated sigh. He collapsed onto the plush gray sofa, the exact spot where he usually held the baby and found peace. But today, the peace was entirely absent. He had lost his company, his reputation was in tatters, and Victoria was actively trying to rip his family apart.
For the first time in a very long time, Julian felt a profound, crushing sense of despair. He buried his face in his hands, completely exhausted by the relentless warfare.
"Dad?"
Julian looked up quickly, wiping his face. Lily was standing in the doorway, holding two mugs of hot chocolate. She walked over quietly and handed him a mug, sitting cross-legged on the sofa beside him.
"You're home early," Lily observed, her sharp eyes studying his tired face. "Did something happen at the big meeting?"
"Just some corporate politics, sweetie," Julian attempted to deflect, forcing a small, unconvincing smile. "Nothing for you to worry about."
"You said we weren't going to lie to each other anymore," Lily reminded him gently, her voice mature far beyond her years. "Not after the pink notebook. If we are a team, we have to share the bad stuff, too."
Julian looked at his daughter, amazed by her profound emotional intelligence. He let out a long, heavy breath, surrendering his facade.
"Sterling used the argument at your school to make me look bad in the newspapers," Julian confessed quietly, staring down into his mug. "The board of directors got scared. They told me I have to stay home for a few weeks until they finish checking the company's files. I'm worried, Lily. I'm worried about losing everything."
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Lily didn't panic. She didn't cry. She simply reached out and placed her small hand over his.
"You aren't going to lose everything," Lily said with absolute, unshakeable certainty. "Because you haven't lost us. We are the most important part. And whatever Sterling is trying to do, we can figure it out. Together."
