Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN HE THREW OUT
Richard fired Grace the following morning.
He accused her of stealing silverware.
Lily knew it was a lie.
Grace had worked for the family for twenty-two years.
She had held Lily’s hand through hospital tests. She had slept in a chair beside Nora during the final week of her life.
Richard gave her twenty minutes to leave.
“You cannot do this,” Lily said.
“It is my house.”
“Grace didn’t steal anything.”
Richard’s eyes remained fixed on Grace.
“Then she should have no reason to fear the police.”
Grace packed one suitcase.
At the front door, she hugged Lily carefully.
“Do not let them isolate you.”
Richard stood at the end of the hallway watching.
Grace lowered her voice.
“Your mother hid something in the greenhouse. She told me to mention it only if your father ever turned against you.”
“What did she hide?”
“I never knew.”
Before Grace could say more, Richard called security and ordered her off the property.
That night, Lily waited until the mansion became quiet.
She slipped into the greenhouse with a flashlight.
The building had belonged to Nora.
Richard had locked it after her death and rarely entered.
Behind a row of empty planters, Lily found a loose floor tile.
Beneath it was a small brass key and a handwritten note.
Lily recognized her mother’s handwriting instantly.
MY DEAREST LILY,
IF YOU FOUND THIS, RICHARD HAS PROBABLY CONVINCED YOU THAT YOU ARE WEAK.
YOU ARE NOT.
THE KEY OPENS THE BOX EVELYN KEEPS FOR YOU.
TRUST HER.
AND PLEASE REMEMBER—YOUR FATHER’S LOUDEST LIE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT EVERYTHING BELONGS TO HIM.
Lily read the final sentence three times.
A noise came from outside the greenhouse.
The door handle turned.
Lily switched off the flashlight and closed her fist around the key.
May you like
Through the glass, she saw Julian approaching with Richard directly behind him.
👉 Nora’s key could expose Richard’s greatest lie—if Lily survived long enough to reach Evelyn’s box.
