CHAPTER 2: LEARNING HOW TO STAY
The penthouse felt too big that night.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
Victoria stood in the doorway of the guest room, watching Lily sit stiffly on the edge of the bed, clutching the same old photograph.
“I had them bring you some clothes,” Victoria said softly. “And… food. If you’re hungry.”
Lily nodded but didn’t move.
This wasn’t trust.
Not yet.
Victoria understood that.
She walked in slowly, sitting across from her. No phones. No assistants. No distractions. For the first time in years, she gave someone her full presence.
“Your mom… she was stronger than me,” Victoria admitted. “I ran away when things got hard. She stayed.”
Lily looked up.
That was the first real reaction.
“Why?” she asked.
Victoria didn’t hide from it.
“Because I was scared,” she said honestly. “And selfish.”
Silence lingered.
Then Lily asked the question that mattered most:
“Are you going to leave too?”
Victoria felt something inside her break—and rebuild at the same time.
“No,” she said firmly. “Not this time.”
She stood, then paused.
“Would it be okay… if I stayed here with you for a bit?”
Lily hesitated.
Then she nodded.
That night, Victoria didn’t return to her master suite.
She sat beside Lily until she fell asleep.
May you like
And for the first time in years, Victoria didn’t feel powerful.
She felt responsible.
