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That was fair, | supposed. It didn’t make it hurt any less that my mother had been by my side all along, unable to
tellwho she truly was even during my darkest moments, though.
“All those times | lamented over having lost my mother,” | half-laughed, half-sobbed. “You were right
there.”
Lilith sighed and reached into her blouse, withdrawing the locket that she had once given me-the locket Sophia
had crushed. The locket I'd nearly died in the vault to retrieve. She unclasped it and held it up, pressing the tiny
button on the side to pop it open and reveal the cameo of the woman holding the baby.
“This cameo,” she said, “is of us. It was a gift from my mother-your grandmother-when you were born. It was
the one thing | was able to retrieve from the house before your father sold most of my things and locked up the
few valuables | had left.”
“Which are now burnt,” | whispered, tracing my fingers along the locket.
Lilith clasped the necklace around my neck. “They were only things. A few expensive jewels and strinkets.
But this... this is yours, now. | wanted to give it to you before because | wanted you to feel connected to your
mother in sway, even if you didn’t know it. Now that you have your own son, |
think it's even more fitting.”
My sight went blurry again, but | blinked away the tears as | clutched the locket. “My son-"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Alexander named him Lucien,” Lilith said gently.
“Lucien.” | couldn't help but smile at that, although it faded quickly. “He needs his mother. | have to do
something.”
“Trust me, Ella, | understand that you want to tell everyone who you really are. | understand more than anyone.”
Lilith tookby both shoulders and looked atsternly. “But you mustn't. If you do, both Alexander and
Lucien will face the consequences.”
I gulped, suddenly and acutely aware of the weight of this whole ordeal. “But what am | supposed to do?” |
asked. “No offense, but I'm not sure if | can live like you did, always watching my child from the sidelines.
It's so... lonely.”
Lilith’s face fell. “I know.” She pulled away and stared at her lap for a long moment before finally continuing, “But
it’s all we can do. Losing a child-it’s far worse than the cards we've been dealt.”
She was right, of course. | hated that she was right.
“At least we have each other,” | whispered.
“Yes. And you have no idea how glad | am for it, even if the circumstances could be better.”
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Chapter 233
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A silence fell over us after that. | had so many questions, but one burned at the forefront of my mind like a
wildfire. “Lucien,” | said, “is he healthy, at least? Is Alexander treating him well?”
“He was in intensive care until yesterday,” Lilith replied. “Since then, Alexander hasn't put him down. Partially
because he cries whenever he’s not being held. And, Ella...” She met my gaze again. “You should know that
he’s... sickly. He was born too soon, and his lungs weren't fully developed. He might have trouble breathing for
the rest of his life.”
“He needs his mother,” | said firmly, even as | felt my heart shatter a little more. This never should have
happened.
“I stayed in Alexander's employ to remain close to Lucien,” Lilith went on. “I don’t fully trust Alexander after
what happened.”
“But | still need to find a way to get close to my son,” | said.
Just then, the sound of voices cut our conversation short. Lilith and | stood and crossed to the entrance of the
garden, peering through the hedges to see the funeral procession beginning. My casket was being loaded into
the back of the hearse while Alexander stood solemnly beside it, still cradling Lucien in his
arms.
“I have to go. I'm supposed to give your eulogy,” Lilith said, frantically smoothing down the skirt of her black
dress.
“Where am | supposed to go? | don’t have any money, nowhere to stay...”
Lilith hesitated, chewing her lip, then reached into her pocket and withdrew a small key. | recognized it as a key
to the cellar.
“| figured you would return, so | made up a bed for you in the cellar for now,” she said. “There's a fresh change
of clothes for you, water for bathing, and food. I'll cto check on you after the funeral.”
“But what then?” | asked. “I can’t live down there forever"
“Tomorrow,” she replied, “you'll walk up to the front door of the house and ask to apply for the nanny position.”
The nanny. | would have to be a nanny for my own son, but at least | would get to see him. “And if Alexander
recognizesas the crazy lady who disturbed his wife's funeral?” | asked.
“Don’t worry, dear. Men like him never pay that much attention to the help.”
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