Chapter 2 – A Father's Greatest Regret
Chapter 2 – A Father's Greatest Regret
The ballroom doors suddenly opened.
Richard Ashford rushed inside after receiving an urgent phone call from one of the guests.
"What happened?"
No one answered.
Vanessa silently handed him the completed locket.
The billionaire's hands froze.
His face turned ghost white.
His eyes moved slowly toward Lily.
She looked exactly like the woman he had loved for thirty-five years.
Her mother's eyes.
Her mother's smile.
Her mother's kindness.
He took one hesitant step forward.
Then another.
His voice cracked.
"Emily..."
Lily shook her head.
"My name is Lily."
Tears rolled freely down Richard's face.
"I'm sorry."
He fell to his knees before her.
The richest man in the room was suddenly just a broken father.
"I searched every hospital."
"I hired private investigators."
"I never stopped looking."
Lily's emotions collided all at once.
Anger.
Confusion.
Hope.
Grief.
"I grew up believing nobody wanted me."
Richard covered his face.
"I failed you."
For several long moments neither of them moved.
Finally...
Lily reached out.
She didn't forgive him.
Not yet.
May you like
But she let him hold her hand.
Sometimes healing begins with a single touch.
