Chapter 16 - The Story She Tried to Sell
The contractor's records showed a campaign prepared before the engagement party ended. The first caption accused me of attacking Vivienne out of jealousy. Later drafts suggested Ethan's family had concealed Lily's illness for publicity.
"She was ready to blame everyone," Ethan said when Detective Chen described the records. "Even a nine-year-old."
"The messages still need to be authenticated," Chen said. "But the contractor is cooperating."
Vivienne's lawyer now argued that I had struck first and that the vial could have belonged to a catering employee. The video showed me moving first. I knew how that looked. A camera couldn't read intent.
I gave another statement, describing exactly what I saw and why I'd acted. Rosa gave hers. Leo provided footage from the service corridor showing Vivienne following the milk cart and reaching into her bag. Investigators could compare the angles themselves.
That night Ethan found me packing Lily's art supplies. "You should have told me sooner."
I looked up. "I did try. You were told I was making trouble."
"I know." He swallowed. "I'm sorry. I built a house where my own employees couldn't reach me when it mattered."
It wasn't the apology I needed most, but it was real.
Lily appeared in the doorway carrying her sketchbook. "Can you both stop talking about who should've known?" she asked. "I want to show you my picture."
We sat on the floor. She had drawn a tiny bird outside a tall dark house. Its wings were uneven but wide open.
May you like
"I think it can fly," she said.
The next morning Chen called with news that changed the case: a former Stillwater employee had come forward with records of the unauthorized visits to Lily's bedroom.
