Chapter 6: Breaking the Cage
The heavy wooden front doors of the Sterling Manor stood wide open, letting the crisp winter air flow through the grand foyer.
Lily stood on the sweeping staircase, watching as a pair of movers carried three large designer suitcases down the steps and out to a waiting town car. Victoria followed shortly after. She paused at the threshold, her hand gripping the doorframe so tightly her knuckles were white. She looked back, her eyes tracing the opulence of the chandelier, the marble floors, and finally, resting on Lily.
There was a moment where Lily thought Victoria might apologize, that some shred of humanity might peek through the bitter resentment. But Victoria simply tightened her jaw, pulled her designer coat around her shoulders, and walked out without a word.
The heavy door clicked shut behind her.
Lily let out a breath she felt she had been holding for an entire year. The silence in the house didn't feel oppressive anymore; it felt peaceful.
"She's really gone?" Lily asked softly.
Arthur stepped out from the parlor, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "She's really gone, Lily. And she can't ever hurt you again."
"What happens now?" Lily asked, looking up at him. "Am I still going away?"
Arthur smiled, a warm, genuine expression that reminded Lily so much of her father. "Not unless you want to. I've filed the paperwork to become your temporary legal guardian, at least until we can locate your aunt in Seattle. But whether I am your guardian, or she is, you will stay right here. This is your home, Lily. You’ll go back to your normal school. You'll have your friends over. You'll be a twelve-year-old girl."
From down the hall, Marcus appeared, carrying a toolbox. He gave Lily a wide grin and a subtle two-finger salute.
"Thank you, Marcus," Lily called out to him.
May you like
"Just doing my job, Miss Sterling," he replied warmly. "Cameras are supposed to keep the bad guys out. Figured it was time they actually did."
Lily smiled, a real, radiant smile that reached her eyes for the first time in months. The Sterling Manor was massive, and the road ahead would take adjusting, but as she looked at Arthur, Marcus, and Mrs. Gable bustling in the kitchen, she knew she wasn't alone. The cage was broken, and she was finally free to spread her wings.
