Chapter 16: The Last Thread
Winter arrived early, blanketing the rolling hills of the estate in a thick layer of pristine, glittering snow. Vivian was sitting by the crackling fireplace in the main living room, reading a book while Leo played on a soft mat beside her.
Maria walked in, carrying a small silver tray with the morning mail. "Most of this is for your father, sweetie," Maria said, her expression tightening slightly. "But one came for you. I didn't want to throw it out without your permission."
Vivian took the thick, cream-colored envelope. She recognized the sharp, elegant handwriting immediately. It was from Eleanor Mercer.
With a deep breath, Vivian opened it. The letter was three pages long, detailing the Mercer family's financial struggles and framing Julian as a broken, depressed man who just wanted to meet his son. It was drenched in manipulative language, completely ignoring the trauma they had inflicted on her, and ending with a plea to "let the past go for the sake of the child."
Vivian stared at the words, waiting for the familiar spike of anxiety or guilt that used to accompany any interaction with Eleanor. But nothing came. The words held no power over her anymore. She saw the letter for exactly what it was: a desperate, last-ditch effort to reconnect with the Vance wealth through her innocent son.
She calmly folded the letter back up. Without a second thought, she tossed it directly into the roaring fireplace. The thick paper curled and blackened, quickly turning to ash.
May you like
"Everything alright, ma'am?" Marcus, the head of security, asked softly from the doorway.
"Perfectly fine, Marcus," Vivian smiled, picking up a giggling Leo and kissing his cheek. "Just clearing out some old clutter."
