Chapter 9 - The Legacy of Ash
At 6:00 PM, the fog settled thick against the glass panes of the nursery on the second floor.
Clara stood by the crib, watching Lily sleep peacefully under a soft blue blanket. The little girl's wrists were neatly bandaged with white gauze, her pink dress replaced by warm cotton pajamas. She looked small, safe, and completely unburdened by the dark war that had raged around her.
Clara reached down, gently stroking a lock of golden hair away from her daughter's forehead.
She remembered the night Julian had brought Lily home six years ago—how he had held the tiny bundle against his chest in this very room, promising to protect her from his family's toxic legacy no matter the cost. He had paid for that promise with his life, but Clara had made sure his sacrifice wasn't in vain.
A soft knock sounded at the nursery door.
Clara turned to see Mrs. Higgins, the old housekeeper who had served the Sterling family for forty years, standing in the doorway with a tray of hot tea.
"Is she sleeping?" the old woman asked softly.
"Like an angel," Clara whispered.
Mrs. Higgins walked over, placing the tray on the side table. She looked down at the sleeping child, a tear glinting in the corner of her aged eye.
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"You saved her, Clara," Mrs. Higgins said, her voice shaking slightly. "Old Mrs. Sterling would have destroyed this child just to keep the family money intact. You did what none of us ever had the courage to do."
"A mother doesn't need courage, Mrs. Higgins," Clara replied, looking back down at Lily. "She just needs to be willing to burn down the house to keep her child warm."
