Chapter 14 - VICTORIA WAS GIVEN ONE LAST CHANCE
Leo’s first birthday was smaller than the Sterling family expected.
Avery insisted.
No ballroom full of donors.
No press photographs.
Family.
Food.
Cake.
Victoria was invited.
Not because everything had been forgiven.
Because Liam wanted to see whether his mother could attend an important family event without controlling it.
She arrived alone.
No diamonds.
She brought Leo a wooden train.
Avery checked the bottom jokingly.
“No trust documents hidden inside?”
Victoria surprised her by laughing.
“I deserved that.”
Later Graham arrived.
That had been Liam’s choice.
The two half-brothers had not become close.
But hostility had softened after months of negotiations.
Graham looked at Leo.
“So technically I’m his uncle.”
Liam raised an eyebrow.
“You were already his cousin once removed or something equally useless.”
Graham laughed.
Even Victoria smiled.
Then Avery noticed her looking toward Richard’s portrait.
Liam noticed too.
After cake, Victoria asked to speak with him privately.
Avery remained nearby.
Victoria handed Liam a small envelope.
White.
No Sterling seal.
“What is it?”
“A letter I wrote after your DNA result.”
Liam did not take it immediately.
Victoria continued.
“I’m not asking you to read it today.”
“Then why give it to me?”
“Because Richard was right.”
Liam’s expression changed.
“About what?”
“The information belongs to you.”
He accepted the envelope.
Victoria did not ask what he planned to do with it.
That mattered.
Before leaving, she stopped beside Avery.
“I was cruel to you.”
Avery waited.
“And to Leo.”
“Yes.”
Victoria swallowed.
“I’m sorry.”
Avery did not say it was okay.
It had not been.
She said, “Thank you for saying it plainly.”
Victoria nodded.
Then left.
May you like
Liam looked at the unopened letter.
For once, no one demanded he open it.
