Lily Had Not Eaten
Chapter 03 - Lily Had Not Eaten
Lily had missed breakfast because Grant moved the morning photo session earlier.
She missed lunch because the stylist said crumbs might stain the white dress.
At four o’clock, Claire asked the event coordinator to bring her food.
Grant sent it away.
“Guests arrive in thirty minutes,” he said. “She can eat after the photographs.”
Lily waited near the easel while assistants adjusted lights and moved flower arrangements around her. Only Rosa Diaz, a hotel server, noticed.
Rosa placed a croissant on the small silver table and whispered, “Eat when no one is looking.”
Lily waited.
When she finally lifted it, Grant was watching.
Now Claire carried her away from the easel while Grant followed.
“You are making this dramatic,” he said quietly.
Claire stopped.
“She is crying because you frightened her.”
“She fell.”
“You struck her hand.”
“I corrected her.”
Lily’s fingers tightened around Claire’s dress.
Grant lowered his voice.
“She needs to learn that rules apply even when she is hungry.”
Claire stared at him.
She turned toward Rosa.
“Please bring Lily a full meal.”
Grant said, “Not in the ballroom.”
Claire faced him again.
“The ballroom belongs to her.”
Grant’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Claire saw fear move through it.
That sentence was not theatrical. Henry Lawson had written the gala hall, family gallery, and its permanent collection into Lily’s trust. Grant had spent two years acting as though marriage gave him authority over assets he only entered through Claire.
Rosa returned with a covered plate. Grant tried to dismiss her with a glance.
This time, Rosa did not move until Claire nodded.
May you like
Lily took the plate with both hands.
For the first time that evening, an adult waited for the child instead of asking the child to wait for everyone else.
