All Chapters of Love in the Shadows of Legacy: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Lily's POVI locked myself in my apartment Sunday and turned off my phone because I couldn't handle calls from Alexander trying to explain or Janet asking if I was okay.Everything I thought I knew about my life was a lie.Richard Thompson hadn't been a generous stranger who saw potential in me, he'd been my biological father making amends for eighteen years of cowardice.The inheritance wasn't a vote of confidence in my abilities, it was guilt money from a man who'd watched me suffer rather than claim me as his daughter.Every struggle in foster care while he lived in luxury knowing I existed.Every scholarship I'd worked desperately to earn that he'd funded anonymously.Every achievement I'd been proud of that had only happened because my father paid for opportunities from the shadows.Nothing about my success was actually mine.I pulled out my portfolio of paintings and looked at them with new eyes wondering if my artistic talent came from my mother or if Richard had secretly funde

Lily's POVAlexander brought all of Richard's letters to my apartment on Monday morning, and we spread them across my living room floor in chronological order.I read each one carefully while Alexander sat beside me offering context when I had questions about people or events mentioned.The early letters showed Richard completely in love with my mother and planning a future together."She wanted to open an art school for underprivileged kids," I said reading one letter. "I didn't know that about her.""Richard funded three art education nonprofits in her name after she died." Alexander pulled up information on his phone. "The Elena Rose Foundation has helped thousands of kids."I kept reading through letters documenting the pressure from Richard's family to end things with my mother.His sister had been relentless calling Elena a gold digger and threatening to destroy Richard's career if he married beneath his station."Your grandmother was a horrible person," I said it without thinki

Lily's POVVictor Walter called on Tuesday afternoon while I was still processing everything about Richard being my father."Miss Rose, I hope I'm not intruding. I heard through mutual contacts about the revelation regarding your relationship to Richard Thompson."I sat up straighter in my apartment where I'd been hiding since Sunday. "How did you hear about that?""Miami's business community is small and news travels quickly." His voice was warm with sympathy. "I wanted to reach out because I imagine you're feeling quite overwhelmed.""That's an understatement." I didn't know why I was being honest with him, except that he wasn't Alexander or Sophia, and that felt safer somehow."I can only imagine. Learning your entire inheritance was actually a birthright from a father you never knew must be devastating." Victor paused. "May I ask if you're receiving adequate support during this difficult time?""I'm managing." But my voice cracked because I wasn't managing at all."Lily, may I sp

Alexander's POVI walked through Marcel's directly to their table and the look on Lily's face when she saw me was equal parts surprise and anger.Victor smiled like he'd been expecting me which made my blood boil hotter."Alexander Thompson. What a pleasant surprise." Victor's tone was amused. "Would you like to join us for dessert?""I'd like you to stop manipulating Lily while she's vulnerable." I kept my voice low because we were in a public restaurant but fury made every word sharp. "Whatever you're offering her is poison wrapped in concern.""Alexander, what are you doing here?" Lily stood up and her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. "You followed me?""James told me you were meeting with Victor and I came to make sure you understood who you're having dinner with." I looked at Victor. "He's been working with Sophia to undermine you. He has sources inside the company feeding him confidential information. This dinner isn't about helping you, it's about positioning himself to

Alexander's POVI drove home on autopilot while Victor's words echoed through my mind like poison."The accident that killed them wasn't actually an accident."At my apartment I poured scotch with shaking hands and stood at the window staring at Miami's glittering skyline the way I had fifteen years ago the night my parents died.I'd been seventeen not fifteen like I'd told Lily, old enough to understand death but young enough to be destroyed by it.The police had called Richard at two AM saying there'd been an accident on the causeway and my parents' car had gone into the water after brake failure.Mechanical error they'd ruled it after a cursory investigation that Richard had seemed eager to close quickly.I remembered standing in Richard's study three days after the funeral demanding to see the accident report."Why did the brakes fail? Dad just had the car serviced." My voice had been raw from crying. "Something's wrong about this.""Sometimes accidents just happen Alexander. Mech