Chapter 2 - THE LULLABY HE THOUGHT WAS LOST FOREVER
Lily looked at the billionaire.
She didn't know about bank accounts.
She didn't know about influence.
She only knew that the tall man with the sad eyes had asked nicely.
"Okay," Lily whispered.
She squeezed Bun Bun against her chest.
Then, she began to hum.
It wasn’t a song from the radio.
It wasn’t from a cartoon.
It was a slow, haunting lullaby, dipping and rising with a strange, melancholy grace.
I watched Marcus Cole.
The blood drained from his face.
The powerful, untouchable man suddenly looked as though the floor had given way beneath him.
His hand began to tremble.
Slowly, he reached into the breast pocket of his tailored tuxedo jacket.
He pulled out a heavy, tarnished silver pocket watch.
He didn't open it to check the time.
He pressed a small button on the side.
The watch popped open, and a tiny, mechanical chime began to play.
It was the exact same melody.
Note for note.
Lily stopped humming.
Her eyes went wide.
"My song," she pointed at the watch.
Marcus stared at my three-year-old daughter.
"Where did you learn that?" his voice broke.
"My daddy," Lily said simply.
Before Marcus could speak, the prep room doors swung open.
Claudia Whitcomb marched in, her heels clicking like gunshots on the tile.
"Marcus, what on earth are you doing in here with the help?" Claudia sneered.
She glared at me, then at Lily.
"I told the coordinator to have this child removed. This is a five-star venue, not a charity ward."
"Claudia," Marcus said, his voice dangerously low. "Quiet."
Claudia blinked, stunned by his tone.
"Excuse me?"
Marcus ignored her. He looked at me.
"Your husband. The man who taught her this song. What is his name?"
"David," I said, my heart pounding. "David Mendez."
Marcus stood up slowly.
His eyes locked onto mine.
There was a mix of terrifying hope and absolute devastation in them.
"That's impossible," Marcus whispered.
"Why?" I asked, pulling Lily behind my legs.
May you like
Marcus closed the silver watch with a loud snap.
"Because I wrote that melody thirty-four years ago for my infant son. A son who died before this little girl was even born."
