Chapter 10 - THE WINTER SHADOW
January brought snow.
Inside the arts center, children painted beneath warm lights.
Then Claire saw the black town car.
Her stomach tightened.
She recognized the plate.
The door opened.
Eleanor Bennett stepped inside.
Richard's mother.
The woman who had ruled the family for decades.
Her silver hair was perfect.
Her charcoal coat was flawless.
Her eyes were cold.
She looked around the children's art center.
"So."
Her voice dripped with contempt.
"This is what you traded the Bennett legacy for."
Claire stood straight.
"What do you want?"
Eleanor placed a legal envelope on the table.
"I am filing for emergency custody of Lily."
Claire froze.
"And I'm suing to remove the Bennett name from this building."
"You have no grounds."
Eleanor smiled.
"I have money."
Then she leaned closer.
"Lily is a Bennett."
Claire felt the old fear rising.
But beneath it was something stronger.
"No."
Eleanor's smile disappeared.
"You will lose."
Claire looked directly into her eyes.
"Then we'll see each other in court."
Eleanor walked away.
The door slammed.
Claire stared at the envelope.
The old war had returned.
Only this time, she wasn't the frightened woman who had walked out of the Hawthorne Grand.
May you like
She was a mother with something worth protecting.
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