Chapter 201

201 The Ceremony and the Ring

Lucian

The handover ceremony was smooth, almost surreal. Martha showed up glowing-smiling, gracious, dressed to impress. She claimed she’d been sick to explain the weight loss, but I knew better.

It was a lie, but a thoughtful one. She played her part perfectly, kind to everyone, charming even. I respected that.

My father had said she’d make the day about herself, but she didn’t. She stayed beside him the entire time, calm, collected, pretending everything was fine.

She was either medicated or masterfully composed. Maybe both. Either way, she fooled everyone.

Lacy didn’t come. She said she was packing, and I believed her. Still, I couldn’t shake the question: Why did Martha think I’d throw her out of the mansion? I let it go. Some things aren’t worth chasing.