Chapter 1 - The Girl on Her Knees The Mercer mansion glittered like a palace that had never known sorrow.
The Mercer mansion glittered like a palace that had never known sorrow.
Crystal chandeliers scattered warm light across white marble. Silver trays moved through a crowd of investors, celebrities, politicians, and socialites. Nearly sixty guests had gathered for the launch of the Mercer Foundation’s new childhood literacy initiative.
Ironically, the only child in the room was the one being treated as though she did not matter.
Three-year-old Lily Mercer knelt on the cold marble floor.
Her pale blue dress was soaked at the hem.
A tiny scrub brush trembled in her hand.
“Again,” Vivian Mercer said.
Lily stared at the puddle in front of her.
“I cleaned it.”
“You missed a spot.”
Lily’s lower lip trembled.
“Daddy?”
Across the room, Grant Mercer heard her.
He looked at his daughter.
Then at the two investors standing beside him.
He knew what the right thing was.
He knew he should cross the room.
But Vivian was his wife, the woman who had spent months telling him that Lily needed discipline.
So Grant swallowed his discomfort.
“Finish what you started,” he said.
Lily looked at him as if he had suddenly become a stranger.
“Daddy…”
Then Vivian lifted another glass.
And poured.
Water spread across the marble again.
A few guests looked away.
Nobody moved.
Nobody except the man who had just walked through the front doors.
Sylvester Stallone had been invited as a guest.
He had expected speeches.
He had expected champagne.
He had expected another wealthy family celebrating itself.
He had not expected to see a three-year-old child on her knees.
His eyes moved from Lily…
to the brush…
to Vivian…
and finally to Grant.
Something in his expression changed.
May you like
He began walking.
And for the first time that night, the room became completely silent.
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