Chapter 2 - Arthur Faces His Long-Lost Daughter Through The Rain
The crystal wine glass trembled violently in Arthur’s aged, weathered hand as red wine spilled across the crisp white tablecloth.
His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird desperately trying to break free from a locked cage.
Through the rain-streaked window of the upscale American restaurant, the solitary silhouette remained frozen beneath the striped canvas awning.
Officer Miller stepped forward, placing a respectful, reassuring hand on little six-year-old Lily’s trembling shoulder.
“She’s waited twenty long years for this exact moment, Mr. Sterling,” Officer Miller whispered gravely.
Arthur could not tear his eyes away from the haunting figure standing outside in the cold, unyielding autumn downpour.
The posture, the elegant curve of her neck, and the way she held her coat were identical to memories he thought time had buried.
“Elena...” Arthur choked out, his voice barely audible over the soft clinking of silverware from the surrounding tables.
Lily wiped a stray tear from her flushed cheek with the sleeve of her oversized winter jacket.
“Mommy said your heart would break when you saw her, but she also said you had to know the truth,” Lily whispered.
Arthur didn’t care about the curious glances from wealthy patrons dining nearby or the scandal it might cause in local society.
He shoved his heavy leather dining chair backward with a loud screech against the polished wooden floor.
Without uttering another word to the restaurant manager or the stunned patrons, Arthur rushed toward the heavy glass front doors.
The American flag standing proudly beside the entryway fluttered violently as Arthur pushed his way out into the stormy night.
The freezing autumn rain immediately soaked through his tailored suit jacket, plastering his silver hair against his forehead.
He stepped off the concrete curb, his eyes locked entirely on the woman standing shivering beneath the flickering streetlamp.
She raised her face slowly, the dim amber light cutting through the shadows to reveal eyes he hadn’t seen since she vanished.
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It was Elena, his beloved daughter who had supposedly died in a tragic car accident across state lines two decades ago.
***
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