Chapter 11 - The Father's Final Letter
The morning sun rose bright and warm over the Virginia countryside as Vivian returned to the Sterling Estate.
The house was quiet, the dark shadows of Victoria’s reign thoroughly scrubbed away by a new team of staff.
Vivian sat in the grand library, placing a small brass key into the lock of her late father’s wooden officer chest.
Inside lay his original dog tags, a folded American flag, and a sealed letter addressed to her in his handwriting.
Vivian broke the red wax seal, her fingers trembling slightly as she unfolded the yellowed paper.
“My dearest Vivian,” the letter began.
“If you are reading this, I have fallen in the line of duty, and Victoria has attempted to claim the Sterling Shipyards.”
“Do not trust the board of directors in Washington D.C.”
“The primary key to the defense trust is not hidden in the mansion... it is buried beneath the memorial monument in Annapolis.”
Vivian gasped, her eyes scanning the final sentence written at the bottom of the page.
May you like
“Protect your daughters, my brave captain. The shadow syndicate reaches far higher than Victoria ever knew.”
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