Chapter 5 - The Slum on 14th Street
The luxury Maybach came to a stop in front of a crumbling four-story brick apartment building in a rundown neighborhood of Astoria, Queens.
A yellow eviction notice was slapped across the rotting front door, alongside a heavy iron padlock securing the rusted entry gate.
On the concrete steps sat a frail woman in a faded navy waitress uniform, her hands wrapped around a paper coffee cup for warmth.
Her light brown hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and dark circles carved deep shadows beneath her hollow, exhausted eyes.
"Mommy!" Lily cried out, pushing open the heavy car door and running across the cracked sidewalk into the woman's arms.
Grace wrapped her thin arms around her daughter, weeping softly against her lavender cardigan. "Lily! Where did you go?! I was so scared!"
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As Grace lifted her head, her gaze met the tall, silver-haired figure of Edward Vance stepping out of the black sedan.
The coffee cup slipped from Grace's fingers, spilling onto the cold concrete as her eyes widened in absolute, paralyzing terror.
