Chapter 1 - The Corsage
Victoria removed the pale-blue corsage from Lily’s dress before the judge entered.
“Only wear this for the cameras.”
The courtroom door opened.
Reporters waited beyond it.
Victoria immediately pinned the flower back onto Lily and replaced her cold expression with a polished smile.
Nine-year-old Lily lowered her eyes toward the old suitcase beneath her chair.
Judge Carter entered and studied the family before her.
Victoria sat in a champagne suit beside Adrian, the husband who had appeared in dozens of campaign photographs promising every child deserved a permanent home.
Maya, the court-appointed social worker, remained on Lily’s other side.
“Are you ready to go home with them?” Judge Carter asked gently.
Lily said nothing.
Victoria answered too quickly.
“She’s just nervous.”
The judge followed Lily’s gaze.
At her signal, Maya knelt beside the suitcase.
“May I open it?”
Lily nodded.
Inside were neatly folded clothes that had never been touched. An old arrival tag still hung from the handle.
Judge Carter looked at Victoria.
“Why was this never unpacked?”
Lily lifted a small folded blanket and held it against her chest.
“They said I could stay until the campaign ended.”
Adrian slowly turned toward his wife.
Victoria reached for the suitcase lid.
Judge Carter raised one open palm.
“Do not touch it.”
The reporters outside stopped whispering.
Victoria’s face lost color.
Judge Carter leaned forward.
“Who made this child part of a campaign?”
Lily looked at Maya instead of Victoria.
May you like
Then she said the sentence no one expected.
“They told me I had to call them Mom and Dad only when the red camera light was on.”
