Chapter 2

The Caldwell mansion was a vast estate filled with secrets, and tonight, Sarah felt like an intruder in its endless halls.

She hadn’t meant to stumble upon the Caldwell family archives, she was only searching for a quiet space away from the prying eyes of staff and, especially, Victoria. But the narrow door she opened in the library led to a winding staircase, and curiosity drew her down into a dim, chilly basement room.

Shelves stretched along the walls, filled with family history, photo albums, news clippings, and stacks of papers yellowed with age.

Sarah ran her fingers over the smooth leather covers of albums and cases.

She wondered if anyone had been down here in years.

After flipping through a few albums and faded letters, she found a folder of news clippings that caught her eye.

These were not the grand, society pages that celebrated family philanthropy or prestigious achievements. These articles covered... scandal.

The faded clippings bore headlines that seemed at odds with the perfect family image Eleanor and Richard upheld at every social function.

The papers detailed whispers of Victoria’s rebellious phases, articles that most of society had likely forgotten, or been paid to forget.

“‘Heiress Parties With A list Crowd, Leaves in Ambulance After Alleged Overdose,’” she read aloud softly, skimming the article beneath the bold headline.

The picture showed a younger Victoria, barely sixteen, her eyeliner smudged as she was rushed out of a crowded party by security.

Another article described a stint in a high profile rehab center abroad, reporting on “confidential sources” that hinted at escalating issues.

In one image, Victoria posed in a dimly lit club with a tattooed arm slung over her shoulder, a young musician whose name Sarah vaguely recognized from another scandalous headline years ago.

Sarah took a deep breath, her mind racing.

These weren’t just bad choices, they were years of cover ups and hush money, stories hidden to protect the Caldwell name.

Here in her hands was the proof of a life far removed from the polished façade Victoria now wore with such ease.

The family had sacrificed so much to keep these incidents hidden, to shield Victoria’s reputation. Her jaw tightened.

They protected her, even when she tore at their legacy. And here I am, the real Caldwell daughter, treated like an outsider.

The temptation to confront Victoria with these details, to expose her hypocrisy, surged through Sarah.

This was, after all, the ammunition she had lacked as Victoria slowly twisted everyone against her. But the longer Sarah stared at the faded articles, the colder her fury grew.

She understood too well how each of those stories might hit her family anew, how much Eleanor and Richard had probably endured to keep Victoria’s past hidden.

Taking a shaky breath, Sarah carefully placed the folder back where she’d found it.

She wouldn’t use these revelations to her advantage. Not yet. If she spoke now, it would only stir further strife, and she’d lose the one edge she had.

She was the quiet, underestimated daughter, the one the Caldwells still believed to be "ordinary" and powerless.

............................

Few days later, the Caldwell estate buzzed with unusual excitement as news spread of Margaret Windsor’s return to the city.

Invitations to an exclusive welcome gala for the famed jewelry designer flooded the inboxes of every socialite within a hundred miles.

Margaret Windsor’s name was synonymous with elegance and timeless design, and she had become an icon in her own right.

Her return from a year long European tour was all anyone in the high society art world could talk about.

Inside the Caldwell mansion, Victoria pounced on the news. She had only heard snippets about Margaret’s work but knew that a connection with such a renowned designer could boost her influence tenfold.

“Imagine the Caldwell name connected with Windsor's,” she purred over brunch, angling her face for maximum effect as Eleanor gazed approvingly. “A collaboration with Margaret Windsor would be career defining for someone like me. After all, I’m practically family to her, aren’t I?”

Richard gave a distracted grunt of agreement, while Eleanor’s face lit up at the idea. “Imagine! You should make an introduction, Victoria,” she suggested, unaware of the irony in her words. “This could be just the thing we need to elevate you both.”

Across the table, Sarah’s hands clenched, her stomach knotting at the mention of Margaret’s name.

Her heart raced as memories surfaced of quiet afternoons in the old workshop, her hands working carefully under Margaret's gentle guidance.

Margaret had treated her like a true apprentice, a young designer worthy of respect and knowledge, not just a young girl in a small village.

If anyone could see past the superficial judgments society made, it was Margaret.

The notion that Victoria might try to claim a bond with her felt like another violation of the world Sarah had once known as hers alone.

To Victoria’s frustration, her attempts to arrange a private meeting with Margaret before the gala went unanswered.

Margaret was notoriously private, even more so upon her return. So, it was no surprise that Victoria brightened noticeably the moment Margaret stepped into the room at the gala, her silvery hair swept back and her elegant black dress a statement of understated sophistication.

Cameras flashed as Margaret Windsor greeted guests, each attendee angling for her attention and hoping for even a few minutes of conversation.

Victoria nudged Sarah as they spotted her across the room. “Stay back,” she whispered, her eyes narrowed. “I don’t want you embarrassing the family tonight, and I’ll handle introductions myself.”

Victoria swept away, her designer gown trailing behind her, leaving Sarah standing by the sidelines.

Margaret caught sight of Sarah almost instantly, her discerning eyes locking on her former pupil across the crowd.

The slightest smile flickered across her lips, a knowing smile, a quiet greeting, and Sarah felt a wave of relief. She gave a subtle nod, knowing Margaret understood her wish for secrecy.

Victoria, however, remained oblivious. As she reached Margaret, her charm at its peak, she extended her hand and introduced herself with a polished, “Miss Windsor, I’m Victoria Reed. We’re practically family, as I’m the Caldwells’ eldest daughter.”

“Ah, so you’re Victoria,” Margaret replied with a polite, impassive smile.

Her eyes swept over Victoria’s designer dress and practiced grace. “It’s lovely to finally meet you.”

Victoria launched into her charm offensive, detailing her keen interest in Margaret’s work and implying a shared kinship with the Caldwell name.

Sarah watched from the edge of the room, and she could tell Margaret saw right through Victoria’s act. But Margaret’s expression remained serene, her tone polite, never betraying her thoughts.

As the evening wore on, Victoria’s attempts to ingratiate herself with Margaret only made her seem more desperate, her flawless demeanor beginning to show cracks.

When Margaret finally excused herself, leaving Victoria visibly deflated, she made her way through the crowd toward Sarah.

In a low whisper, Margaret leaned in, her tone warm with familiarity. “You’ve grown, Sarah.” she said, glancing at her hands as if imagining them wrapped around delicate tools rather than crystal glasses. “Are you still designing?”

“I am,” Sarah replied, her voice soft but resolute. “In secret. For now.”

Margaret nodded approvingly, giving her a small, almost conspiratorial smile. “Good. There are things best kept hidden until the right moment.” She placed a reassuring hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “If you need anything, you know how to reach me. Don’t let anyone take your light.”

Sarah watched as Margaret drifted back into the throng, leaving a trail of awe struck guests in her wake.