Chapter 9 - CAMILLE PUBLICLY REFUSED TO BE USED AS THE “BETTER DAUGHTER”The press discovered everything.
Not every document.
Enough.
Headlines:
MAYOR WEXLER ACKNOWLEDGES ADULT DAUGHTER
LANCASTER HEIRESS BABY AT CENTER OF OLD WATERFRONT TRUST
I hated “heiress baby.”
Lily was still learning to use a spoon.
Then another narrative appeared.
MAYOR’S TWO DAUGHTERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF DYNASTIC MARRIAGE FEUD
Camille ended that herself.
She gave one statement:
“Ava and I were never rivals. Owen Lancaster was never property to be assigned between families. I rejected any proposed romantic match years ago, and I condemn attempts to use my name to demean his wife or child.”
Good.
Then:
“My sister’s daughter deserves privacy and safety unrelated to any trust, inheritance, or political consequence.”
My sister.
The word hit me unexpectedly.
Camille did not ask permission before saying it.
Later she apologized.
“I should’ve asked if you were comfortable with that word.”
I appreciated that.
I said:
“I don’t know yet.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
No forced sisterhood.
We started with coffee.
Then occasional texts.
May you like
Relationship built.
Not inherited automatically.
