Chapter 1 – The Daughter They Erased
Chapter 1 – The Daughter They Erased
The applause for Arthur Sterling's seventieth birthday faded as Celeste stood alone in the center of the ballroom.
Her torn silk blouse exposed the pale scars that crossed her back like rivers of silver.
Olivia, her younger sister, smiled triumphantly.
"I told everyone she was hiding something."
Laughter rippled through the guests.
Arthur Sterling never looked at his youngest daughter.
He only frowned.
"Leave."
His single word carried decades of rejection.
Celeste nodded once.
Then the ballroom doors opened.
Every conversation stopped.
An elderly man entered wearing a dark navy dress uniform heavy with medals.
Four officers followed behind him.
The room instinctively fell silent.
Arthur blinked.
"...Admiral Reed?"
The admiral ignored everyone.
He walked directly to Celeste.
Then...
He raised a perfect military salute.
"Commander Celeste Sterling."
"On behalf of every sailor whose life you saved..."
May you like
"...welcome home."
The room froze.
