Chapter 4

The next morning, I returned to the building whose address had appeared on Matthew’s invitation.

The stone entrance had been renovated, but the silver crest above the doors had not changed.

My mother had chosen it when the foundation was established.

For eighteen years, I had told myself that leaving this place was the price of building a family.

Standing beneath that crest again, I finally understood how much of myself I had abandoned for people who had never valued the sacrifice.

Matthew’s final fellowship interview was scheduled for ten.

Outside the reception hall, I found him standing between Robert and Helena.

Helena had dressed him in a new suit and was adjusting his tie while explaining which names he should mention during the interview.

Robert noticed me first.

His expression darkened.

“Lillian? What are you doing here?”

“I have an appointment.”

“With whom?” He glanced at my plain suit. “If this is about Matthew’s application, following us here will not change anything.”

Matthew crossed his arms.

“If you came to offer me that recommendation again, I don’t need it. Helena already arranged everything.”

Helena rested a hand on his shoulder.

“This fellowship is about background, vision, and the right connections,” she said. “Matthew finally has people who can open those doors for him.”

I looked at the silver crest on his invitation.

They still believed I had come to beg for a place in the future they were building without me.

Robert stepped closer and lowered his voice.

“Go home and finish the application. If you apologize now, Matthew may still be willing to let you attend the ceremony.”

“I’m not here to attend his ceremony.”

Robert frowned.

“Then leave. This is a private selection interview.”

He motioned to the security officer near the reception doors.

“She isn’t on the guest list.”

The officer approached me.

Before he could speak, the doors opened.

The foundation director stepped into the corridor, followed by two members of the selection committee.

Robert immediately straightened his jacket and offered his hand.

“Good morning. Robert Whitmore. We’re here for my son’s final interview.”

The director walked past him.

“Step away from Ms. Hall,” she told the security officer.

The corridor fell silent.

Robert slowly lowered his hand.

Matthew stared at me.

The director stopped in front of me.

“Welcome back, Lillian.”

Helena’s smile faltered.

Robert looked between us.

“You know her?”

Before the director could answer, footsteps sounded behind her.

My brother walked out of the reception hall.

Matthew had seen his photograph in magazines and on the foundation’s website, but he had never met him in person.

Robert’s face changed immediately.

“Mr. Hall,” he said, forcing a smile. “I wasn’t aware that you would personally attend Matthew’s interview.”

My brother did not look at him.

He came to stand beside me.

“You seem confused, Mr. Whitmore.”

Robert glanced at me again.

My brother’s voice remained calm.

“Lillian Hall is my sister. This foundation was established in our mother’s name.”

Matthew’s arms slowly dropped to his sides.

Helena tightened her grip on his shoulder.

“That doesn’t change Matthew’s qualifications,” she said quickly. “I already arranged the sponsorship required for his application.”

The foundation director opened the file in her hands.

“There is no sponsorship from you, Ms. Helena.”

Helena’s face stiffened.

“That’s impossible.”

“The program requires a recommendation from a Hall family sponsor,” the director continued. “Matthew had one when his application entered preliminary review.”

Matthew looked at me.

“She was my sponsor,” he said slowly.

“Was,” my brother corrected.

He placed the unsigned recommendation letter on the table between us.

“She withdrew it after the celebration.”

The confidence disappeared from Matthew’s face.

The director turned to me.

“The committee can delay the interview for ten minutes,” she said. “If you restore your recommendation, Matthew may still be considered.”

For the first time since the celebration, Matthew looked frightened.

His lips parted.

“Mom…”