Chapter 65 The Scorned
Tuesday Evening - 6:45 PM
Viviana stood outside Felicia's bedroom door. Knocked softly.
"Sweetheart, you need to eat."
Silence.
"Felicia, please. You've been in there all day."
"Go away."
"I made your favorite. The pasta with—"
"I SAID GO AWAY!"
Something crashed inside. A glass, maybe. Or a picture frame.
Viviana tested the doorknob. Locked.
"I'm not leaving until you talk to me."
More silence. Then footsteps.
The lock clicked.
Felicia stood in the doorway. Eyes red and swollen. Mascara streaked down her face. Still wearing yesterday's clothes.
She looked destroyed.
"There," she said flatly. "I talked to you. Now leave."
"Let me in."
"No."
"Felicia Maria Moreno—"
"Don't use my full name like I'm a child!"
"Then stop acting like one."
They stared at each other.
Finally, Felicia stepped back. Let her mother in.
The room was chaos. Clothes everywhere. Tissues scattered across the bed. Her laptop open on the floor, screen dark.
Viviana closed the door behind her. "Sit."
"I don't want to sit—"
"Sit."
Felicia collapsed onto the bed. Pulled her knees to her chest.
Viviana sat beside her. Waited.
The tears came slowly at first. Then faster.
"She ruined everything," Felicia whispered.
"I know."
"EVERYTHING!" Her voice rose. "The Thornes were supposed to be mine. Alexander was supposed to—" She choked on a sob. "I did everything right. I worked at Sterling. I made connections. I was suitable. Perfect. Everything his mother wanted."
"You were."
"And then SHE appears. With her bastard child and her poverty and her—" Felicia's hands clenched. "And they chose her. They actually chose her over me."
"They didn't choose her. Alexander chose her. There's a difference."
"What difference? The result is the same. I'm out. She's in."
Viviana stroked her daughter's hair. "Not necessarily."
Felicia looked up. "What do you mean?"
"I mean the game isn't over."
"Yes it is. They threw me out. In front of everyone. Richard Thorne told me to leave like I was—like I was nothing."
"You're not nothing. You're a Moreno. Your uncle owns Sterling & Associates. You have connections they need."
"They don't need anything. They're the Thornes."
"Everyone needs something." Viviana's voice hardened. "And right now, they're vulnerable. Alexander walked away. Victoria walked away. Their company is bleeding."
"So?"
"So we take advantage of that."
Felicia wiped her face. "How?"
"We make sure everyone knows what kind of woman Elena really is. What she did. How she trapped Alexander with that child."
"Nobody will care—"
"Everyone will care. Image is everything in their world." Viviana stood, paced. "We gave her father a home. Security. And she repaid us by getting pregnant and embarrassing this family."
"She embarrassed herself—"
"She embarrassed ALL of us. Your uncle at Sterling has connections. Clients. Business partners of the Thornes." She turned back to Felicia. "If those people started hearing certain things about the Thorne heir's... situation. If doubt was planted about that child's legitimacy—"
"The DNA test already confirmed—"
"Tests can be questioned. Especially when the mother has a history of deception."
Felicia's expression shifted. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying we fight back. We remind people who Elena really is. A poor girl who got pregnant and conveniently 'remembered' who the father was when it became profitable."
"But Alexander believes her—"
"Alexander is thinking with his heart, not his head. Someone needs to remind him what's at stake. What he's throwing away for a woman who's using him."
"How do we do that?"
Viviana smiled. Cold and sharp. "We visit your uncle tomorrow. Ask for his help properly."
"He already said no. Said he won't mix business with personal matters."
"He said that when you asked alone. When I ask, it'll be different."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not just your uncle's niece by marriage. I have shares in Sterling. A stake. Family rights." She sat back down. "He'll listen."
Felicia looked at her mother. Hope flickering for the first time all day.
"You really think we can hurt her?"
"I think we can make her life very uncomfortable. Make Alexander question his choices. And then Thornes realize their son is making a mistake."
"And then?"
"And then we see what happens. Maybe Alexander comes to his senses. Or the Thornes take more aggressive action against Elena. And that child's legitimacy gets questioned publicly." Viviana touched Felicia's face. "Either way, she doesn't get to win. Not after everything she took from us."
"She took everything."
"She took what you worked for. What you deserved." Viviana's voice dropped. "But we're going to take it back."
Felicia wiped her eyes. "When do we go to Uncle Sterling?"
"Tomorrow morning. Early. Before he's too busy to refuse me."
"What if he still says no?"
"He won't. Trust me."
They sat in the messy room. Plotting. Planning.
Finally, Viviana stood. "Come. Eat dinner. You need your strength."
"I'm not hungry."
"You haven't eaten all day. You'll eat."
"Mother—"
"I didn't raise a daughter who falls apart over a man. Even if that man is Alexander Thorne." She pulled Felicia to her feet. "We're better than this. Stronger than this. And we don't let women like Elena win."
Felicia nodded. Let herself be led to the dining room.
The table was set for two. Pasta with cream sauce. Felicia's childhood favorite.
They ate in silence for a while.
Then Felicia said quietly, "I really thought he'd choose me."
"I know, sweetheart."
"I was perfect for him. For that family. I understood their world."
"You did."
"So why her? Why some assistant with a child and nothing to offer?"
Viviana set down her fork. "Because men are stupid. They see a pretty face and a hard luck story and they think they're being noble. Heroic."
"Alexander's not stupid."
"All men are stupid when it comes to women. Your father was the same way." She took a sip of wine. "But stupidity fades. Reality sets in. And when Alexander realizes what he gave up, what he threw away for a woman who'll never fit in his world—he'll regret it."
"Will he come back?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. But either way, we'll make sure Elena Moreno learns her place."
They finished dinner.
Cleared the dishes together.
Viviana made tea while Felicia showered and changed into clean clothes.
When Felicia emerged, she looked better. Composed. Determined.
"We should have a strategy," she said. "For tomorrow. For Uncle Sterling."
"We will. But tonight, you rest. Tomorrow, we handle business."
Felicia nodded. Hugged her mother.
"Thank you. For believing in me."
"Always, sweetheart. Always."
After Felicia went to bed, Viviana sat alone in the living room.
Thinking. Planning.
Elena had made a mistake. Had embarrassed their family by showing up at that Thorne dinner and revealing the connection.
Had exposed Felicia. Humiliated her.
That required consequences.
And Viviana was very good at delivering consequences.
She picked up her phone. Scrolled through contacts.
Found one she hadn't called in months.
Her finger hovered over the name.
Not yet. First, Uncle Sterling. Then other measures.
One step at a time.
Systematic. Thorough.
By the time she was done, Elena would regret ever crossing the Moreno family.
Viviana smiled in the dark.
Tomorrow would be interesting.
Very interesting indeed.
Wednesday Morning - 9:30 AM
Sterling & Associates occupied three floors of a downtown high-rise. Glass doors. Marble lobby. Receptionist who looked like she judged everyone who walked in.
Viviana swept past her. "We're here to see Martin Sterling."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"I'm family. I don't need an appointment."
"Mr. Sterling is in a meeting—"
"Then interrupt it."
The receptionist blinked. Picked up her phone.
Two minutes later, they were led to an executive office.
Martin Sterling sat behind a massive desk. Silver hair. Expensive suit. Expression that said he had better things to do.
"Viviana. Felicia. This is unexpected."
"We need to talk," Viviana said.
"About?"
"Thorne Empire. Your business relationship with them."
Martin leaned back. "I already told Felicia. I don't mix personal matters with business."
"This isn't personal. This is practical."
"How so?"
Viviana sat without being invited. Felicia followed suit.
"The Thornes are in chaos. Alexander walked away. Victoria walked away. Their board is scrambling. Their deals are unstable."
"I'm aware."
"Are you aware that you're doing business with a company that's about to implode? That's being run by two people who just lost their best strategists?"
"The Thornes have been in business for fifty years. They'll adapt."
"Will they? Or will their current projects fail? Will your firm be associated with those failures?"
Martin's expression didn't change. "What do you want, Viviana?"
"I want you to reconsider your relationship with them. Distance yourself. Make it clear Sterling & Associates has concerns about their stability."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because it's good business. And because we're family."
"Family." Martin's smile was thin. "You married into this family thirty years ago. That doesn't give you leverage over my company decisions."
"Doesn't it? I own shares. My late husband left me a stake in Sterling. Small, but not insignificant."
"Two percent. Hardly a controlling interest."
"Large enough to make things uncomfortable if I choose. Large enough to raise questions at board meetings. To request audits. To—"
"To what? Threaten me?" Martin stood. "I've built this firm from the ground up. I'm not going to destroy a lucrative business relationship because you're upset about Alexander Thorne's personal life."
"This isn't about his personal life—"
"Isn't it? Felicia wanted to marry him. He chose someone else. That's unfortunate, but it's not my problem."
Felicia flinched.
Viviana's jaw tightened. "You're making a mistake."
"The only mistake would be letting family drama dictate business decisions. Which I won't do." He moved to the door. Opened it. "If there's nothing else, I have a ten o'clock call."
Viviana stood slowly. "You'll regret this."
"Perhaps. But not today."
They walked out. Through the receptionist area. Into the elevator.
Viviana's hands shook with rage.
The elevator doors opened on the ground floor.
They stepped into the lobby.
"Mrs. Moreno?"
A young man stood near the entrance. Mid-twenties. Tailored suit. Sterling family jawline.
Viviana recognized him immediately. "Christopher."
"I thought that was you." He smiled. Looked at Felicia. "And Felicia. It's been years."
"Christopher," Felicia said flatly.
"You look beautiful. As always."
Felicia turned away.
Christopher didn't seem to notice. Or care. "What brings you to Sterling?"
"Business with your uncle," Viviana said.
"Ah. How is Uncle Martin?"
"Difficult."
Christopher laughed. "Sounds about right." He shifted his briefcase. "Are you staying? I'd love to take you both to dinner. Catch up."
"We're very busy—" Felicia started.
"We'd love to," Viviana interrupted.
Felicia stared at her mother.
"Excellent! Tonight? Seven?"
"Seven is perfect."
Christopher pulled out his phone. "I'll text you the restaurant. See you then!"
He left, practically bouncing.
In the parking garage, Felicia exploded. "What were you THINKING? I hate Christopher!"
"I know."
"He's insufferable. He's been trying to get an arranged marriage with me since we were teenagers!"
"I know."
"Then why did you—" She stopped. Saw her mother's expression. "Oh."
"Christopher Sterling is Martin's nephew. His protégé. The heir to Sterling & Associates."
"So?"
"So if Martin won't help us, maybe Christopher will."
"He won't. He's loyal to uncle—"
"He's infatuated with you. Has been for years." Viviana unlocked the car. "Men do stupid things for women they want."
"You want me to use him."
"I want you to have dinner with him. Be charming. Plant some seeds about the Thornes. About Elena. See if Christopher is willing to help where his uncle isn't."
"And if he is?"
"Then we have leverage. Access. Information." Viviana started the engine. "And a way to make Elena's life very difficult."
Felicia looked out the window. "I really hate him."
"You don't have to marry him. Just use him."
"That's terrible."
"That's survival." Viviana pulled out of the parking garage. "Elena used her child to trap Alexander. We're just playing the same game."
"It's not the same—"
"It's exactly the same. And we're going to win."
Felicia said nothing.
But she didn't refuse.
That was enough.
For now.
Viviana drove home, mind already working.
Christopher was young. Eager. Easily manipulated.
And he had access to Sterling's business dealings. Client lists. Contract details.
Things that could be very useful in the right hands.
Things that could hurt the Thornes.
And by extension, Elena.
Viviana smiled.
This was going to work.
It had to work.
Because she'd promised her daughter revenge.
And Viviana Moreno always kept her promises.
Always.