Chapter 118 *
Silence on the other end.
Then Scarlett laughed. It sounded hollow. Empty.
"You have Zelda," she said. "You've always had Zelda."
"That's not the same andâ€""
"Which parent," Scarlett interrupted, "announces they're cutting ties with their daughter at a party? In front of everyone? While that daughter is being harassed online? At her most vulnerable?"
Viviana's throat felt tight.
"Salvatore stood up there and told everyone I embarrassed him. That I brought shame to the family." Scarlett's voice was getting sharper. "Now you suddenly remember I'm your daughter?"
Viviana stopped. Took a breath. "Sal was angry. He said things he didn't mean."
"No." Scarlett's voice was certain. "He meant every word. He just didn't expect me to actually leave."
Viviana switched tactics. She straightened up in her chair. Made her voice more business-like.
"Fine. Let's talk practically then." She paused. "I'll increase your trust fund. Double the monthly allowance."
Zelda's head lifted slightly from Viviana's leg.
"And I'll get you a black card," Viviana continued. "No limit. Buy whatever you want. Go wherever you want."
More silence on Scarlett's end.
Viviana could hear breathing. Could almost feel the anger building.
"You think everything can be fixed with money?" Scarlett's voice came out low. Dangerous.
"I'm offering you what you deserve as aâ€""
"These are things you'd give Zelda." Scarlett cut her off. "That's all this is. You're offering me the same things you give your real daughter."
"Scarlett, that's not fair. Iâ€""
"You never knew what I actually wanted." Scarlett's voice broke slightly. "I wanted a mother who would stand by me when I needed her. Who would defend me. Who would choose me."
She paused.
"But you chose Zelda. Every single time."
Viviana's face flushed red. "Zelda is your sister! I raised her many years! What do you expect me to do? Throw her out?"
"I expect you to treat your biological daughter like she matters!"
"She does matter!" Viviana's voice rose. "You matter! That's why I'm calling! That's why I want you home!"
"Then why," Scarlett asked quietly, "did you pick her over me? At that party? When everyone was watching?"
Viviana didn't have an answer.
"Can't you just forgive and move on?" Her voice got desperate now. "For the sake of the family? Romanos don't fall apart over small disagreements."
The words hung in the air for a long moment.
When Scarlett spoke again, her voice was eerily calm. Drained of emotion.
"Small disagreements?"
Another pause.
"We're done, Mom. You made your choice. Now you have to live with it."
"Wait!" Viviana's voice cracked. "Please. Just listen toâ€""
But she could hear Scarlett was about to hang up. Could feel it in the silence.
Viviana's mind raced. She had one card left to play.
"You owe me two more wishes."
Scarlett went quiet.
"Remember?" Viviana's voice got harder. More forceful. "Three wishes. You've only used one. You still owe me two."
She didn't wait for Scarlett to argue. Didn't give her time to refuse.
"I'm using one now. Meet me at The Colony Club. Today. Two PM."
She hung up before Scarlett could respond.
The phone went silent in her hand.
Viviana sat there for a moment. Staring at nothing.
"The Colony Club?" She said it out loud. Talking to herself more than to Zelda. "Scarlett wanted to try their tasting menu last time. The expensive one. I'll order it for her today."
Her voice sounded strange. Almost desperate.
Zelda sat up. She grabbed Viviana's hand. Both of hers.
"You look terrible," Zelda said. Her face was full of concern. "Your color is all wrong. Maybe you should rest. Push back bringing Scarlett home. Just for today."
She squeezed Viviana's fingers.
"Why don't you go shopping with Miranda instead? Get your mind off things. You can deal with Scarlett tomorrow when you're feeling better."
"No." Viviana pulled her hand away. Stood up.
Her movements were sharp. Determined.
"It has to be today. If I let her stay out there any longer, she'll forget she even has a mother."
She walked toward the stairs. Stopped. Looked back at Zelda. "Are you coming with us?"
Zelda smiled. It didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Of course. If you want me there."
But her hands were still clenched. Her fingernails were leaving crescent marks in her palms.
Zelda closed her bedroom door. She pulled out her phone. Opened Signal. Found the private number she'd memorized.
"Hello, sweetheart." The woman's voice came through smooth. Cultured. "Is everything alright?"
Zelda's composure cracked. "No. Nothing's alright."
She sat down on her bed. Hard.
"Lorenzo is being cold to me. Like I'm a stranger. And Viviana keeps talking about how much she misses Scarlett. How the house feels empty without her."
Her voice was getting higher. More stressed.
"I'm losing my place in this family, Mom. I can feel it slipping away."
"Zelda." The woman's voice got firmer. "Listen to me. I'm your real mother. Not Viviana."
Miranda Kestrel's face appeared on screen as the call switched to video.
"Your brother Owen is your real sibling," Miranda continued. "Not Lorenzo. Not Graham. Not Nico."
She leaned closer to the camera.
"Viviana and her three sons are not your blood. There will always be a line between you and them. No matter how many years pass."
Zelda's eyes filled with tears. "Then what do I do? How do I fix this?"
"You can't fix it." Miranda's voice was blunt. "The only thing that would fix it is if I became the legitimate wife. If Owen and I moved into that house as family. Not hidden away like dirty secrets."
Her expression darkened.
"But your father won't do it. He keeps promising he will. Keeps saying 'soon' and 'when the time is right.'"
She let out a bitter laugh.
"Lorenzo runs the family business now. Successfully. Your father doesn't want to disrupt that. Doesn't want to risk the empire he built."
Zelda wiped her eyes. "So what? We just accept this? Let them push us out?"
"When is Dad going to get rid of that crazy bitch Viviana?" The words came out harsh. Angry. "When are you and Owen going to move into the manor? Openly. As family."
Miranda sighed. "I don't know, baby. I really don't know."
I didn't care before. When everyone loved me. When I was the favorite. I didn't care if Miranda were the mistress or the wife. But now I see the difference. Between real family and adopted.
Something shifted in Zelda’s expression. Her eyes went cold. "Graham and Nico are useless," she said. "They can't run the family business. Everyone knows it."
"If something happened to Lorenzo," she said slowly, "Owen would be next in line. Wouldn't he?"
Miranda went very still.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying Lorenzo is the only reason Dad won't make you his legitimate wife." Zelda's voice was calm now. "Maybe we need to remove that obstacle."