Chapter 120 *
Scarlett’s POV
"Viviana." I kept my voice level. "What gives you the right to tell me what to do?"
She blinked. Like the question surprised her.
"I'm your mother."
The words hung in the air.
I held out my hand. Palm up. "Hand it over."
"What?"
"This counts as a wish." I kept my hand extended. "You're asking me to do something. That costs a wish. So hand it over."
Viviana's face went red. "This isn't worth a wish. This is just me asking you toâ€""
"To let someone who tried to destroy my life walk free?" I interrupted. "That sounds like something that should cost a wish."
Zinnia grabbed Viviana's sleeve. Her voice was desperate now.
"Please. You have to help my daughter. She's too young to go to prison. Her whole life is ahead of her."
She was shaking. Actually shaking.
"She made a mistake," Zinnia continued. "A terrible mistake. But she doesn't deserve to have her future ruined. Please. You're a mother. You understand."
Zelda spoke up. Her voice was soft. "She's your mom, Scarlett." She looked at me with those big innocent eyes. "Your actual mom."
"She carried you for nine months. Is this really too much to ask?"
I looked at Zelda. At her perfect concerned expression.
"I know what pregnancy costs," I said. My voice was calm. "That's why I gave her three wishes."
I turned back to Viviana. "If this is what you want, I'll do it. But only if you use a wish."
"We're family!" Viviana's voice rose. "I'm your mother! Do we really need to keep score like this?"
"Yes."
The word came out flat.
"You're my daughter!" Viviana stood up. Her hands were on the table. "My flesh and blood! I have the right to make this call!"
Something cold settled in my chest.
To her, this was all just small stuff. Madison hiring people to destroy me. The fake evidence. The death threats. Ruining my reputation.
All of it was just girls being dramatic.
Not a big deal.
"From the moment you publicly cut ties with me," I said quietly, "there's no family. No favors. No obligations."
I kept my hand extended. "Use a wish, or bring something else to trade."
Viviana stared at me. Her face was a mix of anger and disbelief.
Zinnia was still clutching her sleeve. Still begging with her eyes.
Finally, Viviana grabbed her purse. Dug around inside. Pulled out a gold coin.
She threw it across the table at me. Hard.
"This is what you wanted." Her voice shook with rage. "Don't you dare come crying to me later!"
I caught the coin. Looked at it for a second.
Then I squeezed. Hard.
The gold bent under my fingers. Warped. Flattened.
I opened my hand. The coin was a twisted piece of metal now. Unrecognizable.
I dropped it in the trash can beside my chair.
"I won't sue Madison," I said. "I'll make a public statement saying I'm moving on. The heat will die down eventually."
I stood up. Picked up my phone.
"You have one wish left. Use it wisely."
I turned toward the door.
"Wait." Viviana's voice stopped me.
I looked back.
"Where are you going?" Her face was tight. Stressed.
I tilted my head. "Why would I tell a stranger where I'm going?"
"We're notâ€"" She stopped herself. Took a breath. "I thought we could go shopping after this. Have dinner. I'll get you that Steinway piano. The one you wanted."
"I don't want any of that."
"Fine." Her hands clenched into fists. "What do you want? I'll get you whatever it is."
I looked at her. Really looked at her.
"Then tell me." My voice came out quiet. "What's my favorite food?"
Viviana's mouth opened. Nothing came out.
The silence stretched.
"You know everything Zelda likes," I continued. "Her favorite color. Her favorite restaurant. What music she listens to. What movies make her cry."
I took a step closer.
"You've never once asked what I like."
Viviana's face went pale.
"I know I'm not easy to love." The words came out matter-of-fact. Not bitter. Just true. "I know having me around makes everyone uncomfortable."
I gestured at the empty space between us.
"We've been apart. Everyone's happier this way. So why force me to come back?"
She didn't answer. Couldn't answer.
"You have one wish left," I said. "One last debt to repay for giving birth to me."
I met her eyes.
"After that, we're done. Completely done. Accept that. And stop reaching out."
I walked to the door. Opened it.
Didn't look back at her face. Didn't want to see whatever expression was there.
The door closed behind me with a soft click.
Viviana had always assumed I'd come crawling back eventually. That no matter how badly they treated me, I'd always return.
Because biological mothers were supposed to be inescapable. An obligation you couldn't refuse.
She was wrong.
I, Scarlett Romano, never planned on going back.
Not now. Not ever.