Chapter 134 *
Lorenzo's POV
My stomach turned.
I texted back. Be there at six.
Then I grabbed my jacket and headed out.
I was carrying a bakery box from Ladurée. Macarons. Zelda's favorite.
And an oversized teddy bear that cost three hundred dollars. Because apparently that's what good big brothers did.
The second I stepped inside, I heard it. Champagne glasses clinking. Laughter that made my skin crawl.
I walked into the living room.
Mom was holding up designer gowns. "You'll need these for the galas, sweetheart. My daughter, in the Junior League!"
Nico was pouring champagne. "That's my sister! Youngest member they've ever accepted!"
Graham raised his glass. "All the old money families are gonna know the Romano name now."
Shopping bags were everywhere. A whole new wardrobe for society events.
On the coffee table sat the official invitation letter in its cream-colored envelope. Three champagne bottles. One already empty.
My stomach churned.
I wanted to smash that cake box in their faces. Wanted to tell them the truth about their precious Zelda.
Nico and Graham had no idea. They were calling this backstabbing bitch their treasure.
She was probably laughing at them behind their backs. Calling them stupid.
Not a daughter. A fucking parasite.
But I had to play the game.
I heard Dad's car pulling into the driveway.
I switched on the warm smile. Like flipping a switch.
Walked over to Zelda with the gifts.
"Hey, Zelda." I kept my voice light. Casual. "Sorry about the past few days. Work's been hell. Didn't mean to take it out on you."
I handed her the bakery box and the teddy bear.
"What do you want? Name it. I'll make it up to you."
Zelda's eyes went wide. That innocent look she did so well.
"Oh, Lorenzo, you don't have to apologize." Her voice was sweet. Soft. "I get it. Running the family business is so stressful."
She set down the gifts carefully. "I don't need anything. I have everything already."
Then she paused. Looked down at her hands.
"I just... I was thinking about Scarlett. She's starting college soon. All alone out there..."
Mom's face darkened immediately. "Why are you bringing her up? She made her choice."
Nico laughed. Poured himself more champagne. "Scarlett's doing just fine playing house with her sugar daddy."
The sick feeling in my stomach got worse.
I kept the smile on my face. "She cut ties with this family. No point talking about her."
I caught the flash of satisfaction in Zelda's eyes.
She thinks she won. Thinks I'll always choose her.
Probably already planning how to spend my money when I'm gone.
I smiled back at her. Warmer. More genuine-looking.
"So seriously. What do you want? Car? Jewelry? Trip to Paris?"
Zelda laughed. That delicate sound that used to make me want to protect her.
Now it just made me want to put a bullet in her skull.
"You're too good to me, Lorenzo."
Yeah. I was.
And I was done with it.
I finally escaped the fucking circus downstairs around eleven PM.
Got to my room. My hand went to my phone. Pulled up my contacts.
Found Marco's number. The money guy. He answered on the second ring. "Boss?"
"I need you to move a million to an account." My voice was low. "Clean money. Tonight."
Silence on the other end. Just for a second.
"How clean we talking?"
"Spotless. I want this untraceable. Legal-looking. Like it came from a legitimate investment."
"Whose account?"
I gave him Scarlett's details. Bank. Routing number. Account number.
"I don't care how you do it," I continued. "Offshore, shell company, I don't give a fuck. Just make it look clean."
"Gonna take a few hours to set up the paperwork."
"Fine. Just get it done."
"You got it, boss." More typing. "Anything else?"
"Yeah." I paused. "Marco. This stays between us. My father hears about this, you're done. Understand?"
"Crystal clear, boss. My lips are sealed."
I hung up.
Stared at the phone in my hand.
A million dollars.
That's all I could give her right now. Just money.
It wasn't enough. It would never be enough.
I owed her everything. Protection. Loyalty. The kind of love she'd never gotten from this family.
The phone buzzed. Marco's confirmation text.
Transfer initiated. Will be in her account by morning. Paperwork shows it came from an overseas investment fund. Clean as a whistle.
It was a start.
I didn't know if I could ever make this right. Didn't know if she'd even want me to try.
But I was going to spend the rest of my life trying anyway.
What I did to my real sister. I'd be paying for that forever.
And I deserved every second of it.