Chapter 37 *
Scarlett’s POV
I walked down the stage steps. Everyone watched me cross the ballroom floor.
I stopped in front of Sal. Held out the check.
He stared at it. His face was still dark red. But he didn't take it.
"Take it," I said. My voice was flat. "This clears every debt. Every obligation. Everything I might have owed you for raising me. We're done owing each other anything."
Sal's hand moved slowly. He took the check. Looked at it. Then at me.
I turned away from him. Reached into my other pocket.
Pulled out three gold coins.
They were heavy. Real gold. Old style. Each one was about the size of a half-dollar coin.
Viviana's eyes went wide when she saw them. She recognized what they were.
"There's one debt money can't settle," I said quietly. But my voice carried. Everyone was leaning in to hear. "You gave me life. That's biology. That's blood."
I held up the coins so the entire room could see them.
"These are three gold coins. Old tradition. Each one is a binding promise."
I walked over to Viviana. She was standing frozen. Staring at the gold coins in my hand.
"You can call on me three times," I said. Looking directly into her eyes. "Anything legal. Anything that doesn't harm innocents. I'll honor it. No matter what it is. No matter when you ask."
I pressed the three coins into her hand. Her fingers closed around them automatically. She was trembling.
"Not because I owe you gratitude," I continued. My voice was ice cold now. "Not because you were a good mother. Not because you treated me well. But because you gave me life. You carried me for nine months. You brought me into this world. That's the only debt I'm acknowledging."
"After these three coins are spent, we're done. Completely. You'll have no claim on me. No right to ask me for anything. We'll be strangers."
Viviana's face was white. She was clutching those three gold coins so hard her knuckles were turning white. She looked like she wanted to say something. Her mouth opened. Closed. No words came out.
I walked back to center stage. "I need the Five Families to witness this," I said.
"I, Scarlett Romano, formally sever all ties with the Romano family."
The words hung in the air.
"They broke the blood covenant. They dishonored the family bond. I have settled all debts. I owe them nothing."
"From this moment forward, I am not a Romano. They are not my family."
"This is witnessed. This is binding. We're done."
Sal's face was dark red. Veins bulging. But he couldn't refute anything I'd said. Not with everyone watching.
Viviana was still clutching those three gold coins. Her face completely white.
Nico looked furious but powerless. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides.
Murmurs started spreading through the crowd. "She's right. They treated her like garbage."
My eyes landed on Madison.
She was standing near the dessert table. Her face was white. Completely white. Like all the blood had drained out of it.
I smiled. Sweet and pleasant.
"Madison," I said. My voice carried across the ballroom. "The bet. Get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness."
The room went silent again.
Madison's face turned from white to red. Bright red. "What?" Her voice came out strangled.
"You heard me." I took a step toward her. "You made a bet. You lost. Now honor it."
Madison looked around desperately. Looking for someone to back her up. To save her.
Sophie and Ashley had already backed away. Putting distance between themselves and Madison.
"I... you..." Madison's hands were shaking. "You knew you'd score high and you still made that bet with me. You're vicious!"
I raised an eyebrow. "You're just figuring that out now?"
I walked directly toward her. Slow and steady. Each step deliberate.
Madison backed up. Her back hit the dessert table. Nowhere left to go.
I stopped right in front of her. Close enough that she had to look up to meet my eyes.
"Either you do it yourself," I said quietly. My voice dropped to ice. "Or I'll help you."
Madison's eyes went wide. She looked terrified now.
"You were so arrogant when you were pushing me around," I continued. "What happened to all that confidence?"
Madison's lip trembled. "Scarlett, please. Can't we just forget about the bet? It was just a joke. We were all just having fun."
"A joke?" I tilted my head slightly. "You threatened to destroy my foster mother's necklace. You blackmailed me into coming here. You tried to humiliate me in front of everyone. That was your idea of fun?"
"I didn't mean it like that. I was just—"
"Just what? Just being cruel? Just being a bully?"
Madison looked desperately at Zelda. Silently begging for help.
Zelda was standing near the stage. She looked like a soulless puppet. Her eyes were red and empty. She wasn't going to help anyone.
Madison's shoulders slumped. Her eyes filled with tears.
She raised her hand slowly. Brought it to her own cheek.
One slap. Soft. Barely audible.
I cupped my hand to my ear. Leaned forward slightly.
"Sorry, I can't hear you. Louder."
Madison's face crumpled. Tears started streaming down her cheeks.
"Scarlett, you bitch!" she screamed. "You set me up! You knew your scores were perfect! You made that bet on purpose!"
I laughed. Cold and dark.
"I warned you, didn't I? Play stupid games, win stupid prizes."
I looked around the ballroom. At all the phones still recording. At all the guests watching with wide eyes.
"Don't you think this little show is entertaining?"
Madison started cursing. Really cursing. Words I didn't even know rich girls knew.
I didn't hesitate.
My foot shot out. Kicked the back of her knee. Hard.
Madison's legs buckled. She dropped to her knees with a loud thud.
"Madison," I said. My voice was calm now. Almost gentle. "A bet's a bet. Honor your word."
"You can't do this!" One of the other girls rushed forward. I didn't know her name. Some friend of Zelda's. "This is too much! You're being cruel!"
Another girl joined her. "She already apologized! Just let it go!"
Zelda finally moved. She walked closer. Her face was still devastated but she was trying to play the victim again.
"Scarlett, please," Zelda's voice was soft. Pleading. "Madison made a mistake. We all make mistakes. Can't you find it in your heart to forgive her?"
I looked at all of them. These wealthy girls in their designer dresses. Looking at me like I was the monster.
My smile turned cruel.
"What? Can't handle losing?"