Chapter 7

By morning, most of my luggage was packed.

The suitcases stood in perfect formation beside the bed—labeled, sealed, silent. Inside lay clothes, documents, and the few old photographs I hadn't been able to burn.

I folded the last of my tailored shirts, not out of nostalgia but because the mechanical act brought a strange, meditative calm to the emptiness.

They all thought I was preparing for that distant cousin's "wedding."

No one asked when I'd return.

No one even asked if I would.

That silence was answer enough.

I walked to the innermost corner of the dressing room, where a black ebony box rested—the DeLuca family crest etched into its lid. My jewelry chest.

Inside were years of gifts, heirlooms, and fragments of my past.

When I opened it, my breath froze.

The necklace was gone.

A platinum chain, set with an old-cut diamond pendant, engraved with our ancestral motif—elegant, weighty, irreplaceable.

It had belonged to my grandmother, then my mother, and finally passed to me on my coming-of-age.

Tradition dictated that I would wear it on my wedding day—whenever, and with whomever, that day came.

But now—the box was empty.

My veins turned to ice.

I tore through drawers, compartments, even the secret safe under the bed.

Nothing.

Then I ripped open my suitcases—

still nothing.

Heart pounding, I stormed into the living room.

Tad sat lounging on the leather sofa, scrolling through something on his encrypted tablet.

"Tad," my voice was sharp as steel, "where is my diamond necklace?"

He didn't even look up. "Oh. That one."

"That one?" My voice rose. "That's my mother's heirloom!"

He finally lifted his gaze, irritation plain on his face. "I gave it to Celia. She thought it'd go nicely with her outfit for Finland. I agreed—it suits her."

I froze. "You—what?"

He set down his tablet, eyes cold. "She liked it, so I thought—why not? You barely wear it. It's been locked away for years."

I stepped closer, nails digging into my palms. "That's not just jewelry! It's the DeLuca matriarchal crest—my mother's legacy! It's mine!"

Tad shrugged. "Celia's part of the family now. No need to overreact. She's only borrowing it."

"No, she's not!" I spat. "She's never been part of this family! She's only here because I begged Father to take her in—and now she's taken everything from me!"

His expression darkened. He rose to his feet. "Watch your tone, Nancy. I didn't want to believe Celia when she said this—but you really are eaten alive by jealousy."

"It's the truth!" I shouted, losing control. "My biggest mistake was letting her into my life! I'm not jealous—she's a manipulative thief!"

Then—

SLAP!

The hit was so hard my vision blurred. My cheek burned like fire.

I stared at him, stunned, his hand still trembling in midair.

"She's your sister," he snarled. "Maybe not by blood, but once your best friend. She's loyal—just like the rest of us. Don't you dare speak of her like that again."

Before I could respond, Celia appeared in the doorway.

She wore a silk robe, barefoot, playing the picture of fragile innocence.

"What's happening?" she whispered, eyes darting between us. "Why are you fighting?"

I pointed straight at her neck. "The necklace. Hand it over."

She glanced down, fingers brushing the glittering pendant.

"Oh… you mean this?" Her voice was soft, apologetic. "I just borrowed it. I thought you wouldn't mind—Tad said it was fine. And… I'm family too now, aren't I?"

"Take it off," I ordered coldly. "Now."

She froze, eyes wide, a flicker of fear—or guilt—crossing her face. "Nancy—"

"Take. It. Off." I stepped closer.

She backed away, clutching the pendant protectively.

"What's wrong with you?" Her voice rose, breaking into a sob. "I just wanted to look nice—I really love this necklace—"

I reached for the clasp. She jerked back.

We struggled—

and then snap!

The platinum chain broke.

The diamond pendant fell, rolling across the carpet until it disappeared beneath the sofa.

"You broke it!" I gasped, heart shattering with it.

"It's not a big deal!" she panted—and smiled, just slightly. "It's just an old necklace."

"You had no right to touch it!"

Tad lunged forward, pulling me back and shielding her. "Enough! That's enough!"

Leo came rushing in, instantly at Celia's side. "Are you okay? Did she hurt you?"

"She's insane!" Celia cried, collapsing against him. "I didn't mean to break it—she scared me—she pushed me!"

I stared at her performance, cold and numb.

Leo turned on me, his eyes full of accusation. "What's wrong with you? It was an accident. Are you really making a scene over a piece of jewelry?"

Tad shoved my shoulder—not hard, but enough to make me stumble back. "Stop this nonsense," he warned, then took Celia's hand and led her away.

Leo followed, throwing one last look of disgust.

Once again—

I was left alone.

I stood in the center of that lavish, empty room, breathing hard, eyes fixed on the broken chain glinting faintly under the sofa.

Slowly, I knelt down and began gathering the shattered pieces—

fragments of my past, my legacy, my self.

That's it, I thought.

That was their last line crossed.

I straightened, walked back to my room, and picked up my encrypted satellite phone. I pressed a single speed-dial number.

"DeLuca Family Estate Management Office," came a polite, cautious voice.

"This is Nancy DeLuca," I said calmly, emotionless. "I want to sell the property codenamed Eagle's Nest."

"Sell it?" the voice stammered. "Madam, are you sure? Immediately?"

"Yes," I said firmly. "Effective now. Highest confidentiality protocol. Complete the transaction within seventy-two hours."