Chapter 4

A few days later, the social banquet was held as scheduled.

That day also happened to be my twentieth birthday.

And it would be my last birthday spent in the Moretti family.

Even though I had already made up my mind to leave, there was still a small flicker of hope in my heart.

Maybe Father remembered my birthday.

Maybe at the banquet, he would set aside a moment to celebrate with me.

Even just a few minutes.

But all my fantasies and expectations turned laughable the moment reality arrived.

The big screen played the film I had made.

The credits at the end bore Luca's name.

Sophia, in a lavish gown, stood center stage on the platform, soaking in everyone's praise.

And me? I had been told to change into a black uniform.

Carrying a heavy tray of drinks, weaving through the crowd, doing the same work as the servants.

After a whole night of running around, I stopped in a corner to catch my breath, and happened to overhear Father chatting with someone.

One of the uncles glanced at me and sighed.

"That's the daughter who took a blade for you, isn't she? Rare loyalty, that."

But Father only shook his head.

"You don't understand. That child is too gloomy. Never a smile on her face. She doesn't belong on this stage."

"Luca and Sophia are the ones. Capable, no hassle. The real pride of the Moretti family."

In a daze, I lost my grip on the tray, and my body was about to give out.

But a pair of aged hands caught me, trembling.

It was Anthony, the family's oldest retainer, the servant who had looked after me when I was small.

He pressed a pocket watch into my hand, his eyes kind.

"Miss, I remember everything. This is an old trinket I've kept for half my life. Consider it a gift."

"Happy birthday, Miss Lily. Twenty years old."

The pocket watch was tarnished with age.

But to me, it was the most precious thing in the world.

My tears broke loose. I wanted to say thank you.

But all that came out was a choked sob.

I took the watch, draped my jacket over a chair, and went to the restroom to pull myself together.

But when I came back to the hall, the pocket watch in my jacket was gone.

Sophia walked past me, a silver white pocket watch now hanging around her neck.

I rushed forward, face cold, and shouted.

"Give it back!"

Panic flickered through Sophia's eyes. She ducked behind Father immediately.

I chased after her, voice tearing out of me:

"I said, give it back!"

A wounded look instantly spread across her face.

"Why does Anthony only give you such a precious antique? That's not fair!"

I was shaking with rage.

"Fair?"

"All these years, everything in this family, even the film I made, went to you two."

"All I want is to take back what belongs to me. And that's unfair?"

Sophia had nothing to say. Tears streamed down her face.

Luca heard the commotion and strode over.

He ripped the watch off her neck and smashed it to the ground.

Then he stomped on it. Hard.

The watch shattered instantly. Gears and glass scattered everywhere.

Luca looked at me, fury in his voice:

"There. The watch is broken now. No one gets it. Absolutely fair."

What came before my anger was Father's slap.

"That's enough!"

My head snapped to the side. I nearly fell to the floor.

Clutching my reddened cheek, I turned back to stare at him in disbelief.

"Throwing a scene at a banquet this important. Have you no sense of decency!"

Then he turned to Anthony.

"Anthony, I told you before. Matters of the heirs are not yours to meddle in!"

Anthony's face went pale. He bowed his head.

"Father, don't blame Anthony."

My voice was flat as dead water.

"It was my mistake. From now on, I won't fight for anything again."

I crouched down and carefully picked up the fragments scattered across the floor.

Then I went back to my room.

Almost without hesitation, I dragged my suitcase out the door.

I showed the guard the pass signed by Father, then drove off at full speed.

It wasn't until I saw Ella waving to me warmly in the distance that my tears finally spilled over.

I turned back for one last look at the outline of the estate.

Then I wiped my tears, stepped out of the car, and held Ella tight.

Goodbye, Moretti. Goodbye, Father.

Goodbye to this place where fairness never existed.