Chapter 2

The next afternoon, I ended my MIT interview and went downstairs.

The family portrait was already over.

Through the open doors of Father’s study, I saw the finished photograph displayed on his desk. Bianca stood at the center in her induction gown, the Bellini crown gleaming on her head.

No one mentioned my absence.

The family attorney sat near the fireplace with several folders arranged across the coffee table. Bianca spotted me first.

“Elena, you’re finally done. We’ve been waiting.”

I looked at the documents. “For what?”

Father gestured toward the empty chair across from him. “Sit down. It’s time to settle what you and Bianca will receive upon your induction.”

I sat down. The attorney opened the folder and slid it toward Father.

Father rested one hand on the document.

“I’m placing thirty million dollars in Bianca’s trust,” he said. “She’ll also receive the Hudson estate and twenty percent of Bellini Holdings.”

I waited for him to continue. He didn’t.

Bianca pressed both hands over her mouth.

Mother smiled. “My love, you’ll always be protected.”

Marco placed a small velvet box in front of her. Inside was the key to a custom-made pearl-white Ferrari.

“For when you get tired of using the driver,” he said.

Bianca threw her arms around him. “You’re the best brother in the world.”

Mother then turned to me.

“Elena, as Bianca’s older sister, what are you planning to give her for the induction?”

My hand tightened.

“Before we discuss what I’m giving Bianca, I’d like to know what I’m receiving.”

The attorney glanced at Father.

Father spoke without hesitation.

“You’ve always been capable of making your own way. We believe it’s time you learned to stand on your own.”

“So I’m receiving nothing?”

Mother’s smile faded.

“We provided for you your entire life, Elena. Hardly nothing.”

“Bianca is receiving thirty million, an estate, and company shares.” I wanted to remind them.

“Bianca needs security,” Father said. “You’ll always be here in New York, serving the family. What would you need an estate or a board seat for?”

“This isn’t fair. You’re cutting me out of the Family inheritance.”

Father’s expression hardened.

“This is not an inheritance. These are induction gifts, and I will distribute them as I see fit.”

Mother reached for my hand, but I pulled it away.

“Elena, you have your health. You have your competition prizes, and that brilliant mind everyone is always praising. You already have so much.”

She glanced toward Bianca.

“Your sister has never been as fortunate as you.”

There it was again. Bianca’s weakness deserved protection.

My strength was simply an excuse to give me less.

Marco leaned back against the sofa. “You’ve always been more capable than Bianca. You can build whatever future you want. What more do you need? Bianca deserves something she can call her own.”

“Something of her own,” I repeated. “Bianca gets a future handed to her because she needs one. I get nothing because I’m capable of building one myself. Does that sound fair to you?”

Bianca lowered her eyes to the folder in her lap.

“I knew this would happen,” she whispered.

Mother immediately turned to her. “What would happen?”

“Elena thinks I’m taking something from her.” Her voice trembled. “If she resents me this much, I don’t want any of it.”

Mother took her hand.

“No one is taking anything away from you, darling.”

Then she looked at me. “Must you ruin every happy moment she has?”

I almost laughed. It was my induction too. Somehow, everyone in the room seemed to have forgotten.

Father slid another document across the table.

“Let’s settle this. As Bianca’s older sister, you’ll transfer five hundred thousand dollars from your competition account into her trust.”

My fingers went still on the arm of the chair.

My competition winnings were the only money in that house I had earned entirely on my own.

“What is Bianca giving me?”

The room fell silent. Bianca’s eyes filled with tears.

Mother stared at me as if I had asked an inappropriate question.

“You’re asking your sister to offer you an induction gift?”

“I’m asking whether she’s expected to give me anything.”I said.

“You know she doesn’t have money of her own,” Marco said impatiently. “Stop embarrassing her.”

They had given Bianca more than thirty million dollars, yet somehow, it still wasn’t enough.

“And if I refuse?” I asked.

Mother’s face cooled.

“Then don’t expect us to present you at the induction ceremony. If you can’t behave like Bianca’s sister, you have no right to receive the Bellini crown beside her.”

Yesterday, that threat might have broken me. Today, my flight confirmation was already waiting in my inbox.

I picked up the pen.

“Fine.”

Relief crossed Mother’s face. Bianca stopped crying.

I signed the transfer authorization and pushed it back across the table.

They thought they had taken another half million dollars from me.

What they didn’t know was that it was the last thing they would ever get.

Five hundred thousand dollars to buy my way out of the Bellini family.

Considering how much freedom cost in our world, it was almost a bargain.