Chapter 0041

“And this,” Alden says, gesturing towards the children, “Is my son Romulus and my daughter Estrella.

Your…ah. Your half siblings, I suppose.” He runs a hand awkwardly through his hair.

I smile at Romulus, who looks up at me with excited eyes. He’s the picture of his mother, really – dark

hair, delicate pale skin, pretty hazel eyes. The baby is also very sweet, smiling up at me in her white

bonnet. As I look at the three of them, I can tell that Tristin has dressed them in pale green to match

her own outfit.

A glance at the green accents on Alden’s suit suggest that he’s part of their group as well. I look down

at myself, dressed in sapphire blue. Perhaps she’s sending me a message about exactly who belongs

in this family.

“Welcome,” Tristin says, her voice cold. She looks me up and down with distaste. I sigh, seeing that

this isn’t going to be an easy road.

“Thank you,” I say, doing my best to give them all a smile as I lower myself awkwardly into a chair by

the coffee table. We’re silent as a maid brings in a silver tray with a tea set on it. As she lays it down on

the table, I can’t help but stare at it.

“Oh my god,” I say, leaning in close to get a better look. “I remember this. There’s a little chip…” I turn

the sugar bowl halfway round and, indeed, there it is. Right on the rim.

Alden laughs a little but Tristin goes stiff in her seat. “Yes, well,” she says, shifting uncomfortably. “If

someone would let me replace it.”

“Oh no,” I say without thinking, looking up at them all. “It’s such a beautiful set – you can’t possibly –“

“Well if you’re so fond of it,” she says, glaring at me. “You shall take it with you when you go.”

I bite my lip, realizing that it’s not precisely a friendly gesture that she’s making.

“In fact,” she says, glaring at me and gesturing all around the room. “I guess all of this is yours now. So

you should take it with you. Thank you so much for graciously letting me live among your inheritance

for so many years.”

“I –“ I start, but then I fade off, not knowing what to say. My inheritance? What was she talking about?

“Tristin,” Alden says, leaning back in his chair, his voice low with warning.

“What,” she says, turning to him. “Am I incorrect? Now that your first-born has returned, has been

recognized by you, everything belongs to her.”

“That is not,” he says, “precisely the case, Tristin –“

“Oh please,” she huffs, “just look at her, already prowling around the house, inspecting it like it’s hers.”

She turns her cold eyes on me. “Will you wait until his body is cold before you come and claim it? Or

will you turn me out before the funeral?”

My mouth falls open as I look between them, my eyes finally settling on little Romulus, who looks about

ready to bolt. Oh god, poor kid. Is this his life every day?

“I’m really not here –“ I say, trying (and failing) to put on a cheerful smile, “to take anyone’s inheritance

– seriously, you can keep it all –“

“Lies,” she hisses, standing up and clutching the baby to her chest.

“Tristin,” Alden says, raising his voice, the rage growing in him. “You will sit, and treat my daughter with

respect.”

“Your daughter?!” she yells, appalled. Then holds the baby out towards him, right at his eye level. “This

is your daughter! The one whose rights you are stripping to give to that girl who hasn’t spent more than

ten minutes with you in her entire life!”

I open my mouth to say something but Romulus shakes his head fervently at me, warning me against

it. I close my mouth, then, trusting him to know his parents better than me.

My father and step-mother proceed to get into a blow-out fight, then screaming at each other, flinging

insults and accusations left and right. Alden lifts his hand once in threat against his wife, and in

response Tristin picks up a music box, hurling it at his face. He dodges, but ss soon as it crashes

against the wall, Romulus flees from the room and one of my guards wraps his hand around my upper

arm.

“Time to go,” Jerome says, giving me a little tug.