<i>(</i><i>Virginia’s </i><i>POV</i><i>) </i>
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The elevator ride down from Dorian’s office feels like a walk of shame. My reflection stares back at me from the polished metal doors–makeup smudged, hair disheveled, eyes red with humiliation. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
He was supposed to listen. He was supposed to see what Scarlett really is.
Instead, he threw me out like garbage.
<i>Security</i><i>! </i>
The word echoes in my head, making my cheeks burn hotter. How dare he? How dare he treat me like some crazy woman when I was trying to help him?
My hands shake as I fish my phone from my purse, barely registering the concerned looks from people passing by on the sidewalk. I need to get out of here. Need to think. Need to figure out what to do next.
Because this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
The cab ride home passes in a blur of city lights and angry tears. Twenty–six years old, and I’m still fighting for scraps of the life that should’ve been mine from the beginning.
James and ir’s housees into view, and fresh rage burns through my chest. <i>Their </i>house. Not mine. Never mine, even though I’m their real daughter.
Because Scarlett got here first.
She got the childhood, the love, the security. She got parents who worried about her, protected her, gave her everything she wanted. And when she finally left? She got to be the tragic princess everyone missed.
While I got nothing.
“Ma’am?” The cab driver’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “That’ll be fifteen dors.”
I shove a twenty at him and stumble out onto the sidewalk, my legs unsteady. The house looks the same as always–perfectly maintainedwn, flower boxes ir tends with such care, the wraparound porch where she and James used to sit every evening.
Where they probably sat with Scarlett, reading her bedtime stories and tucking her in at night.
Stories I never got to hear. Hugs I never received.
< Chapter 43
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“Virginia?” ir opens the front door before I can even reach for my keys. Her face is creased with worry. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong? You look upset.”
The concern in her voice almost breaks me. Almost. Because it’s real–she does care about me. But it’s not the same kind of love she had for Scarlett. It’s cautious, careful. Like she’s afraid I might disappear again.
“I’m fine,” I lie, pushing past her into the living room.
James looks up from his newspaper, his reading sses perched on the end of his nose. “You don’t look fine. What happened?”
For a second, I consider telling them the truth. About going to see Dorian, about trying to protect Jasper from Scarlett’s maniption. But they wouldn’t understand. They still think their precious adopted daughter is some kind of saint.
“It’s nothing. Just work stress.”
ir moves closer, her hand hovering near my shoulder like she wants tofort me but doesn’t know how. “Are you sure? You’ve been so tensetely, ever since-<b>” </b>
“Ever since Scarlett came back.” The words slip out before I can stop them.
Silence falls over the room like a heavy nket. James folds his newspaper with deliberate precision, while ir’s hand finallynds on my arm.
“Virginia-”
“No, it’s fine. Really.” I force a smile, the same one I’ve been wearing for years. “I’m happy she’s back. We’re all together now, just like we always wanted.”
But the lie tastes bitter on my tongue.
Because we’re <i>not </i>all together. Scarlett made that clear yesterday at the bakery. She doesn’t want us in her life. She doesn’t want to be part of this family.
Which means all my suffering, all my years in foster care, all the nights I dreamed about finding my real parents–it was for nothing. Because even now that I’m here, I’m still second
best.
“Maybe we should go see her again,” ir says suddenly. “Try to talk to her when she’s had time to cool down.”
“She doesn’t want to see <b>us</b>, Mom.” The word still feels foreign on my tongue, even after all this time. “She made that very clear.”
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< Chapter 43
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“But Lily-” ir’s voice breaks slightly. “That little girl called us Grandma and Grandpa. She wanted to be with us.”
And there it is. The solution I’ve been looking for.
“You’re right,” I say, an idea forming in my mind. “Lily did seem to love you both. Maybe… maybe if you spent more time with her, Scarlett would see how much family means.”
James raises an eyebrow. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting you go to the bakery. Talk to Lily. Show her how much you care.” I lean forward, letting urgency creep into my voice. “Scarlett can be stubborn, but she loves that little girl more than anything. If she sees how happy Lily is with you…”
“She’lle around,” ir finishes, hope lighting up her face.
“Exactly.”
It’s perfect. Let them bond with Lily. Let them fall in love with their granddaughter the way they once fell in love with Scarlett. And when Scarlett realizes she can’t keep them apart, when she understands the pressure she’s under…
She’ll run. Just like she did four years ago.
Only this time, she’ll take her precious daughter and disappear for good. Away from Jasper. Away from all of us.
And I’ll finally have what I’ve always wanted.
“We could go this afternoon,” James says, already reaching for his coat. “When the bakery isn’t too busy.”
“That’s a wonderful idea, Dad.” The endearmentes easier now,ced with false
sweetness. “I’m sure Lily would love to see you again.”
ir practically glows with excitement. “Oh, we could take her to the park! Or maybe get ice cream. Do <i>you </i>think Scarlett would mind?”
“I think,” I say carefully, “that Scarlett will realize family is more important than holding grudges.”
They’re moving toward the door now, eager and hopeful. My parents, ready to im their granddaughter. Ready to do exactly what I need them to do. <fn5b9c> This update is avable on find~novel</fn5b9c>
“Aren’t youing with us?” ir asks, pausing at the threshold.
“No, I think this should be just you and Lily. Grandparents and granddaughter.” I smile, and
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< Chapter 43
this time it’s almost genuine. “I’ll wait here.”
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After they leave, I sink into James’s favorite armchair and close my eyes. The house is quiet except for the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway. The same clock that used to mark the hours when Scarlett lived here, the same rhythm that counted down my lonely childhood while she got everything I deserved.
But not for much longer.
My phone buzzes with a text from Jasper: <i>How </i><i>are </i><i>you </i><i>feeling</i><i>? </i><i>Still </i><iing </i><i>to </i><i>dinner </i>
<i>tomorrow</i><i>? </i>
I stare at the message, my heart clenching. Even now, even after seeing Scarlett with another man, he’s still thinking about her. Still carrying that broken look in his eyes.
But once she’s gone–really gone this time–he’ll see. He’ll understand that I’m the one who’s always been here. The one who never left, never gave up on us.
<i>Feeling </i><i>better</i><i>. </i>Yes <i>to </i><i>dinner</i><i>. </i><i>Can’t </i>wait <i>to </i><i>see </i><i>you</i>.
I hit send and lean back in the chair, imagining ir and James at the bakery right now. Probably ying with Lily,ughing at whatever cute thing she’s saying. Falling deeper in love
with her every minute.
And Scarlett? She’s probably watching with that guarded expression, trying to protect her daughter while wanting to give her the family she deserves.
It’s her weakness. Her soft spot.
And I’m going to use it to destroy her.
The front door opens two hourster. I hear voices–excited, happy voices–and the sound of small feet running across the hardwood floor.
“Grammy! Look what we got!”
My blood turns to ice. They brought her here. They actually brought Lily to the house.
I stand up just as a small figure barrels into the living room, clutching a stuffed elephant and beaming with joy. Lily. Jasper’s daughter. The child who looks so much like him it’s almost painful.
Behind her, ir and James appear, their faces glowing with grandparent pride.
“Virginia!” Lily runs straight to me, wrapping her arms around my legs. “Grammy and Grandpa took me to the toy store! Look at my elephant!”
* Chapter 43
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She holds up the plush animal, and I stare down at her trusting face. So innocent. So happy
to be here.
Sopletely unaware that she’s the key to everything I’ve ever wanted.
“That’s… that’s wonderful, sweetheart,” I manage.
“Where’s Mama?” Lily asks, looking around the room with curious eyes.
ir and James exchange a nce. A guilty nce.
“She’ll be here soon,” James says, but his voice sounds uncertain.
“We left a note,” ir adds quickly. “At the bakery. Letting her know where Lily is.”
A note. They took a four–year–old child and left a <i>note</i>.
“What exactly did the note say?” I ask.
Another guilty look passes between them.
“That we were bringing Lily home for a visit,” ir says. “That she wanted toe, and we thought… we thought maybe if Scarlett had some time to think…”
They don’t finish the sentence. They don’t have to.
Because I can see it in their faces. The desperate hope. The willingness to cross lines they <i>never </i>would have crossed before.
All for a chance to keep their granddaughter in their lives.
“She’s <i>going </i><i>to </i>be so angry,” I say, but I can’t hide the satisfaction in my voice.
“We’ll handle Scarlett,” James says firmly. “This little girl deserves to know her family.”
Violet Moon
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