My Farewell Note Said We're Even

The year I turned fourteen, my brother Derrick, the new Don of the Griffin family, brought home Davina, the orphan of a rival family, all in the name of preserving our family’s reputation.

From then on, I was forced to concede everything to her.

She became the family's doted-on "Principessa of Peace" in our estate.

Davina used the family's welfare as a shield, falsely accusing me of jeopardizing the peace. For that, Derrick stripped me of my duties and placed me under house arrest.

He even gave her our mother's heirloom necklace to appease her.

This time, I didn't fight back. I simply took the men loyal to me and vanished from Chicago overnight.

He didn't learn what happened until days later, through his own intelligence reports.

I had already carved out my own territory in New York City, established my own crew, and vowed never to return.

That day broke him.

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1

After I won a brutal turf war for the family, my mentor, our Consigliere Marcus, patted my shoulder in relief.

"Vivian, congratulations. But New York is over seven hundred miles from Chicago. Now that this job is done, it'll be a while before you're back."

"While you're still here, you should spend more time with Derrick."

I sheathed my blood-stained dagger and drove toward the family estate.

I strode into the grand hall.

Derrick was busy directing the servants.

He was preparing for Davina's welcome dinner.

Davina was an orphan Derrick had brought back five years ago, from our mortal enemies, the Valachi family.

Derrick was still in a meticulous black suit, the fatigue from a recent meeting etched into the lines of his brow.

I cautiously approached him.

"Derrick, I'm back."

The moment he saw me, Derrick's face turned cold, his tone laced with impatience.

"Vivian, this is Davina's welcome dinner. Don't cause a scene."

Fearing he'd throw me out, I quickly explained.

"I have a welcome gift for Davina. A diamond brooch from Europe. I think she'll like it."

Fearing he wouldn't believe me, I pulled the velvet box from my handbag and held it out to him.

Derrick glanced at the gift in my hand, and when he looked up again, his eyes were tinged with suspicion.

"Since when did you become so generous?"

I ignored the sarcasm in his words and forced a smile.

"Derrick, let me handle the security for the dinner. I'll handle it personally. Davina... she needs to feel secure."

It was the first time I had ever backed down for him.

I just wanted to mend things between us after all the family turmoil. I might not get another chance.

After a moment of silence, Derrick put down his wine glass. I took it as his silent approval.

"Derrick, I'll go make the arrangements right now."

Without waiting for his reply, I turned and headed for the security room, tablet in hand.

In the security room, I flipped through the recent accounts out of habit, only to find an expenditure record from a high-end jewelry store.

It was a high-end custom piece from Cartier.

I clutched the electronic receipt for that order tightly in my hand.

Five years ago, Derrick had taken me to Fifth Avenue, where I had stared, mesmerized, at a sapphire necklace in a shop window.

It was a piece very similar to our mother's necklace—the one damaged in a firefight years ago.

That day, he promised me that once he secured his position as Don, he'd have Mother's necklace repaired and put it on me himself.

A warmth bloomed in my chest.

So he still remembered that promise. He still had a place for me in his heart.

By the time I finished arranging security and returned to the banquet hall, Derrick was already at the head of the long table, with Davina seated beside him.

The table was laden with exquisite dishes.

Even the 1982 Château Lafite, reserved for the Don, had been brought out.

But my place at the table was now occupied by Davina.

I didn't make a scene. I simply motioned for a servant to add a chair at the far end of the table and sat down quietly.

After finishing a tender piece of steak, Davina cooed.

"Derrick, this is delicious. I want more..."

Derrick looked up at me.

Before he could speak, I took the initiative.

"I haven't had much of an appetite lately. I'm not in the mood for meat."

Lowering my head, I caught a flicker of surprise in Derrick's eyes.