Chapter 2

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

The portrait session was over. Through the open study doors, I could see a print propped on Father's desk. Lucia stood in the center wearing her gown and crown. Everyone looked pleased.

The family attorney sat by the fireplace, with folders spread across the coffee table. Lucia noticed me first.

“Sofia, you're finally done. We've been waiting.”

“For what?”

Father indicated the chair opposite him. “It's time to settle what you and Lucia will receive at your induction.”

I sat. The attorney opened a folder and passed it to Father.

“I'm putting thirty million dollars in Lucia's trust,” Father said. “She'll also receive the Hudson estate and twenty percent of Romano Holdings, with a seat on the board.”

I waited for him to turn to me. Instead, he slid the folder toward Lucia.

She covered her mouth with both hands.

Mother smiled. “You'll always be protected, my love.”

Luca set a small velvet box in front of her. Inside was the key to a custom pearl-white Ferrari.

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

Lucia threw her arms around him. “You're the best brother in the world.”

Mother turned to me. “And what are you giving your sister?”

I tightened my hand around the chair arm. “Before we get to that, what am I receiving?”

The attorney glanced at Father.

“You've always been capable of making your own way,” Father said. “It's time you learned to stand on your own.”

“So nothing?”

Mother's smile disappeared. “We've provided for you your entire life. That's hardly nothing.”

“Lucia is getting thirty million dollars, an estate, and company shares.”

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

He had told me to stand on my own in the same breath he used to decide where I would spend my life.

“You're cutting me out of the family inheritance.”

“These are induction gifts,” he said. “I'll distribute them as I see fit.”

Mother reached for my hand. I drew it back.

“Sofia, you have your health, your competition prizes, that brilliant mind everyone praises. You already have so much.” She looked at Lucia. “Your sister hasn't been as fortunate.”

“You're more capable than she is,” Luca added. “You can build whatever future you want. Let Lucia have something of her own.”

“Something of her own?” I looked from him to the open folders. “She gets a future handed to her because she needs one. I get nothing because I can build one myself. Does that sound fair to you?”

Lucia lowered her eyes.

“I knew this would happen,” she whispered.

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

“Sofia thinks I'm taking something from her. If she resents me this much, I don't want any of it.”

“No one is taking anything away from you, darling.” Mother held her hand, then looked at me. “Must you ruin every happy moment she has?”

It was supposed to be my induction too. The folders in Lucia's lap were the only ones anyone had opened.

Father pushed another document across the table.

“Let's settle this. You'll transfer five hundred thousand dollars from your competition account into Lucia's trust.”

I looked at the authorization. Those winnings were the only money I had earned entirely on my own.

“What is Lucia giving me?”

Her eyes filled with tears.

Mother stared at me. “You're asking your sister for an induction gift?”

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

“You know she doesn't have money of her own,” Luca said. “Stop embarrassing her.”

Father's thirty million dollars was still on the table between us.

“And if I refuse?”

Mother's face cooled. “Then don't expect us to present you at the ceremony. If you can't behave like Lucia's sister, you have no right to receive the Romano crown beside her.”

The day before, that threat would have hurt enough to make me beg. Now I had a flight confirmation in my inbox.

I picked up the pen.

“Fine.”

Mother relaxed. Lucia stopped crying and watched me sign.

I pushed the authorization back across the table. The money would go into her trust. Nothing in that room had become fair, and my signature hadn't changed that.

They saw another five hundred thousand dollars. I saw the last demand I would be there to answer.