Chapter 2

The following afternoon, I came downstairs after my MIT interview.

They had finished the portrait. Through the study's open doors, I saw a print standing on Father's desk. Vivian occupied the middle, in her gown and crown. Everyone in it looked happy.

The family lawyer was seated near the fireplace. Folders covered the coffee table. Vivian was the first to see me.

“Natalie, there you are. We've been waiting for you to finish.”

“Why?”

Father motioned to the chair facing his. “We need to decide on your induction gifts. Yours and Vivian's.”

I took the seat. The attorney opened one of the folders and handed it over.

“Vivian's trust will receive thirty million dollars,” Father announced. “She'll have the Hudson estate as well, plus a twenty-percent stake in Moretti Holdings and a board seat.”

I waited for him to tell me about mine. He pushed the folder across to Vivian instead.

She raised both hands to her mouth.

Mother smiled at her. “You'll never have to worry, sweetheart.”

Adrian placed a little velvet box in front of her. It held the key to a custom Ferrari in pearl white.

“In case you get bored with being driven everywhere,” he said.

Vivian hugged him. “Nobody has a better brother than I do.”

Then Mother looked at me. “What will you be giving your sister?”

My fingers closed on the chair arm. “Can we talk about what I'm getting first?”

The lawyer looked toward Father.

“You've never needed help making your way,” Father said. “You should learn to be independent.”

“Meaning I get nothing?”

Mother stopped smiling. “You've been provided for since the day you were born. Don't call that nothing.”

“She's receiving thirty million, a house, and shares in the company.”

“Your sister needs to be secure,” Father said. “You'll be staying in New York to serve the Family. You have no use for an estate or a seat on the board.”

He was telling me to be independent while deciding where I'd live and what I'd do.

“You're leaving me out of the inheritance.”

“We're discussing induction gifts,” he replied. “How I give them out is my decision.”

Mother tried to take my hand. I pulled it away.

“Natalie, you're healthy. You win prizes. Everyone talks about how bright you are. Look at everything you have.” She turned toward my twin. “Things haven't been so easy for your sister.”

“You can do more than she can,” Adrian said. “You can make any future you want. Let her have something that's hers.”

“That's hers?” I looked at him, then at the folders. “You give her an entire future because she needs help. You give me nothing because I could make one for myself. You honestly think that's fair?”

Vivian looked down.

“I was afraid of this,” she said under her breath.

Mother immediately turned back to her. “Afraid of what?”

“She thinks I'm stealing from her. If Natalie hates me getting these things, I don't want them.”

“Sweetheart, you haven't stolen anything.” Mother took her hand and faced me again. “Why can't you ever let your sister enjoy a happy occasion?”

This was my induction too. Yet every folder that had been opened was now in Vivian's lap.

Father slid another paper toward me.

“We'll put an end to this. Transfer five hundred thousand dollars from your competition account to her trust.”

I stared at the authorization form. That account held the only money I'd earned without anyone's help.

“What is she giving me?”

Vivian began to tear up.

Mother looked at me in disbelief. “You expect your sister to buy you an induction present?”

“I want to know if she's supposed to give me something too.”

“You know she hasn't earned any money,” Adrian said. “Don't humiliate her.”

The papers granting her Father's thirty million were still right there.

“What happens if I say no?”

Mother's expression turned cold. “You won't be presented at the ceremony. If you won't act like a sister to Vivian, you don't deserve to wear a Moretti crown next to her.”

A day earlier, that would have frightened me into pleading with her. Now I had an airline confirmation waiting in my email.

I reached for the pen.

“All right.”

Mother eased back. Vivian's tears stopped as she watched me put my name on the form.

I sent the signed authorization back across the table. The winnings would be transferred to her trust. Signing hadn't made what they were doing fair.

To them, it was another half million. To me, it was the last demand I'd be around to meet.