Elodie's POV
When I still didn’t flinch, Valerie finally lost it.
“Elodie, don’t think I don’t see through you. You're trying to squeeze money out of me on purpose. You know you’re past your prime, and about to be kicked out of this house, so you’re fishing for a last payout.”
She turned to James, the butler, and snapped, “Call the police. Charge this woman with extortion! Let’s see her rot for it!”
But no one moved. Not James, not the other staff in the villa. They just stood there like statues.
Rebecca, always composed, calmly held out the appraisal certificate in front of Valerie, a half-smirk playing on her lips.
“That was a Grand Complication from Patek Philippe—minute repeater, master-level, $210 million.”
She gave Valerie a once-over, clearly unimpressed. “You’ve been clinging to Nicholas for this long, and you still have no clue about luxury? Pathetic. Honestly, those diamonds? I wouldn’t even stick them on a toilet.”
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Nicholas had spent the past few years lost in his little world of romance and indulgence. He had no idea that the empire he believed he ruled, the properties, the antique collections, and the investments had already been divided among us.
Rebecca handled finance. Jessica ran medical. The rest of the sisters spread across various industries.
We all had our piece.
And once we pulled out?
The Vanderbilt empire would collapse overnight.
The shareholders knew this, too, and that’s why they came to me. They wanted my final decision tonight on what to do with the family’s future.
Unaware of what was truly happening, Valerie was so angry that she couldn't speak. Realizing she couldn’t win against us, she turned her gaze to the maid who had just salvaged my luggage.
Without a word, she slapped her hard across the face, right in front of everyone.
“How dare you help her?! Do you even see me as the future Mrs. Vanderbilt?”
James tried to intervene but got shoved aside by a furious Valerie.
She glared around at all of us, rage simmering in her chest, before storming off with a dramatic door slam.
Of course, she didn’t forget to toss out a threat on her way out. “You’ll all pay for this!”
I knelt and gently helped the crying maid to her feet, slipping a bank card into her hand as compensation.
Then I turned to James with a few calming words. "It's alright, James. Don't worry."
He looked touched, almost overwhelmed.
James expressed, “Ms. Delacroix, you’re far too kind. If it weren’t for you back then, my daughter would’ve died without the money for surgery. I will never forget what you did for us. Never. Whatever you need, anything, I’ll be there.”
I smiled. “Let’s not go overboard with the ‘lay down your life’ talk. But thank you.”
Still, I had a feeling that little scene wasn’t going to go away quietly.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Nicholas barged in, face dark with fury, demanding answers.
“Elodie, I thought you were gentle and reasonable. But this? Plotting behind my back, turning everyone against Valerie? I’m so disappointed in you. You need to take those seven sisters of yours. Apologize. Or I’ll kick all of you out.”
I met his gaze, perfectly calm. “Do you even know what your favorite mistress destroyed today?”
Nicholas was dumbfounded.
I stepped closer to him and said, “It's the watch you begged your grandfather for when we got married. Remember? That was the symbol of our marriage.”
Back then, Nicholas had been so deeply in love with me.
He spent three consecutive days and nights camped in front of his grandfather Gilbert Vanderbilt's property to acquire the watch.
When he finally got it, he gave it to me along with this entire rose-covered villa.
He promised me his love would be like the roses—eternal, blooming through every season, and that his love would stand the test of time.
But now? The roses have withered.
The watch was waterlogged and stopped ticking.
And Nicholas? He’s long forgotten that vow.
I let out an exasperated breath. “You know what? Never mind. That was a lifetime ago.”
Nicholas stood there stunned, maybe even a little shaken, as if he wanted to say something.
But before he could, Valerie burst into tears. “I know I wasn’t born with status or wealth. I get that I’m not everyone’s favorite. But I love Nicholas so much!”
Wiping her fake tears, she said, “I’m not like those other women, the ones who lounge around and live off men. I want to support him. I want to ease his burdens.”
