Gifts

Callista perched on the edge of the plush leather sofa. Her posture remained flawless, shoulders pulled back, hands neatly folded in her lap. Across the glass coffee table, Silas Mercer studied her, his expression a carefully constructed mask of paternal care.

"You will meet your biological parents tomorrow morning," Silas announced. His tone carried a practiced warmth. "I arranged a driver for you. We also prepared some gifts for them."

He leaned back against the cushions. "It has been years since you lived with your own flesh and blood. Take the time to get settled in. Spend quality time with them. You do not need to worry about anything here."

Callista understood the message clearly. She offered a measured nod. "Thank you."

Silas reached forward and gestured toward a thick stack of papers resting on the table. "This house is a farewell present from your mother and me. It is not brand new, but the bones are solid and it comes furnished. We hope it will be suitable for you."

Callista had already skimmed the document. She knew which address sat on that deed. It was her childhood home—a cramped, dilapidated apartment unfit for living. The Mercers had held onto it, hoping for a payout from demolition or as a place for elderly relatives. Now, they were offering the worthless deed to her as a symbolic gesture since neither plan panned out.

She maintained a serene, polite smile. "I appreciate the thought, Dad. However, please keep the house for now. I will let you know if I ever need it."

A brief flash of displeasure crossed Silas’s face, and his tone cooled. "Fine. If you ever change your mind, just call Elias. He will handle everything right away."

Callista nodded once more to show she understood.

After a brief pause, Silas continued. "Tomorrow will be a hectic day. I asked Mia to start packing your things. Get some rest tonight, and leave early tomorrow so you do not keep your parents waiting."

Callista doubted her biological parents were as eager to see her go as the Mercers were. Rising from the sofa, she smoothed out her skirt. "Thank you, Dad. I will go get some rest."

Her gentle demeanor and quiet compliance seemed to please Silas. He sighed, feigning regret. "Callista, you are a good girl. If my long-lost son did not already have a girlfriend, I would have loved to see you as my daughter-in-law."

Callista fought back the urge to thank him for sparing her from that fate. Remembering that Silas had shown her some basic decency over the years, she offered a simple goodnight and made her way upstairs.

Silas watched her go, a mixture of guilt and reluctance in his gaze. He was surprised by how obedient she remained, even as she was about to leave. He hoped to wrap up this matter quickly so his real children could finally move in. With that thought, he put the papers away, turned off the lights, and headed upstairs.

The master bedroom door clicked shut behind him. Helena Mercer paced nervously in her luxurious silk robe. When Silas walked in, she stopped and asked, "So, what did Callista say?"

"She did not make a fuss," Silas replied, brushing it off as he tossed the agreement onto the dresser. "She turned down the house. Said she would ask for it if she ever needed it."

Helena was taken aback, her eyes narrowing. "That old house might be a bit rundown, but it is still worth something. I think she just thinks it is beneath her. How greedy!"

Silas frowned, loosening his tie. "I do not think Callista is like that."

Helena shot him a sharp look. "We are living in a villa worth over sixty million dollars. Do you honestly think she is going to settle for a house that is barely worth two hundred grand?"

Before Silas could argue, Helena raised her hand. Caught in the ambient light, a massive Aether diamond ring sparkled between her fingers. "Do you know where I found this Aether diamond ring?"

Silas exhaled with a sigh of relief. "No. But thank God you found it. That would have been a hell of a loss."

"Mia found it stuffed in Callista’s clothes while packing," Helena said with a harsh glare. "We always kept this ring locked up in our room. And guess who took it? Callista. That ungrateful little thief."

She paced another step, the silk of her robe swishing with her sharp movements. "I bet she is just waiting for an excuse to squeeze more out of us in the future," Helena continued with a hard edge in her voice. "We need to protect what is ours—for our own kids. We cannot give her another damn thing."