Time To Pay

The machine spat out the final inch of the massive receipt. Valerie snatched the slip of paper, her knuckles turning white around her designer handbag. Sienna immediately latched onto her mother’s arm, pouring on the honeyed praise, cooing about how generous and wonderful she was.

Cora trailed a few paces behind them, the smooth marble floor of the luxury mall clicking under her shoes. Her face remained a mask of placid indifference, but beneath her ribs, a cold, sharp satisfaction pulsed with every step.

*Swipe away,* she thought, watching Valerie’s stiff posture.

In her previous life, Cora had walked these same glittering halls, blind to the strings attached to her every move. She had believed she was nothing but a charity case, an abandoned street orphan the Crofts had taken pity on. The truth had only surfaced when it was far too late to fight back.

Her name wasn't Croft. It wasn't even just Cora.

She was Coralie Mercer.

The Mercer name commanded fear and respect across Oakhaven City. Her biological father, Gideon Mercer, had been the eldest son of an unmatched billionaire dynasty. When tragedy struck a decade ago, a brutal web of corporate greed had claimed her parents' lives. In their final, desperate bid to protect their infant daughter, Gideon and his wife had handed her over to Arthur and Valerie Croft. They gave the Crofts a new name for her, burying her true legacy to keep her hidden from the ruthless enemies circling the Mercer empire.

But Gideon hadn't sent her away empty-handed. He had set up a staggering one-billion-dollar trust fund under her name. That heavy, matte black metal card resting in Valerie's designer bag? It belonged to Cora. It was her birthright, a symbol of unparalleled privilege meant to guarantee her financial freedom.

The Crofts were merely the custodians. They were supposed to manage the fund and care for her until she turned eighteen, at which point the card was to be handed over to her. Gideon had even sweetened the deal to keep the Crofts loyal, promising them luxury cars, a sprawling villa, and the ultimate prize: thirty percent of the Mercer Group's shares.

But Gideon had installed a fail-safe. Those shares would only transfer to the Crofts if Cora personally signed the consent forms after her eighteenth birthday.

That clause was the only reason the Crofts had bothered to fake their affection for all these years. They wanted the Mercer empire. They wanted the status that came with a company worth hundreds of billions.

Cora’s chest tightened as the memory of her past life surfaced. She remembered the sterile, suffocating stench of the hospital room. She remembered the blinding pain of her disfigured body, her breath rattling in her lungs. The Crofts had swooped in right at her lowest, most agonizing moment. They shoved a pen into her trembling hand and coerced her into signing away her birthright.

And Sienna... Sienna had stood by that hospital bed, her sweet smile twisted into a vicious sneer. Sienna had taken perverse pleasure in detailing every lie, gloating over how easily the Crofts had drained the trust fund and manipulated the naive little orphan. Sienna’s confession had been the final blade to Cora’s broken spirit.

But the universe had rewound the clock.

Cora’s eyes tracked Sienna’s swaying form ahead of her. Sienna tossed her hair, oblivious to the predator walking in her shadow. Sienna thought she had the upper hand. She thought Cora was just trying to stay out of the way.

*Let them drain the account,* Cora mused, her lips curving into a phantom smile. *Let them dig a hole so deep they’ll never see sunlight again.*

"Oh, Mom! Look!" Sienna’s shrill gasp shattered Cora’s thoughts.

They had reached the center of the mall’s high-end wing, stopping dead in front of a sprawling luxury jewelry exhibition. Guarded glass cases lined the velvet-roped entrance, displaying radiant gemstones that caught the overhead lights in a dizzying array of colors.

Sienna didn’t care about the rings or the emerald necklaces. Her eyes were locked onto the centerpiece of the room.

Resting on a plush black velvet pedestal was a diamond tiara. It was a masterpiece, constructed of countless flawless diamonds that formed delicate, sweeping arcs. In the center sat a massive, breathtaking stone that fractured the light into a brilliant, mesmerizing kaleidoscope. A discreet silver plaque read: *Love Like No Other.*

Cora paused near the display, her eyes narrowing slightly. She hadn’t been dragged to this exhibition in her past life, but the sheer opulence of the piece commanded attention.

Sienna pressed her hands against the glass, her face lighting up with an exaggerated, syrupy wonder. She turned her head, pitching her voice into a coy, girlish register that made Cora want to roll her eyes.

"Mom! Look at this tiara! Isn't it gorgeous? Don't you think I'd look just like a princess in it?"

The performance was nauseating. Coming from a grown woman, the baby-voice bordered on the grotesque. Yet Valerie melted. The indulgent smile returned to Valerie's face as she gazed through the glass, clearly picturing her favored daughter dripping in diamonds.

Cora stepped up to the edge of the display. She bypassed the glittering stones and dropped her gaze straight to the small, discreet price tag tucked near the velvet base.

She let out a soft, sharp whistle.

"Wow," Cora said, her voice cutting through Sienna’s sugary act. "Thirteen million dollars? That's... a lot of princess."

Sienna’s head snapped toward the price tag, her eyes widening for a fraction of a second before she scrambled to reassemble her mask. She whipped back to Valerie, her features twisting into a picture of mock dismay.

"Oh?" Sienna stuttered, pressing a hand to her chest. "That much? I—I'm so sorry, Mom! I didn't know it would cost so much! I've never really been around diamonds before."

She let out a pathetic little sigh, dropping her gaze to the floor before sliding a sly, sideways glance at Cora.

"I thought they were just shiny rocks," Sienna continued, her tone dripping with fake innocence. "I bet Cora knew, though. She's always so sensitive about prices."

The venom was expertly concealed beneath a layer of sugar. Sienna was painting Cora as a stingy, bitter street-rat obsessed with money, without ever using the words.

Cora didn’t flinch. She leaned casually against the brass railing, meeting Sienna’s gaze with icy calm.

"Never seen a diamond, huh?" Cora replied, her voice smooth and conversational. "Funny, since you seem to know enough to aim for the most expensive one in the entire store. Quit playing innocent, Sienna. It's embarrassing."

Sienna’s sweet smile fractured. A violent flush of red crept up her neck. She stomped her foot, turning to Valerie with wide, tear-filled eyes.

"Mom! Listen to her! She's so mean to me!"

Right on cue, Valerie stepped between them, her maternal indulgence vanishing into a glare of stern disapproval. She pointed a manicured finger at Cora.

"What has gotten into you today?" Valerie snapped, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet exhibition hall. "You've become so insolent! How could you speak to your sister like that? Haven't we always treated you well?"

Valerie stepped closer, towering over Cora with self-righteous fury. "You've had plenty of clothes and jewelry. More than enough! And now, when Sienna wants something nice for the first time, you're throwing a tantrum? Why are you acting so malicious toward a girl who has already suffered so much?"

Cora maintained her relaxed posture, absorbing the scolding without a single change in expression.

Seeing Valerie leap to her defense fed the dark beast of entitlement inside Sienna. The satisfaction of watching Cora get berated was intoxicating. But Sienna knew how to play the long game. She needed to look like the bigger person.

Sienna tilted her head, her expression melting into sweet, manufactured worry. She reached out and touched Valerie’s arm gently.

"Mom, don't be upset with Cora," Sienna murmured, sounding like a saint descending from heaven. "She didn't mean anything by it. If I were in her position, I'd probably feel insecure too. It must be hard when the real daughter comes back and gets so much attention."

Sienna sighed, looking longingly at the thirteen-million-dollar tiara before forcing herself to look away.

"Maybe you should just buy the tiara for her instead," Sienna suggested softly. "It's too expensive for me anyway. I don't deserve something so gorgeous."

Cora stared at the duo, her mind razor-sharp. The sheer audacity of the performance was almost impressive. Sienna knew damn well Valerie wouldn’t spend a single dime on the adopted child. She was just twisting the knife.

Valerie hesitated. The price tag was astronomical. Thirteen million dollars was a staggering sum, even for the daughter she worshipped. For a brief second, paranoia flickered in Valerie’s eyes. What if Gideon Mercer had left behind tracking mechanisms on the trust? What if there were conditions they hadn't uncovered?

But Valerie pushed the fear aside. She looked at Cora. Cora stood there, looking utterly bored and indifferent. There was no spark of suspicion, no hint of rebellion. Cora didn't know a thing. She was soft, easy to handle, and clueless about the fortune tied to that little piece of metal.

A wave of arrogant confidence washed over Valerie. The card was a bottomless well, and she held the bucket. Why shouldn't she treat her real daughter like royalty?

Valerie scoffed, shooting Cora a look of pure disdain.

"Why would I buy it for her?" Valerie sneered. "Haven't we done enough for Cora already?"

She turned back to Sienna, her face softening instantly. She patted Sienna’s cheek. "Don't worry, sweetheart. It's only thirteen million dollars. I'm getting it for you right now!"

Cora’s lips twitched. A slow, chilling smirk spread across her face. She brought her hands together in a slow, sarcastic clap.

"Mom, you're so generous," Cora drawled, her voice dripping with fake admiration. "If I were Sienna, I'd be crying tears of joy."

*Easy for you to swipe my card,* Cora added in her mind, her eyes locking onto Valerie's handbag. *But I wonder—when the time comes to settle the debt, will you be crying your heart out, Mom?*

Valerie ignored the sarcasm. She marched toward the plush sales counter, moving with the haughty grace of a queen about to claim her prize. She snapped her fingers at the senior salesman, who was standing nearby in a crisp, tailored suit.

Valerie reached into her bag and slammed the heavy black card onto the glass counter.

"We'll take the 'Love Like No Other' tiara," Valerie announced loudly, ensuring the nearby shoppers heard her. "Ring it up."

The senior salesman looked at the black card, then at the tiara, and finally at Valerie. He didn't reach for the card. Instead, he offered a deep, practiced bow, his face set in an expression of polite regret.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Croft," the salesman said smoothly. "But this tiara has already been reserved by another client."

The triumphant smirk on Sienna’s face shattered into a million pieces.

"What?" Sienna shrieked, the sweet girl act vanishing in a flash of raw outrage. She slammed her hand flat against the glass display case, rattling the metal frame. "Then order another one! This tiara is perfect for me!"

The salesman didn’t flinch at her outburst, keeping his hands clasped behind his back.

"I'm afraid that's not possible, miss," he replied, his tone polite but firm. "As its name suggests, this tiara is strictly a one-of-a-kind piece. There is no other in the world."

*One of a kind.*

Those words hit Sienna like a physical blow. The exclusivity of the piece only made her obsession burn hotter. She couldn't walk away from this. She had just secured a massive victory, and she needed the crown to prove it. She grabbed Valerie’s sleeve, her eyes wild with desperate pleading.

Valerie’s protective instincts flared. She wasn't about to lose face in front of Cora and a retail worker. She puffed out her chest, leaning over the counter.

"Listen to me," Valerie demanded, tapping the glass with a sharp fingernail. "Contact the buyer right now. We are willing to offer them very generous compensation to back out of the sale. Name a price."

The salesman swallowed nervously, his professional facade cracking just a fraction. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

"I'm afraid that's not an option, ma'am," he explained, choosing his words with extreme caution. "The buyer has already finalized the purchase, and the piece is scheduled for delivery. If we were to break the contract now, we would incur a penalty equal to double its value."

Valerie stiffened. The color drained from her face.

*Double the price? Twenty-six million dollars?*

Even with the infinite power of the black card burning a hole in her pocket, Valerie couldn't justify that kind of reckless waste. She opened her mouth to argue, to demand to speak to a manager, but the salesman cut her off.

"Furthermore, Mrs. Croft," the salesman added, his voice dropping to a tense whisper. "The buyer... he is incredibly powerful. He is not someone we would dare disappoint. Or cross. I strongly advise letting this go."

The warning landed like a hammer. The air in the showroom grew heavy. Valerie knew the elite hierarchy of Oakhaven City. There were monsters lurking in the upper echelons of society who could crush the Croft family like bugs, regardless of how much money they had in their bank accounts.

Valerie swallowed hard, the fight draining out of her. She took a step back from the counter and grabbed her black card, shoving it back into her bag.

She turned to Sienna, forcing a tight, awkward smile.

"Sweetheart," Valerie cooed, her voice lacking its usual confidence. "Why don't we look at that diamond necklace over there? It's stunning. It would suit your neckline beautifully."

Sienna stood frozen in front of the glass case. Her chest heaved. The humiliation burned hot in her veins. She stared at the tiara, her reflection distorted in the glass. She was the rightful heiress. She was the blood daughter. She deserved the absolute best, the one-of-a-kind treasure, not some leftover necklace meant for second-tier socialites.

Sienna forced her hands to unclench. She turned away from the display, fixing her face into an expression of gentle, reluctant disappointment.

"No, it's fine," Sienna murmured softly, playing the brave martyr. "No other piece could compare to it. The rest of these feel like cheap trinkets now."

Valerie patted her back sympathetically, shooting an annoyed glare at the salesman before steering Sienna toward the exit.

Cora followed them out of the exhibition, her steps light. The outcome had been flawless. The denial of Sienna's greed was far sweeter than any argument.

As they walked toward the mall exit, Sienna straightened her posture. The bitter resentment churning in her stomach began to solidify into something much darker.

*Why waste energy fighting over a single tiara now?* Sienna thought, her eyes tracking Cora’s reflection in the passing storefront windows. *There will be grander jewels in the future. Better crowns. More money.*

Sienna’s jaw tightened. She realized she was playing too small. Her real focus needed to be on the root of the problem. She needed to drive the insufferable Cora out of the family for good.

*Once Cora is gone,* Sienna resolved, her fingernails biting into her palms, *there will be no one left to share the wealth. Every mansion, every luxury car, and every single cent of the Croft fortune will belong to me alone.*

They reached the sliding glass doors and stepped out into the humid city air. The driver was already waiting with the car. The ride back to the Croft estate was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Inside the Croft family villa, Arthur, the head of the household, had come home early. That was rare for him; something must have happened. As Valerie, Cora, and Sienna stepped through the door, they spotted Arthur planted on the living room sofa, his face a thundercloud of fury.

Cora's chest tightened with resentment the second she saw Arthur's familiar, loathsome face. In her previous life, this scheming man had played the role of a strict, upright father while plotting behind her back to steal the vast inheritance Gideon had left her. By the time Cora realized what he was doing, she'd been so entangled in his lies that escape felt impossible. She had come within an inch of dying, still unaware of her true lineage.

Cora wasn't someone who held grudges without reason. If the Croft family had shown her even a shred of genuine kindness in her past life, she wouldn't have hesitated to share Gideon's wealth with them.

But they hadn't. They had treated her like a pawn, scheming at every turn until they'd backed her into a corner. Well, if they'd given her no mercy then, she wouldn't show them any now.

This time, she was ready. The Croft family would crash and burn, and she'd be there to watch.

Arthur sat stiffly, his brow knotted in a scowl that could wilt flowers. Cora knew that look all too well. Whenever Arthur wore this expression, it meant one thing—something had gone south for him, and someone in the house was about to be his emotional punching bag. That "someone" was usually Cora.

Arthur had a knack for picking her apart, finding the smallest flaws to criticize, all while wearing the mask of a stern, concerned father. When Cora was younger, she'd taken his lectures to heart.