Chapter 3

Dinner is served at seven sharp in a dining room the size of a small chapel.

The table is set with Hermès china and crystal that probably costs more than a Tesla. Chloe sits at Eleanor's right hand, leaning into her shoulder like a kitten. Julian sits across, occasionally passing Chloe a napkin and never once looking my way.

Fine. I serve myself a slice of the wagyu and take a bite.

I chew. I stop chewing. I set the fork down.

Charles notices. "Not to your taste?"

Chloe pipes up sweetly, "Maybe sister prefers more, um, casual food? Our private chef trained in Paris. It might be a little refined for her palate."

"It's not refined," I say. "It's bad."

Silence drops like a guillotine.

Eleanor stiffens. "Evelyn. Our chef has been with us for fifteen years. No one has ever complained."

"Then everyone in this house has been very generous." I take a sip of water. "The wagyu is overcooked. The reduction is too sweet. The acid sits on top instead of cutting through. It tastes like this family looks. Pretty on the outside, hollow underneath."

Julian's jaw locks. "You grew up outside this family. What would you know?"

"I grew up on the Vineyard, Julian. Not in a cave." I dab my mouth. "Is your entire understanding of the outside world divided into two categories? The Vance estate, and Naked and Afraid?"

Charles slams his palm flat on the table. "Enough! It's one meal. Do you have to make a scene?"

I lower my fork carefully.

"Mr. Vance. You brought me here. You gave me a closet. You gave me zero respect. And now you want me to compliment a bad steak. Is your family reunion process outsourced to a gaslighting manual? Because it's not exactly five-star service."

Eleanor's face drains.

Chloe's tears spill on cue. "Sister, are you saying this because you hate me? Even the food?"

I turn to her slowly.

"Chloe. Not everything is about you. The food is bad because the chef is bad. You're dramatic because you're dramatic. Two unrelated facts."

She sobs harder. Julian shoots to his feet.

"Apologize to Chloe. Now."

I glance at my watch.

"Sorry. Astor women don't engage in low-quality emotional disputes after nine p.m. Union rules."

"You…"

"Also." I gesture at the table. "Starting tomorrow, I'm having all my meals catered in. My expense. Don't trouble yourselves. And please don't try testing my breeding with food like this again."

Charles turns purple. "You think the Vance family needs your money?"

"Hope not. I'd hate to think you were freeloading."

Right on cue, a server appears with dessert. She sets a delicate crystal coupe in front of Chloe. Caviar service with mother-of-pearl spoons.

In front of me, she sets a single scoop of vanilla ice cream. Her smile is just a little too thin.

"Miss Evelyn. This is also very nourishing."

I look at the dish. Then at hers. Then back.

"Why does she get caviar and I get Häagen-Dazs?"

The server smiles. "Miss Chloe has delicate health. Mrs. Vance gave specific instructions."

Eleanor flushes. "Evelyn, if you want some, we can bring it out tomorrow…"

"That's fine." I turn to the server. "What's your name?"

"Higgins, miss. Mrs. Higgins."

"And how long have you worked for the Vance family, Mrs. Higgins?"

"Twelve years."

"Wonderful." I pull out my phone. "Please email me your employment contract, twelve years of pay stubs, and every household purchase reimbursement on record. By tomorrow morning."

Her smile slips. "Excuse me?"

I keep mine warm. "Just curious whether someone who distributes desserts based on family ranking deserves twelve years of full benefits."

Charles cuts in. "Evelyn. Mrs. Higgins is an old member of this household."

"Then she should especially know better. Old money runs clean books. Wouldn't you agree, Mrs. Higgins?"

Her eyes flicker away.

Chloe leans in, eyes wet and wide. "Sister, please don't make things hard for her. She takes such good care of me."

"Oh?" I tilt my head. "Then I should definitely audit her. Because she's spending Vance money taking care of you, and that's coming directly out of my inheritance pool."

Julian chokes on his water.

Eleanor stares at me like I'm a creature she's never seen before. "Does every sentence out of your mouth have to be about money?"

I think about it, genuinely.

"Yes. Because so far, money is the only value you people have demonstrated."

I push back my chair, drop my napkin on the plate, and walk out without another word.

Behind me, I hear Chloe start to cry again.

Bless her heart. The girl has stamina.