"Simone, Nelson, I want you to find out exactly where Vaneesha came from. Trace her parents, why she was chosen, how much was paid, and if she was the only option. I want the report on my desk as soon as possible." I had a splitting headache from thinking so much.
"I'll visit the Pontifical Curia next week. It'll take some time, but I hope to find the records." Nelson would look for birth and baptism certificates, if they existed.
"They might raise obstacles once they realize someone's digging into the adoption records. I'll get ahead of it before they notice." Simone was sharp; she understood instantly.
"Casper, take care of that scum. Kassie, once they're out, check that dump. The payment will be made when you return." Sending out my most trusted enforcers, I'd get what I needed.
As I dispatched them, I kept thinking there was something far more sinister behind all this.
"The child's asleep. She cried a lot." Minerva brought me dinner and treated me like her own granddaughter.
"Thank you. What would I do without you?" I sat down to eat.
"Vaneesha... those people did something awful to her. They deserve to disappear."
"First, we need to find out what they're plotting with the girl. Then, I'll crush their alliance."
A chilling premonition gnawed at me—if I didn't protect the girl, I would regret it.
**
Louis headed to a bar in the slums. He was a regular, but seeing him drink uncontrollably made the bartender suspicious. He hadn't approached the gambling tables, which drew attention.
"It's past midnight. Not betting tonight?"
"I can't." Crumpling the letter he'd read a hundred times, his panic grew.
Lost in thought, his wife Carmen snapped him back to reality.
"What the hell are you doing? Planning to leave us in the street again, aren't you? Give me the checkbook!" She yanked at him, forcing him to stand.
"Enough, woman! Let me go!" Still heavily drunk, Louis staggered outside.
Dizzy, he bumped into two other bar patrons who, after a bizarre scuffle, stole his coat and fled.
"Out!" the bartender yelled, throwing them out.
On the street, the couple continued fighting.
"I spoke with the Blakes. They'll take Jenny as their son's fiancée, as agreed. I don't see why you're wasting our money!"
"What the hell did you do?! Jenny can't! You're a damn idiot. You'll ruin us!"
Smack! The slap left Carmen frozen as Louis walked away.
Domestic violence was routine with her drunk husband, but this time it was worse—he was humiliating her in public. Bystanders whispered, making her nerves fray.
"Bastard!" She picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it at his back.
But heartless Louis wouldn't let it go. Grabbing a loose paving stone, he aimed to strike her. Instead, the stone shattered a bar window, hitting a patron. The gamblers rushed outside to find him attacking his wife—and oddly, held back.
From an alley, even the enforcers didn't intervene, sensing it wasn't necessary.
"Kassie, look. That thing's back." Pointing to the marquee above the next building, Casper knew what was coming.
A small, glowing creature danced between the supports—right above Louis.
"Don't play with powers you don't understand!" Louis shouted, grabbing another stone, ready to kill her for her 'betrayal.'
Then something happened—something that would make more than one person believe they'd narrowly escaped death. The stone veered strangely and hit the wall, causing the marquee to collapse.
CRASH!
"AHHH!!!"
The impact left a pool of blood and Carmen so shaken she fainted.
"Shit... that thing did it again. Let's go, we got what we came for." Pocketing the coat and stolen letter, Casper vanished with his partner.
**
Louis Schultz's wake was the most miserable. No wreaths, not even candles around the coffin. Even the poorest tried to place a flower on their dead, but the Schultzes wouldn't even pay for coffee.
Creditors arrived but, seeing the widow carrying her sleeping daughter and Louis's mother-in-law, they only demanded the debts. Unaware that they had the money received for Vaneesha, and seeing them so devastated, they didn't press further.
Carmen Schultz faked sorrow. Deep down, she celebrated her newfound widowhood. Her exhaustion from dealing with Louis ended with his death. The hotel owner gave her compensation for the broken marquee and with the life insurance and other funds, she planned to vanish.
The Blakes came to offer condolences and confirm Jenny's engagement to Rodrick. But as the family who aimed to destroy Deirdre appeared, a man in a black suit stepped outside for a cigarette.
From a window across the street, a mourning youth watched the cigarette signals, hastening the search.
"No more boxes. Kassie, let's go." Taking all the documents Louis had hidden, they left.
Exiting through the window, they climbed to the roof, crossing rooftops until a familiar figure stopped them. The tiny glowing creature returned, waving for them to follow. Without hesitation, they did—just as someone else entered the Schultz house.
Giuseppe Masantoni and Horacio Blake, with their bodyguards, were desperately searching for something.
The two old men looked disappointed when all they found were the planted documents from Deirdre's people.
"Tch! Damn it, I thought we'd find traces of the Asha, but this leech doesn't have it either. At this rate, I'll start believing the rebels stole it." Giuseppe read the will.
They assumed Jenna's birth certificate and the fake will were Louis's only treasures, since they were locked away. After tidying the room, they left the papers where Carmen could find them.
Fulfilling their mission, Deirdre's enforcers vanished, heading to Stern Manor to deliver their findings.
**
Vaneesha, dressed in pajamas, walked into Deirdre's room, who was studying the disturbing investigation results.
"Mom, let's play!" She jumped on the bed excitedly.
"If this is true... it's wonderful hahaha!!!" Laughing aloud, Deirdre threw the papers and hugged Vaneesha affectionately.
"Higher!" Vaneesha bounced with her, competing playfully.
Giving her attention before bed, Deirdre tried to tire her out.
"Sweetie, it's bedtime. I have to get up early, so you'll stay with Minerva tomorrow. This deal is very important."
"Can I come? I want to see, so I can learn to be as amazing as you!"
"Nisha, where I'm going isn't a nice place. The person I'm seeing will only cause you pain. You're still too young—maybe next time."
She gently stroked the girl's head to soothe her.
"I can do it. I want to be strong! I won't be afraid!"
"Sweetheart, there's no turning back from this. If you think you can handle the truth, not only will your view of people be ruined—your life will change. I'll ask again: are you sure you want to come?"
Nodding vigorously, Vaneesha was ready to change her destiny.
**
In the car, Vaneesha shed silent tears as she read the crumpled letter Louis had received—from the very person they were about to meet.
They parked in front of cold storage units at the port. It was raining, and they hurried inside. Minerva hid with Vaneesha behind some crates while Deirdre approached and sat across from a red-haired, drugged-out woman dressed indecently.
"Good morning, miss?"
"Fileena Waltz. And you must be the famous Lady Fortune, Deirdre Stern. To what do I owe the honor? Oh, I see." She smoothed the crumpled letter on the table.
"I think you already know. Sadly, I gave birth to that scum. But let's get to the point—about the blackmail..."
"I summoned Luisito, but the coward never showed. Instead, he ran to his mommy. Well, suits me fine—I need the money now. I doubt you want people to find out your only granddaughter is the daughter of a prostitute, do you?"
Showing her a briefcase full of money, Fileena grinned.
"You'll get that and more. But first, tell me about Vaneesha and her connection to Louis."
"You've probably read about our affair. The girl was a mistake. If Louis hadn't become sterile after that ship accident, I doubt he'd have taken her."
"..."
"His wife never suspected he had a mistress. It was hilarious when she thought I handed over the girl out of kindness. It was them—or selling her for drugs, hahaha."
Deirdre was boiling with rage.
"You said sterile? But there's another girl."
"Pffft, hahaha. That brat's from someone else. Louis said it was easier to pretend she was his than admit he also cheated with a prostitute."
The conversation aired all of Louis Schultz's dirty laundry—ending with the confirmation of Vaneesha's blood tie to Deirdre.