Chapter 62: Victoria's Return

Victoria returned to New York two weeks before the wedding.

She did not arrive in designer sunglasses with photographers waiting, as she once would have. She came quietly to Scarlett's office carrying a small gift box and the nervous posture of someone unsure whether she had the right to enter.

Scarlett almost did not recognize her.

Victoria's hair was shorter. Her makeup softer. Her eyes older.

'I can leave if this is inappropriate,' Victoria said.

Scarlett studied her from behind the desk. 'Why are you here?'

Victoria placed the box carefully on the table. 'I heard about the wedding.'

'Most of the planet heard about the wedding.'

A faint smile touched Victoria's face, then disappeared. 'I wanted to give you something.'

Inside the box was a silver hair comb set with tiny pearls.

Scarlett's breath caught.

'It was Isabella's,' Victoria said quickly. 'Mother kept it in a safe. I found it after the estate inventory. I should have turned it over earlier.'

Scarlett touched the comb with trembling fingers. She remembered it in her mother's dark hair during winter parties.

'Why now?' Scarlett asked.

Victoria swallowed. 'Because I am trying to learn the difference between returning something and asking for forgiveness.'

Silence settled.

Scarlett closed the box gently. 'Thank you.'

Victoria nodded and turned to leave.

'Wait,' Scarlett said.

Victoria froze.

'Are you safe?'

The question surprised them both.

Victoria looked back. 'I have an apartment in Boston. A job offer under another name. Therapy.'

'Therapy?'

Victoria laughed softly. 'Shocking, I know.'

Scarlett looked at the woman who had hurt her, envied her, mocked her, and finally helped expose Evelyn.

Forgiveness did not arrive like sunlight. It came cautiously, like a door opening an inch.

'You may attend the ceremony,' Scarlett said. 'Not the reception. Not yet.'

Victoria's eyes filled. 'You mean that?'

'I mean exactly that. Do not make me regret it.'

Victoria nodded, tears falling silently.

After she left, Scarlett opened the box again.

Her mother had once worn the comb.

Now Scarlett would carry it forward, not because the past was healed, but because it no longer belonged to Evelyn.