Chapter 22
Around the same time, a painting Concetta created with her grandfather won a national award and earned her an invitation to the Royal Academy of Arts.
It was every designer’s dream school.
She could still feel the thrill of holding that acceptance letter.
But Gisselle “accidentally” misbooked her flight, causing her to miss the enrollment deadline.
The next day, Sienna’s Instagram was flooded with posts about her “Royal Academy of Arts study abroad life.”
The truth was crystal clear.
Ramiro’s family was leeching off the last of her parents’ legacy, even stealing her opportunity.
Ignoring Ramiro and Gisselle’s crocodile tears, Concetta moved out that night.
She later enrolled in Yale’s art program, salvaging a piece of her dream.
“Hey, I’m talking to you. What, you deaf now?”
Sienna’s voice yanked Concetta from her memories, her tone dripping with arrogance as she blocked her path.
Concetta had no patience for her.
She sidestepped, her voice icy.”Get lost.”
Sienna chased after her, sneering.”Oh, look at Mrs. Calderon, acting all high and mighty! Your husband’s done with you, cozying up starlet all over the tabloids. And you’re strutting around like you own the place?”
Concetta ignored her taunts, heading toward the ward.
Sienna, sensing something off, glanced at the thermos and the room Concetta was heading to.
She knew only one person was in that ward.
with some
“Could it be that Concetta, feeling the heat in her marriage, is aiming to cozy up to someone else? That’s why she’s sniffing around Tate?” Sienna thought.
Her eyes gleamed with suspicion. She darted forward in her stilettos and yanked Concetta back before she could open the door.
“Concetta, you think because you found out where Mr. Tate is staying that you can whip up a little soup and waltz in here to curry favor for your husband’s deals?” Sienna sneered, her voice thick with menace.
Concetta didn’t answer, and that silence only confirmed Sienna’s suspicions.”Don’t kid yourself. I’m warning you-women like you, climbing into power through bedsheets, won’t even get a glance from someone like Mr. Tate.”
Concetta let out a soft chuckle, unfazed.
Sienna, enraged, shoved her arm away.”What the hell are you laughing at? Get lost! Mr. Tate’s way out of your league!”
“Oh, really? And he’s within your reach?” Concetta’s smile was cryptic.”I think you’re mistaken. Don’t mistake me for your mother. I don’t have Gisselle’s… particular talents.”
She emphasized Gisselle’s name, deliberately avoiding calling her “aunt.”
Everyone in the family knew how Sienna and her mother had wormed their way into the family.
Sienna’s face flushed red, then livid, her voice rising to a shrill pitch.”How dare you talk about my mom like that! You think you’re clean? Don’t act like marrying Alejandro makes you untouchable! Things you force never end well! Without him, you’re nothing!”
“Exactly,” Concetta nodded, her lips curling with a bitter edge.”Just like you, stealing my admission but only to get kicked out of the Royal Academy of Arts in three months.”
She paused. “Desperate things really don’t end well, do they?”
Sienna had snatched Concetta’s spot, but the Royal Academy wasn’t for just anyone.
It was a haven for prodigies, and even the weakest students there outshone Sienna’s amateur scribbles.
Her clumsy sketches and color theory nightmares became the butt of every joke on campus.
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In just three months, she was expelled, with no chance of redemption.
Sienna’s face twisted, that old wound still raw.
“You little bitch! That was you!” she screeched.”You sabotaged me because you couldn’t stand me succeeding, didn’t you? It must be you who had me expelled! Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson your dead parents never did!”
Sienna’s face contorted with rage; she raised her hand to slap Concetta.
Concetta stood her ground, ready to dodge.
But then the ward door swung open.
A warm, familiar touch grazed her wrist, pulling her gently inside.
