Chapter 4

Daniel had arranged for them to stay in a spacious, sun-drenched penthouse apartment he owned in Greenwich Village. It was discreet, secure, and miles away from the Upper East Side world the Dorseys inhabited.

"No one will think to look for you here," he said, setting down the last of their bags. "It's off my brother's radar."

"Thank you, Daniel. For everything," Analia said, her gratitude sincere.

"I always knew you were innocent, Ana," he replied, his expression serious. "I'm just sorry I couldn't do more back then."

The children quickly claimed the space. Leo and Noah began a systematic exploration of every room, their hushed whispers a form of reconnaissance. Ella found a spot by the large picture window overlooking the city, took out a small sketchbook and a set of colored pencils, and began to draw.

Once they were settled, Analia began her work. Her revenge required resources, and for that, she needed to build a business. Her business.

She checked her watch. Her trip into the city had a dual purpose. First, to scout a retail location, and second, to meet with a reclusive but legendary gem cutter who kept an old workshop in SoHo. She'd brought the tools of her trade, hoping for a consultation.

She took Ella and the others to SoHo, the gallery district. The excuse was that the vibrant, artistic atmosphere there might provide her with good inspiration. The real reason was that Annalia was searching.

They wandered into a boutique gallery that was holding a small, exclusive auction of art and rare geological specimens. Most of the attendees were stuffy, self-proclaimed connoisseurs. Analia, in her simple jeans and sweater, was utterly invisible to them.

And that's exactly how she wanted it.

Her eyes scanned the room, bypassing the polished sculptures and vibrant paintings, until they landed on a lump of rock in a dusty corner. It was dark, unremarkable, about the size of a small melon. A simple tag next to it read: "Geological sample. No commercial value." The starting bid was a laughable fifty dollars.

When the auctioneer, with a bored sigh, presented the lot, the room was silent. No one moved.

"No interest? Very well, we'll-"

Analia raised her numbered paddle.

The auctioneer blinked, surprised. A low murmur rippled through the crowd.

A portly man with a monocle, who had introduced himself earlier as the renowned gemologist Barnaby Finch, chuckled audibly. "My dear lady," he said, his voice condescending, "that is a worthless piece of serpentinite from a depleted mine in Madagascar. You're throwing your money away."

Analia ignored him, her gaze fixed on the auctioneer.

With no other bidders, the gavel came down. "Sold, to the lady in the back, for fifty dollars."

After the auction, Finch and a small group of his admirers approached her, their curiosity mixed with amusement. "I must ask," Finch said, a smirk playing on his lips. "What could you possibly see in that... thing?"

Analia offered a small, enigmatic smile. She knelt down and spoke softly to her daughter. "Cover your ears, sweetie."

Ella obediently put her hands over her ears.

From her tote bag, Analia produced a small geologist's hammer and a powerful penlight. The crowd watched, bewildered, as she expertly turned the rock over in her hands, tapping it lightly, listening. She found what she was looking for-a faint stress line near the base.

With a single, precise crack of the hammer, a small piece of the rock's outer crust broke away.

Analia shone the penlight into the opening.

A gasp went through the small crowd. From within the dark, ugly stone, a soft, ethereal glow emanated. It was the color of a tropical sunset, a perfect, breathtaking blend of pink and orange.

Analia stood up, her voice calm and clear in the stunned silence.

"This is not worthless serpentinite," she announced. "It's a geode. And inside is a near-flawless Padparadscha sapphire. Judging by the size of the host rock, I'd estimate it's at least fifty carats."

The silence in the room became absolute. Padparadscha. The "lotus blossom" sapphire. One of the rarest, most valuable gems on earth. A fifty-carat specimen was the stuff of legends, worth millions.

Barnaby Finch's face turned a blotchy, horrified red. He had just publicly dismissed a king's ransom as trash. It was a career-ending mistake.

The other collectors and gemologists crowded forward, their faces a mixture of awe, disbelief, and profound regret.

Analia didn't bask in her victory. She simply took Ella's hand, which had slipped from her ears.

"Come on, baby," she said softly, her mission accomplished. "Let's go home."

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