Cordelia lies in her bed, the sheets covered past her nose. Dried tears cracked her makeup, as she pouts a heavy pout. She had tried to contact Noralyn, but as per usual, busy. Cordelia buries her head in her pillow, moaning over her misfortune. Sadie had just left Cordelia’s bedside and feels humiliated for how she acted in front of her driver. She wasn’t paid to be her therapist, but all her woes poured out of her as she clasped to the taller girl’s frame. Her father’s unconditional support is what kept her afloat, but now? He thought of her like trash, just like her mother had.

There was no worse feeling in the world.

Cordelia didn’t understand any of this bullshit—while she got the passion behind discovering what lied beyond the fabric of reality, there was no proof that others had done it. She knew that, but, she wanted freedom. She wanted freedom so bad that she let her guard down—that man who broke into her house, she let him play her—and would have let him do whatever he wished, just because of his good looks. No wonder Noralyn started distancing herself—she didn’t want Cordelia to be a bad influence on her family. She grits her teeth together, trying to stifle a pathetic sob. Maybe she was a whore.

For the love of it all. Cordelia feels a pang of thirst—which, she doesn’t feel water can quench. The downstairs bar will have just the drink for her. A rosy wine and a plate of fine cheese is just the thing that could ease her self-pity.

Cordelia throws the sheets off of her as she slips on a silky housecoat and goes downstairs. She doesn’t mind her bare feet on the tile—her clammy soles feel nice against the cool flooring. She opens the door, immediately freezing in place.

Her father’s here.

She turns quickly, brows furrowing in anger. She did not want him to see her puffy face.

“Cordelia.” He says simply. “Please, stay.”

“No thank you.” She sniffs.

“I feel terrible about what I said—even if you blatantly disrespected my wishes, ultimately, I was the one who put you in that situation.” He takes one swig of his drink. “Your mother’s anger is directed at me, not you.”

Cordelia stops in her tracks, debating if she wants to speak with him. Her feelings were still hurt…but…she lets out a sigh, deciding that she may as well stay—she was here for liquid numbing, after all. Cordelia joins her father on the stool after pouring herself some rosy red wine.

“Are you kidding? She’s livid.” Cordelia utters after taking a sip. “Didn’t you hear her say that she wanted to throw me out?”

“She would never, even if she’s mad right now.” He laughs weakly as he stirs his drink. “Besides, if she throws you out of here, I’ll be on the way out too.”

“She can’t throw you out of this place, it belongs to you.”

He chuckles. “That might be true, but…” He falls silent, choosing to nurse his drink instead. He only stops when a servant interrupts them, announcing that her mother, as well as two other guests, are in the lobby. The uncertainty in the red-haired woman’s voice strikes Cordelia as odd. She’s about to investigate but comes face-to-face with Phoebe’s cousin.

…What?

“I’m sorry for the intrusion, but I need to talk to you, Aleck.” Her voice wavers nervously. “I know it’s late, but it’s an emergency.”

“Hold on—what are you doing here?” Cordelia demands. “Do you know how late it is?” She didn’t feel comfortable in her bedclothes in front of this person she barely knew.

“I came back with Merise. She’s the one who granted me entry.” The black-haired girl reassures them. “I wouldn’t have come here unless it was urgent. But, it has to do with the watch.”

Cordelia bristles at the word. That’s what got her into trouble in the first place.

“I guess I should leave then since I’m no longer a part of operations.” Cordelia hops off the stool. She mutters under her breath, “Carry on,” before she takes her leave. Her father looks at her, frowning before he puts his attention on the girl named Calista.

She paces through the hall quickly, sharply running into her mother. Instead of the mad disapproving stare she expects, Merise gently grabs her arm. “Cordelia, we need to talk about something.”

“…I know you’re mad. You don’t have to tell me.”

“No, forget about that. It’s about the girl—the girl who’s here.” She shakes her head in shock. “I-I just can’t come to terms with it…it’s so unreal.”

“What is—have you been drinking?” She catches the whiff of alcohol on her mother’s breath, a highly unusual circumstance. She wasn’t a woman who drank unless it was a special occasion. To think she doused herself in alcohol must have meant she’s deeply troubled.

“That doesn’t matter right now. We need to follow her—”

“Listen, it’s about the watch, and frankly I’m done with all that nonsense.” Cordelia tenses.

“I didn’t want you to know about Willa Corp, dimension travel, or any of it.” Her mother says softly. “That wasn’t supposed to be the life for you.”

“What are you talking about?” Cordelia asks with frustration. “It’s whatever, alright? I don’t believe it anyway.”

“I have to tell you about Calista.” Her mother’s eyes close. “Come, we’ll talk about it with your father—"

“—Radjerd?” Cordelia’s eyes widen at the man in the doorway—those violet eyes and unkempt hair only belong to the St. Antillan man. “Mom, don’t tell me you brought him with you.”

“He wasn’t supposed to come in the house.” Her mother’s tone boils with fury. “But he doesn’t understand a lick of Weltish.”

“If you tell me why he’s here, I can help,” Cordelia reassures her mother. “I can speak his language.”

“Which is probably what got you into trouble in the first place.” Merise looks Cordelia up and down. “But the past is in the past. We have to make do with the mess we’re in now.”

Is she hearing her mom right? “You ignored my question. Why is Radjerd here?”

“He won’t be in a minute, now come with me.” Her mother’s grip tightens on Cordelia's arm. “Your father's in his study, correct?”

“No, he’s in the bar—Mom, they’re just talking about some silly watch. How about this, you tell me why Radjerd’s here, then I can help you communicate with him.”

“It’s not that easy.” She groans in frustration. "Fine. Tell him that he’s to wait in the lobby until he gets the keys to the guest house. He was supposed to wait outside, but of course, like the mutt he is, he can’t understand a word I’m saying.”

“That’s a bit rude, don’t you think?” Even for Merise Firthe, that was harsh.

“No, it’s the words I feel that best describe him. How he violated you in public like that—I could slap him if it weren’t for the fact that he’s—”

“—Whoa, hold on a minute. Violated?!” Cordelia pulls her arm from her mother’s grip. “Since when was a simple kiss a violation?”

Her mother’s green eyes dart from left to right before covering her mouth with her hand. “But surely you must have…”

“Had sex with him? No!” Cordelia’s even more confused. “And if you think he’s a violator, why did you bring him here?”

“…Now I’m not so sure.” She frowns. “Just get the help to figure out his lodgings, I have to discuss this with your father and the girl.” Her mother hurries to the bar, as Radjerd takes his cue that it’s okay to approach her, since her mother’s gone. Smart man. Cordelia’s slightly embarrassed at her unkempt appearance, but his warm violet eyes indicate that he doesn’t mind a bit.

<Can you tell me why you’re here at least?> Cordelia raises a brow, but he’s too focused on the v neck of her housecoat. She’s lucky she’s wearing a bra.

<Nice to see you too.> He says with a hint of sarcasm. <I understand you’d be pissed about the media, but it’s not my fault.>

<That’s not it.> Cordelia shakes her head. <My mom’s clearly drunk and cryptic—and I have no idea why? Because of some cousin of Phoebe’s?> She grumbles. <Can you tell me what’s going on right now?>

<Well…> Radjerd winces, his lips raising above his teeth. <I don’t know for sure, but…I think Calista is your sister—well—half sister.>

<Don’t fuck with me like that. My dad’s loyal to mom, he’d never have an affair.> But—that would make sense—why her mother was acting weird. No! It doesn’t make sense. <I know my mom’s a tyrant, but my father loves her.>

<I don’t know for sure, but maybe you should talk to them. If she is, it’s better you know, right?>

<So you’re just telling me that based off of what?>

<A file she had at Willa Corp—it belongs to your father. She had one on her as well—I mean I thought it was you, but it turns out her last name is Firthe as well.>

<Impossible.> Cordelia utters. <If she was a half-sibling—and I say if, her mother wouldn’t use my father’s last name as that girl’s. There has to be another reason that she's here.> Cordelia pulls the man’s leather sleeve. <You’re coming with me. I need to know what’s going on, and I can’t leave you alone in the manor.> Radjerd nods, appearing to be fine with the arrangement.

Whatever was going on, Cordelia would get to the bottom of it.

Tonight.