Chapter 2 AND SO BEGINS THE CORONATION

Sitting in the taxi, Cardi still felt heartbroken.

No matter how hard she tried to man-up, her heart was still bleeding from Dennis's betrayal. But she felt more fortunate that she recognized his true face before it was too late.

Her family had strongly opposed her being with Dennis. But at that time, she was immersed in Dennis' sweet words, believed in Dennis' so-called "ambition", and rejected the son of a friend introduced to her by her parents. As it turned out, she was really wrong.

She had rejected most suitors because they came for her based-on business ties and because of her family's wealth. That was why she had to fake her identity to find true love, and to the one whom she gave herself away to, now sees her as trash because he thinks she's a puppet leeching on his money.

Anyways! Cardi knows very well how to make him unsee the way he saw her.

"The Belmont mansion ma'am" The taxi driver said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Sure, thank you." she replied, paying him more than enough. The driver was happy and grateful to Cardi, He kept his head down, bowing to Cardi until she alighted the vehicle.

"It's been two years, sweetie," she said softly to herself, staring at the large gate in front of her.

"Nothing's changed," she smiled, breathing deeply. "I can still smell wealth in the air."

She pressed the bell, but before she could wait, the gate scanner recognized her face and the gates opened automatically.

"Oh my! It still recognizes me," she chuckled, stepping into THE GRAND BELMONT MANSION.

"Your Highness, you're back!" the gatekeeper said, bowing so deeply his forehead nearly touched the ground.

Seeing him made her remember the cheque Dennis had handed her. "Kirk, your salary is a hundred thousand dollars, right?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It used to be, ma'am, but it was increased to one hundred and fifty thousand because of my loyalty," Kirk explained proudly.

'What an ingrate Dennis is! Baiting me with peanuts not even up to Kirk's salary' Cardi hissed irritated.

"Henceforth Kirk, I'll double your salary to three hundred thousand dollars" Cardi added with a friendly smile, "You've served my family for over 23 years, I truly appreciate that."

Kirk, who was overwhelmed with joy, grabbed Cardi's luggage and kept bowing down all the way.

Cardi was staring at the entrance door to her father's mansion. She was contemplating, should she ring the doorbell or are they aware of her arrival?

Well! They were.

The mansion door splintered in half, revealing the grand hallway to the mansion's living room. Two maids stood by either side of the door, bowing down to Cardi as she made her entrance.

Cardi was anticipating the look on her mother's face when she saw her again, the disappointment on her father's face when she told him how she let herself be deceived by Dennis. Her sister, Diana! Her brother, Trevor! Aunt Caitlyn! Uncle Austin!... and her cousin... Drietty. She couldn't wait for it.

She stepped into the grand floor, accompanied by Kirk who carried her luggage. To her uttermost surprise, the whole Belmont's family were seated waiting for her-or so she thought! They weren't waiting for her; they were having a meeting and she just interrupted.

All eyes were on her... She paused waiting for the first reaction from her family.

No one reacted.

The sound of the ticking mansion clock really reminded Cardi she was home. The soft clicking sound of the workers' shoes as they walked up and down with their chores now sounded like a thunderstorm because of how dead quiet the room was. Even the fall of a pin may sound like a gunshot now.

It was quiet.

"Dad. I'm back" Cardi managed to speak, her voice echoing throughout the room.

"Welcome home... My Queen. You saved the day." Dillard Belmont, Cardi's father said, spreading his arms open for a hug.

Cardi was stunned. 'She saved the day? How? What was going on?' she asked herself, as she advanced, taking steps closer to her father.

Then the cornea of her eyes caught sight of it.... and at that moment, she understood.

Cardi freezed.

She tilted her head left to get a better view of it and her eyes widened at the sight of the emerald crest statue which laid flat on the wall like a canvas.

Her knees buckled till they hit the floor. Her palms met the floor too as her long hair cascaded all over her, blurring her face from the piercing eyes around her.

The Belmont's Emerald crest statue... it could only mean one thing!

"Grandmaaaaaaa!!" Cardi shouted at the top of her voice as she broke down in shudders.

"Stop creating a scene bitch. It's been 3 months since she died." a cold voice said.

That was Drietty.

Drietty is Cardi's cousin who always hated her. Their rivalry started from childhood and never ended.

"Cardi! Cardi!" Cardi's mum called out to her, her voice firm. "Get a hold of yourself, It's not time to cry, my girl. You know what the statue stands for, don't you? It's part of lady Miyani's will. You shouldn't be crying-you should be acting, Cardi!!"

Her mother's words shook her out of her grief. Of course, she knew what the statue meant-she understood very well.

Lady Miyani Belmont, her grandmother, had led the Belmonts ever since her husband died forty-six years ago. And now she is gone. A new head was needed.

The crest wasn't just a tribute-it was a declaration. The color represented which bloodline her fortune had been passed down to. Cardi's family was the EMERALD. Uncle Austin's was the BURGUNDY. Aunt Caitlyn's line was SCARLET.

The emerald on that statue meant one thing: **Lady Miyani had chosen Cardi's line.**

And now, someone from the Emerald line had to take the lead.

Her father had chosen her.

Even after everything, even after she ran away... he still saw her as worthy.

She slowly lifted her head and met his gaze. "Father...?" she whispered, overwhelmed.

"You know what it means right, Cardi?" her younger sister, Diana asked her, placing her hands on her shoulder as she helped her up. "You Cardi-you'll have the final say in every company under The Belmonts. You'll govern over fifty-eight companies across New York city, taking over from where Lady Miyani stopped"

She hugged Cardi gently. "Are you ready for this, Big sister?"

Cardi chuckled quietly, tears still lingering on her eyes. Images of her ex-husband, Dennis and his mother Sabrina, flashed through her mind, and she laughed a little louder.

"I've never been more ready, Diana." She said, whispering into her sister's ears.

Her reason for coming home was simple-to get her frozen wealth back so she could make Dennis eat back his words.

But now?

She had not just wealth.

She had power.