My Farewell Note Said We're Even

Derrick used to be so good to me.

Derrick and I lost our parents young. We clung to each other to survive in this bloody life.

Once, when children from other families pointed at me and called me an unwanted mutt, he was the one who held me in his arms and comforted me.

"Don't listen, Vivian. As long as I'm here, you'll never be alone."

"The Griffin estate is your home."

But after Davina appeared, everything changed.

Five years ago, the Don of the rival Valachi family was killed in a firefight, and the entire family suffered a devastating blow.

Overnight, Davina became an orphan.

Davina's mother had once done our family a great favor.

So, for the sake of so-called peace between the families and the Griffin's reputation, Derrick brought Davina home as a "symbol of peace."

From that point on, his affection was gradually siphoned off, given to Davina instead.

Many of the family elders joked that Davina was Derrick's future Donna.

In time, Derrick started to believe them, his feelings for Davina shifting.

Until a year ago.

I caught Davina meeting secretly with our Capo, Nick, in the warehouse. She was badmouthing Derrick right to his face.

She said Derrick was an idiot, that all these years he had been atoning for her father's death. She planned to back Nick's bid for the Don's seat, as she couldn't stand a hypocrite like Derrick.

But before I had a chance to tell Derrick the truth, Davina spotted me.

She got home before I did.

That day, Davina used a razor blade to cut her own arm, crying and screaming that she would die to prove her innocence.

"Derrick, Vivian is jealous of how well you treat me! She wants to drive me away, even ruin my reputation."

"Has she even thought about the consequences of spreading such rumors? How can I face anyone in the family again! Just let me die!"

"My father helped you all back then. How can you treat me like this? This is a dishonor to his memory!"

She sobbed hysterically.

Before I could even explain, Derrick had already decided it was all a lie I had fabricated to get rid of Davina.

He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

"Vivian, I never thought you could be so vicious, to make up such an absurd lie!"

"Do you think slandering her honors Mr. Valachi's memory? If he hadn't helped us back then, the Griffin family would have been annihilated!"

"Get out! I don't want to see you again!"

He shielded Davina in his arms, shouting at me to get out.

Since then, he and I often argued because of Davina.

Every time, it ended in a bitter fight.

To avoid conflict, I even started using out-of-town business as an excuse to not return to the estate for months at a time.

Just then, Derrick burst through the door, wrenching me from my thoughts.

"Vivian, what the hell is this?"

He saw the map of New York City and the list of men spread out on my desk.