I let out a sarcastic laugh and stepped forward.
I lifted my hand and smashed that bowl of soup onto the floor.
“Sorry.”
I looked at them, my tone calm.
“This is my house. No outsiders are allowed to live here!”
Viggo and Cruella both froze.
Before the sound of the bowl finished fading, Viggo had already stepped in front of Carmilla, his tone a mixture of shock and anger.
“Have you lost your mind?!” he snapped.
Cruella snapped out of it too, rushing over and shoving me hard.
“How can you be so cruel?! Mom—I mean, Auntie Carmilla—is just staying for a few days! What is wrong with you?!”
I stumbled back, my spine slamming into the edge of the table. The pain shot through me, but it was nothing compared to the icy ache spreading through my chest.
Maybe I had swallowed too much for too long.
At that moment, I was done swallowing shit.
“Listen carefully. Both of you.”
I straightened slowly, staring at them, enunciating every damn word.
“This house is mine. If you want to let some outsider stay here, fine.”
“But then the two of you can get the hell out with her.”
The air went dead silent.
Viggo stared at me like I’d grown another head. Then he let out a furious laugh.
“What did you just say?”
“We’ve been married all these years. The house belongs to both of us. Who the hell are you to decide alone?”
“This is my home!” Cruella shrieked. “Mine and Daddy’s!”
Only then did Carmilla speak, all slow and soft, playing the saint.
“It’s okay,” she sighed lightly. “If Mariah really doesn’t want me here, I’ll leave.”
That fake, delicate retreat made me look like the villain.
I turned my gaze to Viggo, cold as ice.
“She can stay,” I said coolly. “Ten thousand a day.”
“If you don’t pay, I’ll leak her location to her fans tomorrow.”
Carmilla’s face changed instantly.
She clearly hadn’t expected me to go that far.
For a moment, Viggo hesitated, too.
But then he looked like he remembered that the divorce agreement had already been signed. It would be finalized in a few days.
In his mind, ten thousand a day, seven days—seventy thousand. Compared to a house worth tens of millions? A fucking bargain.
He discreetly squeezed Carmilla’s hand, thinking I wouldn’t notice.
Then he turned to me, his voice softening.
“I know you mind that she’s my ex.”
“But that’s all in the past.”
“Mariah, if this makes you feel better, ten thousand it is.”
“I’ll pay. Okay?”
I didn’t respond. I simply held out my phone.
“Transfer it.”