"Unfortunately, I cannot make the withdrawal until Mr. Thorne settles the loan payment he made with us," the Gringotts employee replied, casting a cold look at the woman standing before him.

Ignoring the goblin, Marguerith raised an eyebrow, intrigued by that statement. Pericles hadn't told her anything about a loan. They would need to have a frank conversation when she got home.

"Could you, then, withdraw the amount from my personal vault?" she asked, straightening up.

The goblin nodded, stepping down from the counter and heading into Gringotts. Marge still had a considerable sum of money that she had inherited from her parents and also from Sirius, but it was nothing compared to what Pericles was supposed to have. Still, it was something that could sustain her and the children for some time if necessary.

It didn't take long for the goblin to return with a sack full of galleons and hand it to the woman, who tucked it into her purse and elegantly left Gringotts.

"You didn't transfer the money you promised, Angelica," Pericles said to the head watching him from the fireplace.

It didn't take long for her laughter to echo through the room like a symphony of crystals.

"Did you really think I would help you just because you gave in to my whims? I haven't forgiven you, Perry. You were just a warm body to distract me from boredom."

"A warm body to distract from boredom?" Marguerith's voice sounded from behind Pericles.

The man turned, startled, toward his wife just as Angelica disappeared in the flames.

"Marge... I can explain..." the redhead stammered.

"You'd better," she said, crossing her arms and lifting her chin. "I just got back from Gringotts. What loan did you take? And who is that woman?"

Pericles sighed. There was no way to hide the mess he had gotten into.

"We're bankrupt," he admitted, resigned. "I made some bad deals, lost a lot of money. Giordano gave me some, but it wasn't enough. Angelica was going to give me another part…"

"In exchange, you slept with her," Marge retorted dryly. Her fingers gripped the back of the chair she leaned on, trying not to lose her temper.

"I did it for our family. Your mother…"

"Don't you dare talk about my mother," Marguerith nearly shouted. "Even if it's true, she didn't have much choice. They were going to kill us. I almost died. You did it out of pride... not survival. We could have asked Aribeth for help... You could have asked me for help!"

The woman lowered her head, gripping the back of the chair harder until her fingers hurt, feeling she couldn't contain the anger burning inside her. Yet, amidst the fury, she realized she couldn't remain passive in the face of this financial crisis.

"I want our accountant to bring the ledgers so I can see what we can salvage," she said, raising her face again.

"Okay…" the man agreed, downcast.

"And I want you to leave. I don't care if you go to a hotel or to Wallsburg or if you go back to Italy. I just don't want you near me!"

Pericles left the room silently. There was no arguing... Bringing up Rosette had been the final straw for Marguerith's tolerance. He should have known that... Just as he should have avoided all these problems if he had trusted his wife from the beginning. He wasn't sure if she would ever forgive him.

Marge felt her eyes burning. She rubbed them, trying to ease the discomfort. She had spent the whole day poring over the ledgers, accounts, and notes. Pericles had indeed accumulated several failed businesses over the years. The hole in their estate was considerable. Fortunately, not all was lost. However, if she wanted to provide for the children, she couldn't use her inheritance to stop this financial bleeding. Yet, despite the great sentimental value, she would have to part with the house in Cheshire that Sirius had left her. One of her cousins might buy it. Arcturus, perhaps. Her husband also owned several properties, both in England and other countries across the continent, as well as some magical artifacts that could be sold. Aribeth would certainly help, and Betelgeuse too, if necessary. The money loaned by Camposanto was also a big help.

She should have gotten involved in her husband's business from the start of their marriage. She wouldn't make that mistake again. It would take months, but with some effort, her plans could save them. And, who knows, with the right investments, in a few years, she might be able to recover their fortune. Rosette and Hesper hadn't raised her to be inept.

The woman sighed, tired. Her eyes fell on the invitation to Walburga's birthday party. Despite her cousin being unbearable, perhaps Marguerith could use the occasion to relax. After a day of hard work, good food and fine drinks would make her feel much better.

Marguerith sipped her champagne while watching the other family members through the large windows of the balcony. She had been wrong to decide to come; she still felt miserable. And slightly drunk... That's why she preferred to isolate herself, sitting on that stone bench. She should leave, but she didn't trust herself to have enough sobriety to Apparate just yet. So absorbed in her thoughts, she didn't hear the footsteps approaching.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were here. I'll leave you alone," a male voice said.

Marguerith turned to see that it was Alphard speaking. Perhaps it was the effect of the drink or the hurt she felt from Pericles, but part of her didn't want her ex-fiancé to leave.

"You can stay... I imagine you're taking a break from the party too…"

He nodded, still keeping his distance from Marge, preferring to lean on the balcony's railing.

"It's a bit tiring answering the same question from everyone. 'What have you been up to all these years?' or 'Why did you come back?'"

Alphard ran his hand through his hair, thinking to himself that he shouldn't have said that. Marguerith probably had the same questions, and he wouldn't be able to lie that he came back because of her, but he couldn't destroy the happy life she had likely built with her husband and children.

The twin did indeed have those questions, but she was too tired to reopen old wounds.

"Arcturus is going to pass Grimmauld Place 12 to Orion and Walburga," she changed the subject on purpose. "He and Melania want to move back to the countryside."

"Are you upset about that?" Alphard asked, knowing that had been Marge's home for many years.

She fixed her eyes on Walburga inside the house. Her cousin was laughing at something her mother had said.

"Not now, but I must admit I had the urge to Stun her for bragging about it."

"If you want, I can find some blindworms and throw them in her hair again," he said, smiling, somewhat relieved that Marguerith had changed the topic.

The brunette turned, matching his smile. For a barely perceptible second, Alphard's heart skipped a beat. It was the first time she had smiled at him since they'd met again. Until then, he hadn't realized how much he had missed her smile.

"I remember that... the blindworm, I mean," Marge noted, taking a sip of her drink. "We were what? Nine years old? Walburga was furious."

"I still don't understand why she got so mad," Alphard laughed. "After all, blindworm mucus is good for softening hair."

Marguerith couldn't hold back a laugh.

"It was a memorable scene. I was lucky to be at your house that day."

The woman stood up, still smiling. Feeling a bit more sober, she realized she could finally go home.

"Thank you, Alphard. I needed that laugh."

Before the man could respond, she Apparated. Alphard could still smell her rose perfume lingering in the air. At that moment, he felt absurdly selfish for the decision he had just made. After seeing her smile and hearing that laughter, he needed her to know that he had never abandoned her; it had become an unbearable feeling to keep inside.