The necklace snapped, and one by one, the pearls slipped from Blanche’s palm and scattered across the polished floor.
Blanche’s eyes widened in shock as she realized Jeannette was wearing a string of pearls around her neck.
“Blanche, you barge into my house and break my daughter’s necklace for no
reason–don’t you have any manners?” Rhoda snapped, her voice sharp with accusation.
Blanche drew a shaky breath. “Sister, I know I was wrong. I never meant to push you down the stairs. But I just couldn’t take your constant insults towards me and my mother anymore, or your false accusations about me trying to seduce your husband. That’s why I—”
“I’m sorry, I really am!” Jeannette sobbed, falling to her knees at Blanche’s feet, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’ll do anything you want, just please, don’t hurt my mother or Lara.”
Lara jumped in front of them, her small fists clenched, glaring at Blanche. “Don’t you dare hurt my mom! Get out of our house!” she yelled, brandishing a bubble gun and firing a storm of bubbles in Blanche’s direction.
The bubbles floated through the air, blurring Blanche’s vision. She stood frozen, her mind replaying every image of Jeannette and Eddy together–their secret glances, the stolen touches. Her voice was cold. “I watched you wear the Ocean Jewel with my own eyes, and you’re still going to deny it?”
Jeannette’s expression hardened. She met Blanche’s gaze with open defiance. “Sister, I really didn’t.”
She tugged her collar aside, revealing bruises mottling her skin.
Blanche’s composure finally cracked. She raised her hand and slapped Jeannette across the face.
Jeannette collapsed to the floor, crying out, “Even if my parents wronged your mother–even if I’m the illegitimate child–none of this was my fault! I’m innocent. How could you hit me?”
Rhoda and Lara lunged at Blanche, clawing at her in a desperate attempt to defend
Jeannette.
“Enough!” A commanding voice cut through the chaos.
20:35
cuay strode in, flanked by bodyguards. He shoved Rhoda and Lara aside, pulling Blanche protectively into his arms. Noticing the scratches on her arm, his eyes flashed with anger. He raised his hand and slapped Lara across the face. “You’re just a child, yet you already know how to be this vicious?”
Lara tumbled into Jeannette’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
She wanted to draw Eddy’s sympathy, but every time Blanche appeared, she ceased to exist in his eyes.
Jeannette’s hatred toward Blanche only deepened. “Eddy, Lara’s just a child. She didn’t mean any harm.”
Eddy ignored Jeannette and her daughter, focusing on smoothing the wrinkles from Blanche’s dress. His voice dropped to a gentle murmur. “Darling, the jeweler returned the Ocean Jewel. It’s back now.”
Their sickening display of affection left Blanche unmoved, but Eddy’s words made her look up in surprise.
A jeweler’s assistant entered the villa, carefully presenting the Ocean Jewel. “Mrs. Simmons, there was a problem with the clasp. It’s been repaired now.”
Blanche ran her fingers over the dazzling sapphire, her mother’s words echoing in her mind: The Ocean Jewel was her mother’s design. “My mother always said the Ocean Jewel isn’t just for anyone to wear–or take off.”
“Is that so?” The jeweler dabbed at his brow, clearly nervous. Just half an hour ago, the necklace had been around another woman’s neck. Because the clasp was stuck, Eddy had brought her to the jeweler’s shop.
Mr. Simmons had bought the Ocean Jewel at auction as a gift for his wife–so how had it ended up on someone else?
“I had no idea Mrs. Simmons’s mother was the renowned designer, Ms. Sheila. As she said, the clasp is unique. If you ever have trouble removing it, just let our jeweler know.”
“Thank you.”
As the jeweler left, everything became clear to Blanche.
She closed the jewelry box and glanced at the three sobbing figures huddled together, then fixed her gaze on Eddy. “She pushed me down the stairs, and she’s still living in this mansion. Is this what you meant when you said you wouldn’t tolerate anyone hurting me?”
2/3
20:36
Eddy held her tighter, refusing to let go. “I promise, darling–I’ll give you the justice you deserve.”
