Chapter 9
Emelie knew Melissa had deliberately broken the bracelet, but she was helpless. Anthony had bid on it for Melissa; it was hers now. Her eyes reddened. Desperately, she shoved through the crowd, crouched, and carefully gathered every fragment. With trembling hands, she approached Melissa. “These fragments mean nothing to you; I can pay you for them,” she offered.
Melissa refused without hesitation. “Ms. Richmond, I’m sorry, but I really like this bracelet. Even the fragments are meaningful to me. Thank you for picking them up.” Melissa took the pieces and left with the others. Outside, she tossed the fragments into a nearby pond.
The pond was shallow, barely calf-deep, yet its bed was strewn with pebbles. The submerged bracelet fragments were nearly invisible. Without a second thought, Emelie jumped in, ignoring the rain blurring her vision. She searched frantically until her back ached and her body numbed with cold. After what seemed an eternity, she retrieved the fragments.
At home, water dripped from her sodden clothes onto the floor. Marcelo frowned, seeing her disheveled state. “What happened?”
Tears streamed down Emelie’s face. Her voice trembled. “I was retrieving the bracelet your beloved Melissa broke and discarded—my parents’ keepsake!”
“Your parents’ keepsake?” Anthony echoed, shocked.
The three brothers froze. They’d never seen her cry and were starting to panic.
Anthony’s tone softened. “I’m sorry, Emelie. This is my fault. I forgot it was your parents’ keepsake.”
“I didn’t realize either. If I had, I would have bid on it for you no matter what!” Marcelo added quickly.
Connor fetched a towel and gently dried her hair. “Emelie, I’m so sorry. Hurry, take a warm shower before you catch a cold. Also, I’ve told you many times that Melissa isn’t our beloved. We don’t have feelings for her. You’re the only one in our hearts.”
The words rang hollow. If that were true, why had they left her waiting all night in the cold at city hall? Why had they protected Melissa after the soup incident and ignored her? Why had they indulged Melissa’s destruction of her wedding dress and now her bracelet? Their professions of affection seemed ludicrous.
Her sorrow and helplessness washed away by the storm, Emelie said nothing, coldly pushing their hands aside. In her room, she slammed the door. She sat at her desk, her parents’ photograph before her, desperately trying to repair the bracelet. It was useless. What was broken could never be truly fixed.
The next morning, Emelie emerged, eyes red and swollen, to find the three brothers waiting. Each handed her a box.
“Emelie, we searched the city for similar bracelets. Please don’t be upset anymore,” they said.
Emelie didn’t look at them. “No need. My parents’ keepsake was one of a kind. Besides, this is my business. It’s not worth troubling you three.”
Her indifference panicked them.
Anthony sighed. “Do you have to become so distant, Emelie? You know how we feel about you.”
Marcelo and Connor agreed. “We know you’ve been bothered by Melissa lately, but she saved our lives once. She’s our benefactor. That’s why we treat her well. You’re different. You’re the one we truly care about.”
Emelie almost laughed. A bitter chuckle escaped her. “Then spare me your concern, because I’m already married.”
Thinking she joked again, their moods soured. But before they could argue, Melissa called. “Guys, I fell changing a lightbulb; it hurts so much.”
Alarmed, they ended the call and turned to Emelie. “Emelie, stop joking about being married. We’ll keep looking for the bracelet if you’re still upset!” Without waiting for a response, they rushed out.