Chapter 5: The Engagement Necklace Is Yours
Elsa earnestly advised me, her concern for me and the baby seemingly genuine. It was no wonder she was such a great actress. Had I not known her true nature, her feigned kindness might have fooled me. She worried that if I carried Jeremiah's child, it would hinder her plans to take my place. I smiled nonchalantly and looked at her. “Why do I feel like you’re more anxious than I am? Are you afraid I might be pregnant?” Elsa froze. Then, she quickly explained, “What are you talking about? I’m just worried for your health. Who’s going to take care of you and the baby if you give birth? Jeremiah is busy, and he might not have time to look after you both.”
Her words revolved around Jeremiah. She seemed to know him better than I did, even as his wife. But it made sense; they worked at Cornell Group and spent considerable time together. And with both of them having feelings for each other… But it no longer mattered to me. I absentmindedly fiddled with the necklace around my neck and asked, “Why are you here?” “To apologize,” Elsa replied innocently. “I saw the news. Jeremiah told me I’m the reason you two fought. I feel so guilty, so I’ve decided to explain. I had a difficult client last night, and Jeremiah helped me out of the tough situation. That’s why he couldn’t make it back to celebrate your birthday.” I almost laughed. Jeremiah had told her everything. We’d fought just last night, and she knew this morning. I smiled faintly and didn’t respond.
Then, I noticed Elsa’s gaze repeatedly flick to the Light of Dawn necklace around my neck. Her eyes held a yearning she wasn’t even aware of. I took off the necklace and placed it in her hand. “You really like this necklace, don’t you? It’s yours now.” The necklace was a gift from Jeremiah when we were engaged. I had cherished it for years, but I no longer wanted it. Elsa knew how much I treasured it. As she watched me take it off, her tears fell. She tried to explain, her voice choked: “Don’t do this, Jane. There’s nothing going on between us. Don’t misunderstand, and don’t test me with something this precious. You know I’ve always seen you as my sister. How could I ever have any inappropriate thoughts toward Jeremiah? Don’t you trust me after all these years of sisterhood?”
Though Elsa’s words sounded sincere, her fingers clutched the necklace so tightly, telling a different story. She seemed to be suppressing some emotion. I sneered and said, “I do trust you. Giving you the necklace isn’t a test, so don’t overthink it. I just don’t like it anymore, which is why I thought of giving it to you. It’s fine if you don’t want it. I’ll just give it to someone else.” With that, I reached out to take it back. But Elsa quickly pulled her hand away. “That won’t do. You shouldn’t give something this valuable to others. I’ll keep it for you, and if you ever want it back, I’ll give it back to you.” My gaze lingered on her pale fingers, clutching the necklace tightly. The corners of my lips curled into a sneer. Everything I just said was intended to disgust her. In my past life, she had accused me of giving her unwanted items, treating her like a beggar.