Chapter 1

At the celebration of my daughter's birth, my sister-in-law, Maxine, presented a "pure gold" bracelet weighing ten grams in front of all the relatives.

She wore a smug smile and said, "Monica, I went to several jewelry stores to pick this out just for you. Do you like it?"

My husband and mother-in-law beamed, praising her for being generous and thoughtful.

I weighed the bracelet in my hand and glanced at its overly bright yellow shine, snorting inwardly.

Did Maxine really think a fake piece could shut me up and earn her a good reputation in front of the family?

I smiled and accepted it, then lifted up the receipt she'd thoughtfully prepared along with it.

"Thank you, Maxine," I said. "This receipt says 5 thousand dollars. Make sure you ask the shop for compensation. Don't let them scam you."

*****

Maxine Harding's smug grin froze on her face, shattering like a pane of glass.

The bright flush on her cheeks vanished in a heartbeat, leaving her face ashen and awkward.

Her lips parted, but not a single word escaped. Her eyes flickered with panic and venom.

The room went dead silent, as if someone had hit the mute button on all the well-wishers. The only thing left was an awkward hush hanging in the air.

Everyone's eyes turned into spotlights, sweeping back and forth between me, Maxine, and that ridiculously bright yellow bracelet.

Whispers started up in the corners, buzzing in my ears.

My mother-in-law, Agatha, was the first to react. She lunged at me, moving way too fast for a woman in her fifties.

She snatched the flimsy receipt from my hand, her eyes wide as she peered closely at it.

"Monica, you read it wrong, there's no 5000 dollars here," she said.

She crumpled the receipt in her hand, making it crackle, and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Come on, you're taking this way too seriously. It's just a well-meant gift," she added.

Agatha was trying to twist the truth, making a lie look real and acting like I was the one imagining things.

I didn't even look at her. My eyes stayed locked on Maxine's face.

I smiled, my voice low but clear enough for everyone at the table to hear.

"Agatha, I'm an accountant. Numbers are my thing," I said. "It says 5000 dollars right here. How could I possibly be wrong?"

"Maxine, wanna double-check it yourself?" I said. I stretched my hand toward Maxine, making her face the mess she'd cooked up herself.

"5000 dollars isn't pocket change. If you really got played by some sketchy store, that'd be a real loss," I added.

My husband, Wilbur Harding, finally snapped out of it and grabbed my arm, almost too roughly.

His palm was slick with sweat, and he squeezed so tight it hurt.

"Monica, don't make a fuss," he muttered, keeping his voice low.

There was a hint of pleading in his tone, mixed with a barely noticeable reproach.

"Maxine meant well. Why are you so hung up on this?" he added.

I scoffed inwardly.

Maxine brought in some gold-plated scrap just to soak up all the praise, and make me look like I'd never seen real gold in my life. Was that what he called being nice?

I yanked my hand away from him, a bright red mark already forming on my wrist.

My gaze finally left Maxine, sweeping coldly over Wilbur before landing on Agatha's face, which was practically screaming, "Family scandals should stay behind closed doors."

"I'm not making a scene," I said, my voice steady. "If you spend money, you deserve something real. It's a matter of principle. It's not about intentions or the amount."

My voice stayed calm and even, but every word hit like a nail, driving straight into the facade they were trying so hard to keep up.

Beads of sweat broke out on Maxine's forehead.

With all eyes on her, she looked like she was on the hot seat, every second was pure torture.

She finally couldn't take it anymore and forced out a stiff smile.

"Maybe... maybe the store messed up," Maxine muttered. Her voice was dry and shaky. "I... I'll go talk to them and get to the bottom of this. I'll make sure they pay up."

She grabbed the excuse I handed her, but it was obvious to everyone how awkward and desperate she looked.

The whole atmosphere at the party turned awkward in an instant.

Everyone kept their heads down, poking at their food, but nobody was really eating. Out of the corners of their eyes, they kept exchanging glances.

I caught Aunt Beth and Great Aunt Sandra sitting off to the side, giving me approving looks.

Clearly, not everyone here was fooled.

The party finally wrapped up in an awkward, uneasy peace.

As soon as the relatives left, Agatha's face turned grim.

"Monica! Are you hell-bent on shaming the Harding family in front of everyone today?" she snapped.

Her voice was so sharp it felt like needles stabbing my ears.

I held my sleeping daughter close, her tiny body warm and soft. It was the only thing keeping this room from freezing over.

I turned my head, dodging Agatha's outburst.

"Mom, I'm not the one who embarrassed this family," I said.

My words were soft, but cold and final.

"Whoever did it knows it," I added.