Chapter 2

Feeling a pang of remorse, Marshall unexpectedly invited a few friends over to his home. I had often wished to be part of his social circle, but he always managed to brush me off with some excuse. Ironically, just as I was about to leave, my wish was granted. The house buzzed with life, laughter echoing around the room.

That was until Lily arrived at the door, causing a sudden hush among the guests, though Marshall remained unfazed. He stood, his expression concerned as he addressed Lily. "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back to the States? I could have picked you up with Rosalina."

Lily approached me with a warm smile, slipping her arm through mine and offering me a box. "Rosalina, it’s been ages. Here’s a belated anniversary gift—Venetian freshwater pearls. I bet you haven’t seen anything like these before."

I remained silent, staring at the box in my hands. As Lily moved towards the dining table, Marshall raised an eyebrow and offered her a slice of apple pie he was holding. Lily, however, ignored the pie and clung to Marshall’s arm, playfully complaining, "Uncle Marshall, you still remember what I like. But since you got married, you barely stay in touch. Have you forgotten about your niece?"

Marshall chuckled helplessly, gently disengaging himself. "Lily, you're about to start your own family. You should be a bit more considerate."

Lily moved closer again, wrapping her arms around his neck, and fixed her gaze on me challengingly. "Uncle Marshall, you're my only family. Is it so wrong to want some closeness after all this time?"

He laughed, ruffling Lily's hair but hesitated as he glanced at me. Perhaps sensing my discomfort, Marshall changed the subject. "By the way, didn’t you mention needing a pendant? Rosalina has one I can give you."

With that, he unlocked a cabinet and retrieved a pendant. My eyes widened in shock, and I dashed forward without thinking. "Marshall! That's my mother's keepsake!"

Marshall frowned at my outburst, his grip firm on the pendant, speaking with resignation. "Rosalina, don’t be unreasonable. You never told me it was your mother’s keepsake. If you want, I can buy you another one later. This one’s for Lily."

Lily stepped forward, her eyes gleaming as she accepted the pendant, smiling at me. "Rosalina, I rarely come across something I like. I hope you won’t mind me having this."

She examined the pendant closely, her fingers tracing its intricate details. I watched her hands intently, nervous about potential damage. When I looked up, I saw her watching me with a teasing glint in her eyes, my stomach knotting.

Predictably, the pendant slipped from her grasp the next moment and shattered on the floor. Lily feigned embarrassment, looking at me with mock innocence. "Oops, sorry, Rosalina. Butterfingers."

Her expression seemed innocent, yet the triumph in her eyes was unmistakable. I lunged forward, desperately trying to piece the pendant together, but it was hopelessly broken. My eyes burned as I glared at Lily, my voice trembling with anger. "Lily, you knew how much that meant to me!"

Seeing Lily’s face turn tearful, Marshall immediately stepped in, shielding her. "Rosalina, it’s just a regular pendant. Why make such a scene?"

A regular pendant? Yes, that's how it appeared—something you’d find at a jewelry store for a few bucks. But it was the sole memory of my mother, who had been brutally taken from me.