Chapter 5

Downstairs, Theresa's shrill voice pierced the air. I watched from the second floor as she nestled into Chester's arms, telling her version of events.

"Eunice has gone too far this time," she said. "Chester, we should call the police. Who knows what she's taken from us?"

Chester didn't move, his gaze locked on mine from across the room.

Theresa followed his gaze to me, her eyes widening. "Eunice, what are you doing? Put my mother's thing down!"

I studied the emerald bracelet in my hand, letting the light play across its surface.

It was my father's family heirloom, the engagement gift he'd given my mother.

The cruel irony struck me—her mother had destroyed my mother's life, and now she'd shattered mine.

I turned to face Theresa directly, done playing games. "Theresa, where's the beaded bracelet from my cabinet?"

Theresa quickly hid her right hand behind her back. Ignoring my question, she turned tearfully to Chester. "Chester, you have to help me. That's the only thing I have left from my mom."

Chester comforted Theresa, his brow furrowed as he looked at me. "That's enough, Eunice. Don't make light of something that belonged to someone who'd passed away."

I bit my tongue to keep from losing my temper, holding the bracelet out to Theresa. "Fine, take it back."

Arm in arm with Chester, Theresa strode toward me with a smug grin.

I stared at the beaded bracelet on her wrist and demanded, "Theresa, give it back."

Feeling emboldened by Chester's presence, Theresa waved her wrist in my face. "This bracelet fits me perfectly," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Chester gave it to me—"

"I said give it back!" I yelled, hurling the emerald bracelet at the wall behind them. Bits of shattered emerald bounced off, some hitting her square in the back.

Theresa let out a sharp cry, her trembling hand pointing accusingly at me. "How could you do this? Chester, do something."

Before she could finish, I seized her by the collar, slammed her onto the floor, and clamped my hands around her neck.

"Your mother was a thief, a homewrecker, and now you took after her, huh?" I spat.

Chester grabbed my arm, trying to pull me off. "Eunice, calm down."

I snatched up a shard of the bracelet and pressed it against his hand. "That's mine! Who the hell gave you the right to give it to her?

"Using my stuff to suck up to a homewrecker. That's fucking disgusting!" I snarled.

I lunged for the beaded bracelet on Theresa's wrist, but she slammed me against the wall. "Why do you deserve everything? Why am I the homewrecker? You want this back? Fine, take it!" she shouted.

With furious hands, Theresa ripped the bracelet apart, sending crystal beads scattering across the floor.

"No!" I screamed, tears spilling out before I could stop them.

All I could think about was Ryan's arms around me on my birthday, his voice soft in my ear. "Eunice, I'll never leave you."

I dropped to my knees, scrambling to gather the beads toward me.

A desperate prayer for them not to go echoed in my mind.

But no matter how hard I tried, the beads slipped through my fingers and vanished—just like Ryan had that day, gone from my world forever.

Theresa yanked my hair, laughing coldly at my disheveled appearance.

"That's enough!" Chester shouted, his voice trembling. He rushed to my side and carefully gathered me in his arms.

"Eunice, I'm taking you to the hospital," he said.

Blood soaked into the carpet beneath me, but I didn't feel any physical pain—only the sharp ache in my heart from the bead I was clutching so tightly in my hand.

I pressed my hand to my stomach, forcing a bitter smile. "Mommy didn't even get the chance to introduce you to your daddy," I whispered, turning to Chester. "My heart hurts so much, Chester."

*****

That night, I hemorrhaged from the miscarriage and nearly died on the operating table. Chester passed out in the blood donation room while giving blood for my transfusion.

When I woke up, Chester was holding my hand, carefully wiping it with a warm towel.

When he saw me awake, his face lit up with relief. He spoke to me softly, as if afraid I might break.

I pulled my hand back as tears welled up in my eyes. "Chester, let's get a divorce. The ring, the house, and you—I don't want any of it."

Chester froze, his eyes locked onto my face. After a long moment, he offered a patient smile. "Don't say things you'll regret, Eunice. I know you're hurting, but we're still young. We'll have many kids later."

I took the wedding ring he held out to me and threw it straight out the window.

"I'm stepping aside for the one you really want. Isn't this what you've always wished for? Stop pretending," I said.

Chester ignored my struggles and pulled me into a tight hug. "No, Eunice, it's not like that.

"I admit I initially saw you as her substitute. But later, I truly fell in love with you.

"Every moment I spent with Theresa, it was you on my mind. But not once did you ever come to me," he said, his voice low.

"But it doesn't matter anymore. From now on, it will be just us. I'll make sure Theresa stays out of our lives for good," he promised.

The hospital room door banged open. Theresa stormed in, her face streaked with tears. "Chester, how could you treat me like this?"

Chester's face turned icy. "Who gave you permission to come in? Get out," he said sharply.

Theresa stared at him in shock, so stunned that she forgot to cry.

When she regained her composure, she rushed to the bedside, pleading, "Chester, I know I was wrong. I'll apologize to Eunice. Please, don't abandon me."

Turning to me, she wept, "Eunice, I'm sorry. I'll never try to take anything from you again.

"But Chester and I truly love each other. Please, don't tear us apart."

"That's enough!" Chester snapped before I could speak. He grabbed her and dragged her out of the room.

As she left, she turned back and flashed me a triumphant smile, as if to say, "Just wait. He'll never let me go."

At first, their voices were too muffled to understand, interrupted only by Theresa's broken sobs.

Then Chester's furious roar cut through the door. "You killed my kid and almost killed my wife!

"The only reason I'm letting you walk away is because of what we once had. Now get out of my life and stay out.

"Love? You ended whatever we had when you walked away six years ago. The thought of you now makes me want to puke. The only person I love now is Eunice."