Chapter 3

Holding Dulce's hand as I got out of the car, I caught sight of a familiar figure.

It was Vanessa.

She was right beside Jeffery.

She was wearing a dress that looked almost identical to mine, but in a more vibrant shade.

"Mollie!" She hurried over, her voice so friendly, like we were real sisters.

"What a coincidence! Looks like we have the same taste!" she said.

I stared at the pearl earrings hanging from her ears.

Those were a birthday gift from Jeffery just last month.

He'd said, "Pearls suit you. They make you look graceful."

Did they make her look graceful, too?

Dulce instinctively hid behind me.

"Mommy, why is that lady dressed just like you?" she asked.

Jeffery walked over, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Dulce, be polite."

He glanced at me, his tone flat.

"Nessa's never been to one of these family dinners before. I brought her along so she could get comfortable with it."

Before I could say anything, Kaylee came out with a big smile.

"Oh, Nessa, you're here!" she said.

She brushed right past me and Dulce, taking Nessa's hand.

Kaylee said, "This dress is gorgeous! You look so fresh and lively in it!

"That was still better than someone looking lifeless all day."

Was she talking about me?

At the dinner table, things got even more interesting.

Nessa was sitting in my usual spot, right next to Jeffery.

Right next to Jeffery.

"Jeffery, I can't peel this shrimp..." sShe mumbled, giving him an innocent look.

She mumbled, giving him an innocent look.

Jeffery didn't say a word.

He reached over, took the shrimp from her plate, peeled it, and set it back for her.

I watched him, his hands moving with practiced ease.

I couldn't help but sneer to myself.

Funny, the last time he peeled shrimp for me was seven years ago. Guess he had forgotten.

Dulce tugged at my sleeve and whispered, "Mommy, that's your seat..."

Her voice was soft, but everyone at the table heard her.

Things got awkward real fast.

Vanessa immediately stood up, her eyes growing misty.

"I'm sorry, Mollie. I didn't know this was your seat... I'll get up."

"Sit down."

Jeffery placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"It's just a seat. Anyone can sit there."

Just a seat, huh?

So did that mean one day, anyone could just take my place as Mrs. Fox too?

After dinner, Kaylee started acting all secretive and pulled out a velvet box.

"Come here, Nessa. This is for you," she said.

She popped open the box.

Inside was a jade necklace.

The jade was top-notch, the kind that screams money the moment you lay eyes on it.

I recognized that necklace right away.

It was the Fox family's heirloom.

It was always passed down to the Fox daughters-in-law, generation after generation.

I'd heard Kaylee say it a million times.

She said, "When Dulce grows up, this necklace will be yours."

Instead, she put it on Vanessa herself.

The jade made Vanessa's neck look even paler and more delicate.

Vanessa ran her fingers over the necklace, her face lighting up with delight as she looked at Jeffery.

Vanessa said, "Jeffery, this... this is way too expensive, I really shouldn't take it..."

Jeffery looked at the necklace, then shot me a look.

Something flashed in his eyes, but he quickly hid it.

"Mom gave it to you. Just keep it," he said.

I just stood there, frozen.

It felt like I'd been slapped in the face, silent, but it stung all the same.

My cheeks burned with humiliation.

The Fox family's heirloom necklace, handed over to another woman.

And she did it right in front of me, the real Mrs. Fox.

Dulce held on tight to my hand, her little face turned up to me, confusion written all over her eyes.

"Mommy... why did Grandma give that lady the necklace that was supposed to be yours?"

Why did she do that?

I wish I knew why.

The scene was like a slap in the face, so glaring that it almost hurt to look.

Kaylee was holding Vanessa's hand, beaming with pride, her smile so wide that it nearly split her face.

Jeffery just stood off to the side, silently approving everything, not even trying to stop it.

I felt like a complete outsider.

No, it was worse than that. I felt like I'd been forced off stage before my final scene, like I'd been written out of my own story.