Chapter 3
The auction hall instantly descended into chaos.
"Violet, don't mess around," Nathan called out from the stage, his face suddenly tense. His eyes were filled with anxiety and concern as he stared at Violet.
Without glancing at Rose, Nathan rushed forward and pulled Violet into his arms. "Violet, breathe. Don't be scared. I promise, I'll never leave you."
By then, the place was already empty.
Rose stood there, silent, watching the two of them in each other's arms, her heart tightening a little.
Her lips moved as if to speak, but in the end, she stayed quiet. She turned away, reaching for the necklace from the attendant.
But somehow, Violet managed to break free from Nathan's embrace. "It's mine. Nathan gave it to me."
She lunged forward, snatched the necklace, and fell to her knees with a thud, staring up at Rose as someone possessed. "Rose, please. Stop taking things from me. Please, don't steal what's mine anymore."
Her hands shook as she clung to the hem of Rose's dress, tears pouring down her cheeks.
But in the next moment, her mood flipped again. Out of nowhere, she grabbed a small knife and tried to slash her own wrist.
She cried, "It's all my fault. I can't control myself. I got you sent to prison, and I made Nathan stuck with someone as useless as me.
"Rose, if that's what it takes to make you happy, I'll die right here. Is that what you want?"
In the midst of her mental breakdown, the crazed look on Violet's face still lingered, then mixed with a heart-wrenching, desperate cry for help.
Rose stood there, frozen, and suddenly found the whole situation bitterly absurd.
After all, all she ever wanted was to reclaim what belonged to her. She was the real victim here, the only one who had suffered all these years.
But with a few words from Violet, it was like she'd become the source of all their misfortune.
'So, because Violet has severe depression and can't handle any stress, I'm supposed to accept everything in silence?' she thought.
But before Rose could react, Violet's gaze locked onto the necklace, and her face twisted with sudden fury. "It's all because of this. Everything that's happened is this thing's fault."
Without warning, she jumped up, snatched the necklace, and flung it out the window.
Water splashed everywhere, and Rose felt her blood run cold.
Without hesitation, she spun around, raced out to the courtyard, and dove straight into the pool.
The moment she plunged into the water, the chill hit her instantly.
Rose shivered from the cold, but she gritted her teeth and kept searching in the faint light.
Hurried footsteps echoed from the edge of the pool.
Nathan rushed over and demanded, sounding tense, "Rose, get out!"
Nathan leaned over, grabbed Rose's arm, and started pulling her out. But in the next moment, she jerked her arm free from his grip.
Nathan stared at his hand, anger rising in his eyes, but when he caught sight of Rose still searching desperately in the water, a hint of concern flickered across his face.
He said, "It's just a necklace. If you really want one, I can buy you a hundred more."
'Just a necklace?' In the water, Rose felt her chest go cold. 'He knows...'
He knew this necklace was the only thing her mom ever left her.
He knew it meant more to her than her own life.
'So, how can he...' Rose thought.
Watching Rose trying so hard not to cry, Nathan felt his irritation deepen. He frowned deeply and was about to jump in after her.
"Nathan, my head hurts so much." Violet suddenly swayed, in time to block his path, her voice weak. "My meds... I need my meds."
Nathan pulled her into his arms and snapped at the driver, "Go get her meds from the car, now!"
The shore was a mess.
After a while, Rose climbed out of the pool, drenched and looking miserable.
She passed by the two standing there, clutching the necklace she'd recovered, and headed straight out.
As Rose walked past, Violet whispered, "Serves you right." Her voice was barely audible, but sharp enough to pierce through the chaos.
The words hit Rose like a slap, and she shot Violet a glare, meeting those mocking, taunting eyes head-on.
In that moment, the last thread of Rose's sanity snapped. She froze, then grabbed Violet by the shoulders and, with all her strength, threw her straight into the icy pool.
Violet let out a blood-curdling scream, pure terror in her voice. Rose shot Nathan a cold, unflinching look, meeting his stunned eyes head-on. She spun around and walked off without a single glance back.