Chapter 3

Dorothy approached Florence, smugly tying back her hair, a look she didn't even try to conceal. I ignored them and focused on the brooch pinned to Florence’s chest. My voice trembled as I challenged Jude.

"That's Azalea's brooch. Why does she have it?"

I'd never spoken to him with such anger, and Jude's eyes grew colder.

"It's just a brooch, nothing of real value. Why can't Florence wear it?"

Florence had casually tossed aside the carefully crafted decorations, clearly aiming to claim it as her own. This was Azalea’s favorite piece of jewelry when she was alive. I couldn’t give…