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“Lori, don’t overthink it. I was just startled by
the interruption.
Ethan rubbed his temples in frustration, a
gesture he only used when dealing with
people or situations he disliked.
I didn’t answer, walking straight to Lana.
“Give me back the necklace.”
My voice was dry but firm.
Lana met my gaze, a smirk playing on her
lips.
Then, she suddenly looked sad, her eyes
falling on Ethan.
Her voice was hoarse, like a bitter laugh. “Okay, Lori, I’ll give it back to you.”
Then, with a heartbroken expression, she
reached for the necklace around her neck.
The next second, Ethan rushed in front of me,
shielding Lana.
Behind him, Lana suddenly flashed a
triumphant smile, defiantly looking at me.
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“Lori! What are you doing? Can’t you control
your possessive and controlling behavior?”
“Lana hasn’t done anything wrong in over a
year. Why are you always targeting her?” “Apologize to Lana!”
I stared at the furious Ethan. I couldn’t
remember how many times he’d made me
apologize to Lana in such a cold tone.
Before Lana’s return, he’d never spoken to
me like that.
“The necklace is mine.”
33
“Didn’t you give it to me? It’s mine now. I can
do whatever I want with it.”
“If you think the necklace is so important,
fine. I’ll buy you ten necklaces, any you want,
as expensive as you like.”
Ethan’s voice rose. I couldn’t tell anymore if I
was his wife or if Lana was the one he
valued.
But I’d already given up, hadn’t I?
<
I reached for the necklace, trying to snatch it
from Lana.
But Ethan was faster, slapping me hard
across the face.
“Lori! Are you ignoring me?!”
The pain on my face mirrored the pain in my
heart.
“Ethan, don’t. If it’s Lori’s necklace, just give
it back.”
Lana gave a provocative smile, mocking me,
but her voice was mournful.
Sure enough, Ethan’s voice rose again. “Apologize to Lana, or this isn’t over!”
Lana, too, looked at me with amusement,
mouthing the words:
“Apologize, or I’ll throw the necklace away.”
She pretended to throw the necklace out the
window.
I watched as my necklace, a testament to my
hard work and love, was treated like a toy. I
<
gritted my teeth and bowed my head.
“I’m sorry.”
Three words that felt like they were carving
my soul.
“Louder! Don’t you eat?”
Ethan pressed harder.
“Don’t be like that, Ethan. I’m not that petty.”
She handed me the necklace. I cautiously
reached for it, but before my fingers touched
it…
The necklace slipped from her hand, falling to
L
the floor.
i froze. The violet crystal I’d polished for two
months was cracked.
“Oh, sorry, Lori. I didn’t have a good grip.”
“Lori, when are you going to learn some
manners like Lana?!”
“When you do something wrong, just
apologize. What’s the point of stubbornly
refusing?”
<
I didn’t hear what they said after that. All I
knew was that my heart felt as broken as that
cracked violet crystal.
