“Miss Harrison, please don’t blame Vincent.”
“It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come, shouldn’t have interrupted you…”
Tears welled up in her eyes, perfectly timed. “I’ll leave now.”
“Emily, I told you, I’ll handle everything.”
Vincent’s heart twisted painfully.
As he wiped away her tears, his eyes turned toward me.
All traces of hesitation were gone.
In their place was nothing but contempt.
“Lina, can’t you just stop clinging to me like this—”
I cut him off. “I’ll break off the engagement. Just give me back what’s mine.”
Vincent frowned. “What are you talking about?”
I reached up and untied the red cord around my neck.
Dangling from it was a jade pendant—a family heirloom Vincent’s mother had given me when our families first arranged our engagement.
In return, my mother had given him something far more valuable.
An artifact from the imperial palace, blessed by a monk from the Tang Dynasty.
“Return the pendant, and I’ll take back my charm bracelet.”
Vincent’s expression darkened.
His eyes locked onto the pendant in my hand.
I’d worn it every single day since I was fifteen.
Everyone in our circle knew how much it meant to me.
“You think I’m as desperate as you?” Vincent sneered.
He yanked the pendant from my hand. “Who even carries trash like this around all the time?”
With one last cold glance, he added, “I’ll send the bracelet when I find it. After that, we’re done.”
When I got home, my brother Daniel was waiting for me in the living room.
“Lina, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”
He handed me a thick stack of documents.
“I’m transferring ownership of the commercial building to Emily. She’ll collect the rent.”
“She’s suffered enough. Now that she’s part of our family, she deserves some happiness.”
I glanced at the papers.
That building was part of our mother’s inheritance—property she’d inherited from her own family.
Without a word, I picked up the documents and tore them to shreds.
“Lina!”
“What’s the meaning of this?” Daniel adjusted his glasses, his disapproval cutting.
“I already smoothed things over after you pushed Emily down the stairs.”
“After everything she’s endured, giving her a building is the least we can do.”
“Have you forgotten Mom’s last words?”
Daniel fell silent.
On her deathbed, our mother had gripped his hand and made him swear.
Swear to protect me, care for me, and love me—always.
To never let anyone hurt me.
And to never let anyone take what was rightfully mine.
“I haven’t forgotten.”
“But Lina, now that Emily is also my sister—”
“Is it really so wrong to share half of what I give you with her?”
“You’re too selfish. Too spoiled.”
Daniel sighed. “Why can’t you be more like Emily?”
