Chapter 4

"Why?" I shot to my feet, confusion written all over my face.

Ryder rubbed his temple, clearly not planning to lie. "I remember putting it in the box. But somehow it just disappeared."

What did he mean by "disappeared"?

That was the only thing Mum had left me. Even if I had to tear the ground apart, I would find it.

Nova, however, paid no attention to the conversation between Ryder and me. She had stood up and was reaching for the bottle of red wine in the center of the table.

When she bent forward, the pendant around her neck slipped into view.

It was my ruby pendant.

"Wait!" I immediately stopped her and pointed at her neck. "That pendant you're wearing right now belongs to me."

The entire room went silent.

Everyone stared at the two of us.

Nova turned to Ryder, completely calm. "Ryder, Lyra says it's hers. But how can she prove it?"

Ryder had no answer. He had never truly cared enough about me to examine the engagement token carefully.

Nevertheless, I remembered it perfectly.

"The pendant has two dragons wrapped around a ruby. The goldwork twists their bodies together around the stone. And there's a tiny yellow mark on one side—a small flaw."

I had worn that pendant constantly until I turned twenty. Every detail of it was burned into my memory.

Nova lifted the pendant and examined it from front to back. Then she turned and smiled at Ryder.

"Even if it is Lyra's… I kind of like it now. Do I have to give it back?"

"You do. Right now." I would not compromise on this.

Ryder stood up. He patted Nova's shoulder in comfort before turning to me with a frown. "Come on. There's no need to make such a big deal out of this. It's just a pendant. Name your price, and I'll transfer the money right now."

What nonsense was he even saying?

My voice rose, desperation spilling out. "That was the only thing Mum left me. It's her keepsake. Do you understand?"

The room fell even quieter.

Dead silence.

"A keepsake? Why didn't you say so earlier? I don't want something that unlucky!" Nova suddenly yanked the pendant off her neck.

As if it were trash, she slammed it onto the table.

Crack!

With a single strike, the ruby split cleanly down the middle into two pieces.

In that instant, something inside me collapsed like a tidal wave, swallowing every shred of reason I had left.

I rushed forward, grabbed Nova by the hair, and slammed her head down against the table. With my other hand, I shattered a wine glass and pointed the jagged edge toward her panicked face.

"Ah! Are you crazy?!" Nova screamed. The entire room descended into chaos.

Ryder grabbed my wrist, stopping my next move.

The broken glass sliced into my hand. Blood seeped through my fingers, dripping down and staining his hand as well.

"Lyra, calm down! It's already broken, and you're bleeding!"

I forced down the murderous rage rising inside me and shoved him away.

My hands trembling, I gathered the broken pieces of the pendant from the table, trying to fit them back together.

Tragically, no matter how hard I tried, they would never be whole again.

My tears fell instantly. I hadn't cried when the engagement was broken, or when people mocked me.

But this time… I couldn't hold it back.

Ryder cautiously touched my shoulder, his voice uncertain. "Stop. It's already broken. Be careful. You'll hurt yourself again."

"Get lost!" I shouted at him and slapped him across the face.

In his stunned gaze, I carefully collected the pieces of the pendant and put them away. Then I turned and walked out without looking back.

Every feeling I had ever had for Ryder was finally ripped out at the root. From this moment on, there was nothing left for me to hold back.