ログインIn the seventh year of running my jewelry store, a woman came in to order a set of gold jewelry for her future mother-in-law. As I introduced the designs, I noticed the gold bracelet on her wrist. It was identical to the one my husband had crafted for me. Just as I was about to take a closer look, her phone lit up. The wallpaper was a photo of a couple, and the man in it was Julian Holt, my husband of seven years. My expression froze. I walked to the far end of the counter and placed a call. “Honey, do you remember the gold bracelet I asked you to keep when we got engaged? Can you take a photo of it and send it to me?” There was a brief pause on the other end. When he spoke, his tone of voice was tense. “Why are you suddenly asking about the bracelet? I stored it in a bank safe deposit box. It’s probably too late to go get it now. Tomorrow, I’ll bring it to you.” I smiled and agreed. After hanging up, I returned to the female customer.
もっと見るThe writing was vile, full of excuses and deflection. There was no trace of remorse. It was the frantic begging of a man at the end of his rope.He even had the nerve to mention the child whose death he had caused knowingly.After reading it impassively, I tore the paper and fed it into the shredder.I learned of Tessa’s fate by chance while out shopping one day.She had suffered a mental breakdown and lost the child.Traumatized in both body and mind, she never recovered after returning to her hometown.As her hometown was conservative in its values, she was met with harsh judgment once word spread that she had been pregnant out of wedlock and abandoned by a wealthy man. Even her family treated her as a disgrace.She later married a local widower with a violent temper. Their life was turbulent, and she was often seen with bruises.The once bright and lively woman was gone. Though still in her twenties, she looked a decade older. She was worn down by hardship.It was said she
I did not seek out news of Julian.It was at a charity gala three months later that one of Dad’s acquaintances approached me.After a few polite exchanges, the conversation somehow shifted to Julian.The man lowered his voice. “Annie, I heard… Julian isn’t doing well. Something’s wrong with his liver, and it sounds quite serious. He’s now in a modest public hospital on the west side of the city, and I heard he can’t even come up with the deposit.”He observed me. His tone was cautious and probing.“Do you want to visit him? Or maybe, out of goodwill, help him a little? It would at least bring closure to whatever is left between you.”Several friends who knew the situation frowned in disapproval. They clearly wanted to speak but were hesitating.I looked at the amber liquid gently swirling in my glass. Outside the window, the city unfolded in a brilliant nightscape, neon lights flashing as traffic flowed like woven threads.I smiled faintly. The smile did not reach my eyes.“Th
I scanned the faces of the Holt family’s relatives. All of them were utterly silent. My gaze landed on Owen and Nancy, whose faces had gone ashen.“I’m only here to announce two things. First, I’ve initiated divorce proceedings against Julian. My lawyer will be in touch soon. Everything that belongs to the Quinnell family, I’ll reclaim in full. This includes, but is not limited to, the properties, vehicles, and jewelry you bought for Miss Zander using marital assets, as well as shares and resources in your company that originally belonged to my family.”Julian’s pupils shrank. He tried to speak, but my icy stare stopped him short.“Second, it concerns the child Miss Zander is carrying.”I paused, looking at Tessa and the hand she pressed protectively over her stomach.“Julian’s infidelity during marriage is backed by undeniable evidence. This child is illegitimate. Of course, the child is innocent and has every right to be born. But in the future, what he will inherit will likely
Tessa staggered back under my intense gaze. Her complexion shifted between pale and flushed. She instinctively shielded her stomach. Her gaze drifted toward Julian in alarm and suspicion.A murmur spread among the relatives. Their expressions turned complicated as they looked at him.Julian finally snapped. He seized my arm. His grip was so tight that it sent a jolt of pain through me. His voice took on a hard edge. “That’s enough, Annabeth Quinnell! Whatever this is about, we’ll settle it at home. Stop making a scene! Tessa’s pregnant. She can’t take this kind of stress!”“Home?”I wrenched my arm free. My breathing grew unsteady from the effort.“Which home? The one you bought with my family’s money and now plan to leave to Tessa and your son? Julian, the moment you orchestrated my child’s death and had my uterus removed, we stopped having a home!”“What are you talking about?”Julian’s eyes flashed with panic, and he shouted to drown me out.“What do you mean, I orchestr












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