Chapter 3:A Familiar Necklace

“Nora, please. We didn’t come here to exchange words. We only came here to speak with Rui.” I tried to speak calmly.

“Well, you are in my house.”

“Only if you are wise enough to know that we aren’t here to exchange words.”

“Who do you think you are?” Clara asked. I could hear the anger in her tone.

“Clara, you shouldn’t...”

Before I could finish my sentence, Rui immediately interrupted me.

“Let’s go outside, please.”

I simply forced myself to remain calm. Rui looked directly into my eyes, fully aware of what he had done, yet he stood there as though everything was perfectly normal. We eventually stepped outside so that we could speak alone.

“I already know the reason you are here,” he said calmly. “Meet me at my office by four o’clock tomorrow. You will see the divorce papers, and everything will be clear to you when we meet.”

I stared at him, confused by his words.

“And you will get your money after signing the papers,” he added.

“Fine.”

I excused myself and walked away, trying my best not to show how much his words had affected me.

Finally, we were going to be exes.

I exhaled slowly as I walked away, trying to accept the reality that the marriage I had once believed would last forever was finally coming to an end.

Hours later, I lay on my bed with my eyes fixed on the ceiling.

I didn't want to think too much about Rui or everything that had happened between us. I had an interview the next day, and I needed to focus on something else. I couldn't allow myself to become too emotional over everything that had happened. I needed to keep myself together and start thinking about my future.

The next day, I found myself sitting across from the CEO during my interview.

Mr. Steven was one of the most successful real estate tycoons in the country, and he was extremely wealthy. I had heard that he was calm, quiet, and mysterious, and that nobody actually knew much about him.

I had to admit that he was incredibly handsome. His broad shoulders fitted perfectly into his modern suit, and the chain around his neck added to his already striking appearance. There was something powerful about his presence, yet despite all his wealth and success, I had heard that he was not married.

I quickly reminded myself that I was there for an interview and forced myself to concentrate.

“Let me see your file,” he said.

“Okay, sir.”

I quickly handed it over to him.

Deep down, I was only half confident that I would get the job. When I left school, I hadn't performed particularly well in my final examinations, and I knew my results were not exactly impressive. Still, I desperately needed the opportunity, so I had decided to try my luck.

Mr. Steven carefully went through my file, turning the pages one after another without saying anything.

After a while, he slowly raised his head and looked at me.

His expression was serious, and there was something dark and unreadable in his eyes.

“Your file and results are not really encouraging.”

I felt a small wave of heat run through my body. I tightened my fingers beneath the table, trying to keep my nervousness under control.

“Mm...” I hesitated before continuing. “During the period when I was supposed to write my examinations, I couldn't concentrate because my father was very sick. He was seriously ill before he died, and everything that happened affected me badly. I'm sorry, sir.”

I looked at him nervously before adding, “I really need this job, please.”

I joined my hands together as I waited for his response.

However, he still didn't give me a pitying expression. His face remained completely unreadable, and I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

I lowered my gaze for a moment, wondering if I had already lost my chance.

Then, just as I was trying to think of what else I could say, my eyes suddenly fell on a shining object sitting on his desk.

I froze.

My eyes widened as I stared at it.

I recognized it immediately.

It was a necklace.

It looked exactly like mine.

That kind of necklace had been specially made for my sisters and me. My late father had given each of us one before he died, which was why I could never forget its appearance. It was something deeply personal to my family, and seeing one that looked exactly like mine sitting on Mr. Steven's desk left me completely stunned.

I wanted to ask him where he had gotten the necklace, but I was afraid of ruining my chances of getting the job. I had come there because I desperately needed an opportunity, and I couldn't afford to lose it over something I couldn't even explain.

I slowly raised my hand to my neck, expecting to feel the necklace resting against my skin, but my fingers touched nothing.

My eyes widened as I immediately looked down, then back at the necklace on Mr. Steven's desk.

Wait, what?

Where was mine?

I swallowed nervously and tried to concentrate on the interview, but the questions running through my mind refused to go away.

How did my necklace get there?

I touched my neck again, hoping I had somehow made a mistake, but the necklace was nowhere to be found.

My eyes slowly returned to the necklace on Mr. Steven's desk.

No, it couldn't be.

Was that really my necklace?