Chapter 4

Wiping away her tears, Lena picked up her phone and dialed her lawyer. "Shane has signed it. Process the paperwork as fast as possible."

After hanging up, she stared at the signed divorce agreement in her hands. It felt as though a faint breeze had finally blown into the frozen wasteland inside her.

It was cold, but at least it was free.

She was just about to call her best friend, Anna Dawson, to grab a drink and stay out all night when her phone buzzed again.

It was a text from an unknown number.

"Want your mother's necklace? Come get it from me. Address attached."

Below it was an address and a photo of Yasmine holding the diamond necklace, her smile sweet.

Lena stared at the photo for a long time, then grabbed her car keys and rushed out the door.

Yasmine lived in a high-end apartment complex with strict security. Lena was only let in after she gave her name.

The elevator stopped at the top floor. When the doors opened, Yasmine was already waiting outside.

She was dressed in loungewear, her hair pinned up loosely, looking gentle and harmless.

"Ms. Chapman, you're here. Come on in."

Lena walked inside. On the dining table, several dishes were laid out alongside freshly cut fruit.

"Shane just cooked for me," Yasmine said as if suddenly remembering.

Pointing toward the table, she continued, "He's actually pretty good in the kitchen, but he's usually too busy to cook. Still, whenever he comes to see me, he always makes me something to eat."

She walked over to the fruit platter and picked up a piece of diced mango. "Look, he even peels and cuts the fruit for me. I told him not to bother, but he refused. He said my skin is soft, and he didn't want me cutting myself."

It felt like a needle driving straight into Lena's heart.

Shane could cook? He cut fruit for her?

In their three years of marriage, Lena had never once seen him step into a kitchen. He wouldn't even pour her a glass of water.

So it wasn't that he couldn't. He just didn't care to do it for her.

"Ms. Chapman, you don't look so good," Yasmine said with concern. "Would you like some water?"

"No," Lena cut her off. "I'm not here to listen to you show off. Where's the necklace? How much do you want?"

Yasmine's smile faded.

She walked over to the couch, sat down, and said unhurriedly, "I don't want money. I just need you to do something for me.

"I was learning to drive yesterday and accidentally backed into the main gate glass. Shards fell all into the pool."

Yasmine pointed out toward the balcony pool. "Clean it up for me, and I'll give you the necklace back."

Lena glared at her. "Are you trying to give me a hard time?"

"Why would I?" Yasmine blinked innocently. "I just figured since you want your mom's necklace so badly, paying a tiny price shouldn't be too much to ask, right?"

Lena knew Yasmine was making things difficult on purpose, but the necklace was the only thing she had left to remember Eliza by. She had to get it back.

"Fine," she gritted out through clenched teeth.

The pool was full of glass shards. Having no tools, Lena had no choice but to pick them up one by one with her bare hands.

The edges were razor-sharp. It wasn't long before her fingers were cut open. Blood dripped into the water and bloomed into faint red clouds.

The soles of her feet were sliced open too, sending sharp, agonizing pain with every single step.

Yet, she didn't stop.

Gritting her teeth, she picked them up piece by piece until the very last shard at the bottom of the pool was cleared away.

When she climbed out of the pool, Lena was drenched. Her hands and feet were covered in cuts. Blood mixed with water and pooled on the ground.

She walked up to Yasmine and held out her hand. "Give me the necklace."

Yasmine looked at her miserable state, smirked, and turned toward the bedroom.

A moment later, she returned carrying a velvet box.

Lena reached out to take it.

Right as the box was about to touch her hand, Yasmine suddenly let go.

The box hit the floor, snapping open. The necklace rolled out, and diamonds scattered everywhere as the chain snapped in two.

"Oh dear," Yasmine gasped, covering her mouth with an apologetic look. "My bad, my hands slipped. I accidentally broke it."

As Lena stared at the heap of broken diamonds on the floor, her whole body trembled.

"You did that on purpose." She raised her head, her eyes bloodshot.

The apology vanished from Yasmine's face. She leaned down, picked up the broken chain, and toyed with it in her hand. Her expression turned smug and cruel.

"Yeah, I did it on purpose. Did you really think I'd give the necklace back to you? Lena, do you really think you deserve it?"

She tossed the broken chain at Lena's feet. "You think you're still the high-and-mighty heiress of the Chapman family? Right now, you're just a discarded woman who couldn't even save her own child!

"Your mom has been dead for years, and you still treat her junk like treasure. How ridiculous. I'm telling you, even if I grind it into dust, it's nothing less than what it deserves!"

The final string snapped.

Lena snapped her head up, her eyes brimming with an overwhelming rage.

She stepped toward Yasmine, her voice as cold as ice. "Before you try to cross me, did nobody ever tell you who I am?"

Frightened by the murderous look in her eyes, Yasmine shrank back instinctively. "W-What are you trying to do? Listen, Shane is coming over right—"

Before she could finish speaking, Lena grabbed her by the wrist and began dragging her toward the door.

"Let go of me! Lena Chapman, let go!" Yasmine screamed while struggling wildly. "Someone! Call security, now!"

Terrified, the maids didn't dare move a muscle.

Lena dragged Yasmine downstairs to the horse-riding arena on the ground floor of the luxury complex, an exclusive facility that was rarely used.

"W-What are you trying to do?" Yasmine was truly terrified now.