Whispers of the Pearl Curse

I took my sweet time admiring the green bracelet on my left wrist.Then I turned my attention to the white bracelet on my right, which had an even more impressive sparkle."You're always begging to borrow my bracelet for a day or two. Just wear this one at ease!"And hey, when you swiped my bag and slathered on my skincare without asking, did you ever stop to think if you should?"We're like sisters, right? That's your line!"My family was relatively on par with Sophie's once upon a time. However, after we struck it rich from a demolition deal and my dad's business took off, making millions, she started being jealous of me.I used to think she was all talk. It turned out she was dead serious about wanting me gone.Sophie lost her mind, her hand slamming down as she tossed the bracelet onto the table with a vengeance. "Yasmine, cut it out with the accusations, okay? I'm not some freeloader like you. I'm a strong, independent woman!"Jeffrey snapped out of it and stormed over, re

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.With a big yawn, I said, "His family's in trouble? So what? I'm not his mom."Sophie was speechless, her finger jabbing in the air at me, lost for words.Right at that moment, Jeffrey's call buzzed again.With Sophie glaring at me like a guard dog, I picked up."Yasmine, where are you?" he said desperately. "My sister's gotten worse, and I can't find you anywhere. I'm losing my mind!"The doctor says her legs are all messed up, like it's rotting and sprouting hair. They have to chop it off!"The surgery's going to cost thirty thousand dollars. Yasmine, my sis and I really need you. Can you come to the hospital?"Once upon a time, I might have dashed over in a heartbeat.However, I merely took a sip of water this time."Your sister is getting worse? Find a doctor. Why come to me? And hey, she's your sister, not mine. You think I'm going to cough up thirty thousand dollars?"Jeffrey never thought I would be so blunt.He gasped.However, Sophi

The sun was blazing.Jeffrey picked the brightest, most scorching spot to sit.Just to show off on social media, he snapped a selfie. [My wife is busy working, and I'm busy missing her.]Thanks to my last birthday bash, he got to know a lot of my friends.It did not take long for his post to get a shower of likes and comments.[You're such a great guy!][Lucky girl to be your girlfriend!]I scoffed at that.Back when I wanted him to meet me after work, he would whine about me being overweight and dodge the ask.I had slimmed down and glammed up, but he was plotting to milk me dry of cash and affection before he tried to make off with a cool 150 million.I was plotting my own scheme to reel him in when an unexpected comment cut through the noise.[Yasmine, it's boiling out there, and you've got your boyfriend roasting in the sun? How thoughtless!]I glanced at the screen.Ha, it was Sophie—the one who rushed me to the hospital yesterday only to dash off after a call.Talk

Tracy's gaze was empty. Tears, warm and wet, streamed down her wrinkled cheeks."How should I know? I don't even know if this bracelet works. Everything I told you was just rumors..."Jeffrey's grip slackened, and he crumpled to the floor, looking like his spirit had been drained from him.At that moment, the sharp click of high heels approached from the hallway.Tracy's eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope. "Jeffrey, didn't you say your girlfriend's loaded? We could ask her for help."Jeffrey scowled. Clearly, he thought she meant me.Tracy's sobs turned into a grin."Your girl is always decked out in fancy stuff. She said to ask her if we needed anything, right? We're broke, she's loaded—it's perfect!"Then it hit Jeffrey that his mom was talking about Sophie. The weight lifted from his shoulders, and he breathed a sigh of relief."You're onto something, Mom. I've got a plan!"I was bracing myself for Jeffrey to dump me. However, what came next was a total curveball.He

I took my time packing up the stall I had rented, not a care in the world. With a flourish, I pulled off my headscarf, letting my freshly dyed chestnut waves tumble free, and let out a carefree whistle."Special deal, Jeffrey: buy one, get one free. Looks like you're up next!" Ever since he and Sophie tied the knot, Jeffrey, with his face as wrinkled as a dried-up tree bark, had become a hermit.However, with his mom biting the dust and Sophie herself behind bars, not to mention the debt collectors pounding on his door every other day, Jeffrey had no choice but to gear up and sneak out like a bandit.Me? I was not about to let him slip by.I had paid someone off to keep tabs on him around the clock. The moment he dared to leave his house, my informant would tip off the debt collectors.Every wrong had a wrongdoer, and every debt had a debtor. I was not one to let a deadbeat slide, but I steered clear of breaking the law.So, come nine at night, it was time.In a forgotten cor