Claudia’s eyes were filled with visible sorrow. “Enough! Phoebe is already being so humble, what more do you want? She only wishes to stay with us as our daughter. Why can’t you accept that?”
“Even now, you still refuse to call me Mom. I’ve tried to understand you, but you still won’t show Phoebe any respect. You must have been taught poorly!”
Phoebe held on to the angry Claudia, looking heartbreakingly fragile. She offered the earrings, necklace, and ring she had just removed with both hands.
“Freya probably hasn’t seen jewelry this fine before. Any one of these costs more than you could earn in a lifetime. I’m not trying to show off how well Mom and Dad treat me, but since you’re coming home, don’t upset Mom.”
Her words hinted that I was making a scene for money. I looked down at her gifts. Jewelry like that? My brother could buy me a room full of it, there was nothing worth comparing.
I gestured for the manager to bring my order. When I opened the box, a green, hollow-carved sapphire-and-gold hairpin lay inside. I nodded in approval.
Not to mention the craftsmanship, even the imperial green sapphire had taken me several auctions to acquire, and the carving alone had used up a large portion of the stone.
Years of my savings had gone into it, but my mom deserved nothing less than perfection.
“Miss Freya, are you satisfied with the custom-made ‘Golden Sapphire Reunion’ hairpin we prepared for your mother?”
The manager smiled politely and handed me the receipt to sign.
Just as I was about to write my name, a hand suddenly grabbed the hairpin. “So, it was meant for me after all.”
Claudia’s expression softened at once, while Phoebe spoke up beside her.
“I didn’t expect this store to actually use glass for jewelry. It looks almost real.”
“Mom, even though Freya’s gift is cheap, it’s still her thought that matters.”
I was stunned. How did my fine imperial green sapphire hairpin suddenly become glass? Was it because it looked too perfect to seem real?
Phoebe reached out, trying to place the hairpin in her own hair. Something that had already been touched by someone else, how could I give that to Mom?
“Give it back to me!”
In the struggle, Phoebe turned her back to Claudia and gave me a faint smile before letting go. My years of quick reflexes kicked in, and before the hairpin hit the ground, I caught it.
“I’m really sorry, Freya. I accidentally lost my grip…”