In truth,diamonds were considered inappropriate for our family’s traditions.In older customs,outcasts were given a single diamond as the last token of value before they were banished.
And I was not banished.
I was going home.
From the kitchen I heard my mother-in-law chuckling as Vanessa clung to her arm,acting spoiled.“Auntie,how could you work so hard all these years?If I’d been here,I would never have let you—”
“This child!Of course things would have been different if it were you.
Oh Vanessa,let Mia help the servants with the dishes.You’ve probably never done such things;you’re always so considerate even toward the maids.
If only Mia were halfway as sensible as you.Since she moved into Xavier’s house,he’s let the maid go.She can do all the chores herself—mopping the floor and washing dishes are normal for her.Don’t ruin your beautiful hands;I’ll make Mia do it.”
I bit my lip as my husband agreed with his mother,seeing nothing wrong with overworking his wife.
They came out of the kitchen hand in hand,Vanessa sitting between Xavier and my mother-in-law.
“Auntie,I’ve missed you so much these past years.There hasn’t been a day I didn’t miss Xavier.”The others at the table didn’t find anything odd about Vanessa longing for another man while she was already in a relationship with someone else.
“Of course,dear.If things hadn’t gone wrong,you would have been my daughter-in-law by now.”Xavier’s mother teased,casting a quick glance in my direction before pulling Vanessa closer;Xavier said nothing,clearly annoyed that I had rejected his gift.
Turning to me,my mother-in-law added with feigned innocence,“Oh my,I must have spoken too much because of my old age.Mia,meet Vanessa,my goddaughter—she and Xavier are childhood friends and were raised together.”
“I heard that you were making a fuss at home because of her,but Vanessa is like a sister to Xavier so you should not throw a tantrum out of jealousy.
These two have always been so close,so you must trust your husband a little and stop keeping tabs on him.”
“Auntie is absolutely right,Vanessa was only doing a favor to you.”Xavier’s friend Colin spoke with a smug look on his face.He was the one who supported the‘perfect match’and secretly gave me the nickname‘homewrecker.’