Clara raised her hand in a daze. Under the light, the bracelet looked translucent and delicate. It seemed very valuable.
"This is my heirloom jade bracelet for my future daughter-in-law. Clara, I’m leaving Ian in your care in the future."
Mrs. Cumberland's final words echoed in her mind.
Clara took a deep breath and let out a bitter laugh. It was better to leave the bracelet with Ian, along with the money.
By the time she returned to the villa, it was already late at night. The entire villa was eerily quiet. It seemed no one was home.
This was good. It was easier for her to move out of the house.
She walked into the study with the bank card and the jade bracelet in hand.
This was Ian’s private space. He was always meticulous, but tonight, the study was in disarray. It was a sign that the owner was restless and bored. It seemed her presence in this house truly frustrated him.
Clara blew resigned breath and went to his desk then pulled the lower drawer opened. She placed the card and bracelet deep inside. Just as she was withdrawing her hand, her fingers accidentally brushed against a small, ornate box.
The lid popped open and revealed a glint of cold metal.
Clara froze, her breath caught as she hesitantly reached inside. It was a pop tab ring, the handmade grass rings that she had given Ian over the years,
Hadn’t he said he threw them all away? Why are they still here?
Her gaze shifted to the final object in the box. It is a diamond ring. Did Ian buy it?
A thought too wild to believe flashed through Clara’s mind. She closed the box but was unable to recover from her shock.
Until Ian's sudden panicked voice sounded from the doorway. "Who gave you permission to touch my things?"
He hurriedly rushed in, snatched the box from her hand and, with a face dark with anger, scolded, "Did the Cumberland Family ever teach you to rummage through other people’s belongings?"
Clara jolted and finally came back to her senses. Her throat felt dry and she avoided his gaze and said in a low voice, "I was just looking for a pen to doodle with... I thought it might be in there."
Her explanation didn’t seem to convince him because Ian’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, his voice laced with urgency. "Did you open the box?"
Seeing the tension thickened in the air as time passed, Clara quickly shook her head. "No."