Chapter 5
1162words
I needed to reclaim what was mine.
I stood in front of the Reed Technologies building, my heart racing. Since the day I resigned, I hadn't set foot in this building. Now, as the soon-to-be Mrs. Blackwood, I felt a strange sense of power.
The receptionist recognized me, surprise flashing in her eyes.
"Miss Chen!"
"I need to see Ethan Reed," my voice was calm and determined.
"But Mr. Reed is in a meeting..."
"Tell him Olivia is here," I said. "He'll see me."
She hesitated, then dialed the internal line. A moment later, she nodded.
"Mr. Reed says you can go right up."
The elevator rose to the top floor, and I took a deep breath, collecting my thoughts. I wasn't here to argue or seek explanations. I had only one purpose: to reclaim my parents' heirloom.
Ethan's office door was open. He stood by the window, his back to the door, his posture indicating he had been waiting for my arrival.
"Olivia." He turned, wearing that confident smile I knew so well. "I knew you'd come back."
"I'm not back," I walked into the office, maintaining my distance. "I'm here to take back what belongs to me."
His smile froze. "What thing?"
"My parents' pendant."
His expression grew complicated. "That... Sophia really likes it."
"It's the only thing my parents left me," my voice began to tremble, but I controlled my emotions. "The pendant I sold to raise money for you. You promised to return it."
"I bought you a new one, more expensive—"
"I don't want your money!" I interrupted him. "That's my memory, my past. I want it back."
Ethan sighed, walking toward his desk. "Sophia is wearing it now. I can't just take it back."
"Then tell her the truth. Tell her it's something you stole from me."
"I didn't steal it!" his voice rose. "It was a gift!"
"A gift?" I looked at him incredulously. "It's what I sold to save your company! You promised to find it and return it to me!"
Outside the office, employees began to gather. Ethan noticed and gestured for me to lower my voice.
"Listen," he lowered his voice, "Sophia is in a special situation right now. Doctors say she needs to maintain emotional stability."
"So you'd rather hurt me than upset her?"
"It's not like that." He moved closer to me. "After she... later, I'll return the pendant to you. I promise."
I laughed coldly. "Like you promised last time?"
His expression turned earnest. "Olivia, please understand my position. Sophia is..."
"She's sick. Six months left. I know." I waved dismissively. "But that's not a reason for your betrayal."
"I didn't betray you!"
"You married my stepsister on my birthday and gave her my parents' heirloom. If that's not betrayal, what is?"
Ethan fell silent, his eyes flickering.
"I'm asking one last time," I looked directly into his eyes. "Will you return the pendant to me?"
He avoided my gaze. "I can't. At least not now."
I took a deep breath and nodded. "Then I'll have to get it myself."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll go directly to Sophia."
Ethan's face changed. "You can't do that! Her condition is fragile!"
"Then it's your decision, Ethan," I turned to leave. "Either you get the pendant back for me, or I'll go to her myself."
"Wait!" He grabbed my wrist. "Don't be like this, Olivia. We can talk."
I pulled my hand away. "There's nothing to talk about. It's mine, and I want it back."
"Alright, alright." He raised his hands. "I'll... I'll figure something out. Give me some time."
"Three days," I said. "In three days, if you haven't returned the pendant, I'll go to Sophia."
His expression darkened. "You've changed, Olivia."
"Yes, I have," I looked directly into his eyes. "I'm no longer the foolish girl who sacrificed everything for you."
I turned to leave, feeling the gaze of all the employees on me. But this time, I didn't care.
***
Three days later, I received a text message:
"Tonight, 8 PM, Blue Moon Bar. Will bring the pendant."
I hesitated. Blue Moon was a high-end bar on the other side of the city, not a place we usually frequented. Why had Ethan chosen to meet there?
But if this was the only way to get my pendant back, I was willing to take the risk.
I told Victoria I had to go out, and she simply nodded without asking questions. During these weeks at the Blackwood mansion, we had reached an understanding: as long as I didn't cause trouble for the family, she wouldn't interfere with my personal life.
At 8 PM, I arrived punctually at the Blue Moon Bar. It was an elegantly decorated venue with dim lighting and low music. I looked around and saw Ethan sitting at a table in the corner, with Sophia and several people I didn't recognize.
I took a deep breath and walked over.
"Olivia, you came." Ethan stood up, wearing a strange smile. "Come, sit down."
I didn't move. "You said you'd bring the pendant."
"Oh, yes." He looked at Sophia. "Darling, show her your pendant."
Sophia raised her head, malice gleaming in her eyes. She slowly touched the pendant on her neck but made no move to take it off.
"This one?" she asked with feigned innocence. "But this is the wedding gift Ethan gave me."
"That's the only thing my parents left me," my voice began to tremble. "I sold it to help Ethan raise money."
Sophia pretended to be surprised. "Oh? Ethan told me he bought it especially for me."
She turned to Ethan, her eyes challenging. "Darling, is that true?"
Ethan looked uncomfortable but quickly regained his composure. "Olivia, don't be like this. We're all adults here."
"Yes, we are adults," I looked directly into his eyes. "So please return my property to me."
Sophia laughed, a chilling laugh. "But it's mine now. Ethan gave it to me."
She stood up and walked in front of me. "You know what, Olivia? You always want what belongs to me. First my parents' attention, then Ethan."
"Ethan never belonged to you," I said calmly.
"Oh? Then why did he marry me?" she challenged. "And you, you're marrying a vegetable? How pathetic."
I felt a surge of anger, but I controlled myself. "Return the pendant to me, Sophia. It's my parents' heirloom."
"No," she said simply. "I like it. It's mine now."
I turned to Ethan. "Is this your solution? To call me here to be humiliated?"
Ethan looked somewhat embarrassed, but he didn't defend me. "Olivia, you need to let go. Sophia is my wife now."
"And I'm very sick," Sophia pretended to be weak, then winked at her friends at the table, eliciting a round of laughter.
I realized then that this was a trap. They hadn't called me here to return my pendant but to humiliate me.
