Chapter 22: The Auction
The mansion sold for thirty million.
The furniture, the art, the cars—everything went to auction.
I kept nothing.
Except the necklace.
The emerald necklace that started it all.
I took it to a jeweler.
"Can you remove the emeralds?"
"Excuse me?"
"I want them turned into something else. Something new."
The jeweler looked confused.
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Something that isn't tied to that family."
He nodded.
"I'll see what I can do."
A week later, I got the call.
"Mrs. Escalante? I've finished the piece."
I went to pick it up.
He handed me a simple silver bracelet.
The emeralds were set into it.
Small. Delicate. Beautiful.
"This is perfect."
"I'm glad you like it."
I put it on.
May you like
It felt light.
And for the first time, I didn't feel weighed down.
