My dear friend Faye Stewart invited me to an auction the next day.
We had just settled into our seats when I saw Julius walk in with Carly.
I easily caught a glimpse of a hickey on Carly’s fair neck.”
It looked fresh.
I didn’t even have to guess. It was clearly his doing.
A sharp pain flared in my chest.
When Julius saw me, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, but then he acted as if I were invisible, taking a seat before me.}
The auction officially began.
I had been zoning out the whole time, until Faye said, “Danielle, wasn’t that emerald necklace your mother’s keepsake? It went missing by accident and you’ve been searching for it ever since. Who would’ve thought it would turn up at this auction?“>
I was overwhelmed when I saw the emerald necklace.
That necklace was a keepsake from my mother. To me, it was priceless.
I was determined to win it back, no matter what.
Carly heard our conversation and smiled a little, “Uncle, this emerald necklace is gorgeous. I want it.“}
‘ll get you anything you want,” Julius replied gently.§
I bit my lip and spoke, “Julius, this emerald necklace is my mother’s keepsake. I’ve been looking for it. Please don’t compete with me.“>
Julius’s voice was icy. “So what?“}
His words chilled me to the bone.
He knew perfectly well that the necklace was a precious keepsake from my late mother, something deeply important to me.”
Yet, just because Carly expressed a fleeting desire, he was willing to fight me for it.”
My chest felt tight. He only saw Carly in his eyes and didn’t take me to heart at all.
This auction became a battle between Julius and me.
The moment I placed a bid, Julius immediately followed.
Until the auction price reached its peak, Julius finally won the emerald necklace.§
“Carly, anything you want, I’ll give you. No other man can offer you this. Do you still want to run?“>
“I just want freedom,” Carly said faintly.
My best friend Faye indignantly said, “Danielle, what exactly does that jerk, Julius, mean? He’s actually flirting with his, adopted niece right under your nose! You’re his wife, how could he treat you like this?”
I gave a bitter smile.
I looked down at the hemp rope bracelet on my wrist, a freebie that came with a high–end watch Julius had bought.”
He had casually intended to throw it away, but I had asked for it. I had worn it constantly for years.
Now, I took the hemp rope bracelet off my wrist.
Faye was a little shocked. “Carly, isn’t this bracelet your most treasured possession? You wouldn’t even take it off when you showered.”
I said softly, “I don’t want it anymore.“>
I also threw away my feelings for Julius over the past few years.}
After the auction ended, a small party was held next to the swimming pool.
Hoping to persuade Julius to change his mind and give me my mother’s keepsake, I didn’t leave but joined the party.
Carly approached me, with Julius following close behind.
She asked, “Danielle, do you really want that emerald necklace?“>
“Yes,” I said. “It was my mother’s. It means everything to me. If you’re willing to return it, I’ll do whatever you ask.“{
“Oh, then get on your knees and beg me. If you kneel, I’ll give it to you.”
I knew Carly was deliberately trying to humiliate me in public.
I raised my eyes to Julius, only to see a deep, calm indifference in his gaze. He had no intention of intervening.
After hesitating for a long time, I still chose to kneel down to Carly. I wanted to get back the keepsake my mother had left me.§
The moment I knelt, the smile on Carly’s lips deepened.
“Carly, keep your promise and give me the necklace.“}
“Alright.”
Carly held the emerald necklace before me and tossed it into the swimming pool.
“If you want it, go get it yourself.“}
A surge of anger welled up within me. Without the slightest hesitation, I jumped into the pool.
The instant I entered the water, an icy chill enveloped my entire body, reaching my core.
4.39 PM C
“If you want it, go get it yourself.“}
A surge of anger welled up within me. Without the slightest hesitation, I jumped into the pool.
The instant I entered the water, an icy chill enveloped my entire body, reaching my core.
Still, I couldn’t care less. I dove down, searching for the necklace.
After searching around, I finally found the fallen gemstone necklace.
My lips were pale and cold when I climbed out of the pool. I shivered uncontrollably.
Then, I heard Carly say, “Uncle, the weather is so chilly. Aren’t you worried about Danielle? She is your wife, after all.”
“A wife in name only. The only one I care about is you. Danielle is just a disposable tool in my eyes.“/
A tightness gripped my chest.”
So, I was merely a tool for their flirtatious games.
A surge of anger propelled me forward and I pushed Carly into the pool.
I also wanted her to experience the biting cold of the winter pool.
“Ahhh, help! I can’t swim!“!
Carly’s terrified screams immediately echoed from the pool.
“Danielle, you’ve gone too far!“}
Julius’s eyes were full of rage. He kicked me to the ground and then jumped into the swimming pool to rescue Carly.
After he kicked me like that, I fell to the ground and my waist hit the sharp edge of the swimming pool.“]
The severe pain in my stomach and waist almost made me faint.
After helping Carly ashore, Julius’s icy voice rang out again.
“Danielle, if anything happens to Carly, I will make you pay with your life!“}]
I was left alone by the edge of the pool.
The persistent pain in my waist made it difficult even to stand.”
I could only call for emergency medical help.
After the doctor examined me and applied medication at the hospital, I received a video from Carly.
In the video, Julius was washing Carly’s feet as if treating a rare treasure.
Despite his severe germaphobia, he washed them with rapt attention, his expression devout as he lovingly kissed her toes.”
The scene pierced my heart like a sharp blade.}
Just then, my phone rang. It was Carly Leonard.}
“Danielle, wasn’t that video I sent you wonderful? Do you know why Julius has never touched you? It’s because I said I found you dirty, so he kept himself pure for me.“}
“Julius has always belonged to me, but you stole him from my grasp. So, you deserve to pay a painful price.”
I had thought Carly resented Julius’s domineering control, treating her like a caged bird. It turned out this was just a tactic of feigned refusal.
I replied coldly, “Hmm, you two are a perfect match. Trash belongs in the trash can.”!
“Say that again, if you dare,” Carly growled.
My expression was cold and I hung up the phone.}
After a while, Julius stormed into my ward angrily.
“What did you say to Carly? She has severe depression and is threatening to kill herself!”
