4

##Chapter 4

I ignored Quinn's sharp and disdainful warning, calmly took out a sandwich and milk from the refrigerator, ate silently at the dining table, and then turned to go upstairs.

There was no longer any reason for me to stay in this house. I opened my suitcase and started packing the things that truly belonged to "me"—clothes, shoes, handbags, laptop, and those old photos filled with memories.

Then I walked to the dressing table. The moment I opened the jewelry box, there was only one thought in my mind—I had to take my mother's necklace. The pendant on a red cord was custom-made for me by my mother before she passed away. She said that wearing it would bring her blessings and protection wherever I went. It was my most precious possession and the only thing that hadn’t changed since the day I married Kaiden.

But it was gone.

I froze, searched through the entire jewelry box, but only found a few earrings and scattered rings. I dumped everything onto the bed, checking each piece of jewelry, but the necklace did not appear. Anxiety spread through me like wildfire. I began searching drawers, looking under the bed, and lifting luggage bags, sparing no unlikely corner, though deep down, I already knew the answer.

Besides me and Kaiden, only one other person had access to this room.

I stormed downstairs.

Kaiden and Quinn were sitting on the living room sofa, whispering about something. As soon as they saw me, they stopped talking.

"Where is it?" I demanded coldly, my gaze locked on Quinn.

"Isabella, what are you talking about?" Kaiden's voice was impatient. "Calm down, and don't make a big deal out of nothing."

"My necklace," I said through clenched teeth, my voice trembling yet firm. "The one my mother designed with a pendant on a red cord. Where is it, Quinn?"

Then I saw it.

A hint of red peeked out from her dress’s neckline—the color all too familiar to me.

I lunged forward, but Kaiden blocked me, holding my shoulders tightly.

"Isabella! Are you crazy?!" he shouted. "What are you doing?"

"She's wearing my mother's necklace!" I screamed hysterically. "It was left to me by my mom! What right does she have to wear it?"

Quinn feigned panic, her voice so frail as if a breeze could knock her over. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. Kaiden gave it to me... He said I seemed unhappy and needed something beautiful..."

"You're lying!" My eyes widened with fury as I trembled with anger. "My name is engraved on the back of that necklace. Do you dare take it off and check?"

A hint of hesitation appeared on Kaiden’s face. He finally looked at Quinn. "Quinn, let her see it."

"But it was your gift!" she sobbed to Kaiden. "You said you found it..."

Kaiden believed Quinn's words. "Quinn wouldn't steal from you. This must be a misunderstanding. Calm down, Isabella. It’s just a necklace."

"I can buy another one for you—no, ten more."

Kaiden couldn’t understand that this necklace represented the most precious memory of my mother for me. Quinn dared to touch it with her filthy hands!

Seeing that I wasn’t backing down, Kaiden again persuaded Quinn to take off the necklace.

Quinn hesitantly reached for it, her hands trembling. Finally, she unclasped it and handed it over to me. Just as I reached out to take it, her fingertips suddenly twitched—

The necklace fell to the floor.

With a snap, the pendant broke in half.

Silence fell like death in the room.

I stared at the broken necklace on the floor, feeling as if I had been plunged into an ice pit. It wasn't just a piece of jewelry. It was the only keepsake from my mother—a carrier of all my tender memories—and Quinn had destroyed it.

I looked up. Quinn’s lips curled into a faint, almost invisible smile.

She did it on purpose.

Rage surged from within. I shook off Kaiden’s hand and slapped her across the face.

Quinn looked at me in shock, covering her cheek as tears streamed down.

Before I could pull myself out of my anger, the next second—

Kaiden harshly grabbed my shoulder, turned me around, and slapped me.

My face twisted to one side from the force of his slap. I took two staggering steps before stabilizing. Pain spread across my skin as a buzzing sound filled my ears.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"You will never touch her again!" Kaiden roared fiercely, his eyes harsh. "A broken necklace isn't worth as much as her and our child."

Our child.

Not “Caspian’s child,” not “my stepsister’s child,” but—"our child".

A shiver ran through me. Cold sweat slid down my spine. Felix’s suspicions swung violently in my mind like a pendulum.

I stared at Kaiden—the man I once loved deeply enough to change myself for him, to sacrifice for him. His face was fierce and unfamiliar. His eyes showed no sympathy for me but only defense for another woman.

I touched my swollen cheek and then looked at my mother’s shattered necklace on the floor.

My voice was dry and hollow as if coming from a tomb. "We're done, Kaiden. It's all over."