Chapter 3: Proof, Betrayal, and the Last Keepsake

When I woke up, it was already afternoon. The apartment was pitch black. The curtains were drawn, blocking out the sun. I lay there for a moment, listening to the hum of the fridge, the distant sound of traffic outside. Everything felt distant, unreal.

I checked my phone.

My coworker had angrily sent me tons of secretly recorded videos. The stars: Savannah and Leonard Brooks. He’d gone full tabloid reporter, capturing every sordid detail. I felt a surge of gratitude—and then shame. I didn’t want proof. I wanted this to be over.

In the middle of the mall, with everyone watching, they clung to each other, eyes locked. Leonard Brooks’ yellowed hands caressed Savannah’s face. True to her word, she was wearing black stockings.

I heard her familiar voice through the mall’s background noise.

"Where’d you get this locket? The silver’s so good it could buy out that dump you live in."

"Are you sure you’re giving it to me?"

Savannah, teetering on sky-high heels, replied, "Of course, my boyfriend gave it to me. His mom probably got it by being some rich guy’s mistress, that’s the only way she could afford something like this."

Leonard Brooks laughed loudly:

"Aren’t you afraid he’ll come after you if you sell it?"

Savannah didn’t care:

"Don’t worry, babe. It’s just a locket—if I lose it, so what? He’s got no parents, no background, just an ordinary nobody. What’s he going to do, come at you? He grew up shuffled between relatives, always looking for approval. Would he dare? You’re the CEO of S Company, you do business with billionaires."

You think I won’t?

My fists clenched, nails biting into my palms. I’d spent years trying to prove myself, to build a life from nothing. And she used that against me?

When my parents were young and struggling, they did leave me with relatives for a while. That was the hardest part of my childhood.

But for Savannah to use that against me?

My eyes burned with rage.

That locket was my mom’s last keepsake. And my girlfriend of seven years was giving it to Leonard Brooks?

No way. Absolutely not!

I grabbed my phone and called Savannah.

The phone rang for a long time before she picked up.

"Where are you?"

"At the mall, buying you a present, honey. Celebrating in advance for your big sale!"

Her voice was all sunshine and sugar. I could picture her smiling, shopping bags on her arm, pretending nothing was wrong.

I didn’t care whether she was lying—I just wanted the locket back.

"Where’s the locket? Give it back!"

Savannah played dumb:

"Locket? It’s at home, honey, what’s with you lately? Why are you so hung up on the locket? Didn’t we agree it’d stay with me?"

I hung up, my face dark, then opened the video again, checking the address and racing there by Uber.

My hands shook as I punched in the address, my heart pounding like a war drum. I wasn’t sure what I’d do when I got there, but I knew one thing for sure: I wasn’t leaving without my mom’s locket.