"Didn't I already tell you? Don't contact me for a while. I need to play the part of a real husband for Elise. I was just chatting with her parents and you almost blew my cover."
My throat locked shut, but I forced the words out.
"Benjamin Delgado, did you take my bracelet?"
He paused for a second, then laughed.
"Yeah. Elise's mom said it's their family tradition to have a bracelet as part of the bride gift. Yours was heavy enough and pretty, so I grabbed it for her."
My heart felt like it was being ripped apart, stitch by stitch.
"Benjamin Delgado!!"
My voice cracked, shrill enough to shatter.
"That was the only thing my mother left me before she died! What gave you the right to take it and hand it to your mistress as a bride gift?!"
"Give it back! Right now! Bring it to me this instant, or I'm calling the police! I'll make sure you two have your wedding behind bars!"
I was shaking with rage, every word barbed.
Benjamin flinched on the other end of the line, then fired back with anger of his own.
"What kind of way is that to talk? I told you it was all for show! I just borrowed it! It's not like I'm keeping it forever!"