My nails dug deep into my palms. My gaze locked onto the jade pendant hanging at Clementine's throat.
My mother's favorite necklace.
I still remembered exactly how much it sold for—three million dollars.
The startup capital for Dominic's first business.
Rage surged straight to my brain. That was my mother's—I had to get it back.
I rushed at Clementine and yanked the pendant from her neck.
She let out a soft cry of pain.
Dominic was on his feet instantly, shoving me aside, his brow furrowed in rebuke.
"Mildred, what do you think you're doing?"
I didn't want a confrontation with him. I clutched the pendant tight in my palm and turned to leave.
I could give up anything else.
But my mother's pendant—that, I had to take back.
Behind me came Clementine's faint sobbing. Then a heavy hand landed on my shoulder.
I met Dominic's cold gaze.
He held out his hand toward me.
"Mildred, we don't take other people's things."
Hearing those shameless words, I laughed until tears spilled from my eyes. My voice cracked as I confronted him.
"Other people's things? Dominic, this was my mother's. Her keepsake."