Chapter 3

I looked at Evan and didn't say anything for a long time.

The year my mother passed away, he was the one who helped me sort through her belongings. That gold bracelet had been at the very bottom of the jewelry box, and beside it was a note my mother left, with only three words on it: For Stella.

Evan had seen it. That day he even told me, "Put the valuable things away somewhere safe, so you don't lose them later."

Now he'd taken them out himself.

I held out my hand. "Take it off."

Rosalie instinctively covered her wrist.

"Stella, I'm getting married tomorrow, and the stylist already set everything to match this. I'll only wear it for the one day, and I'll give it back to you right after the wedding."

"Give it back now."

Diane's face darkened at once.

"Stella, it's just one bracelet. Rosalie is the bride tomorrow. Do you really have to embarrass her in front of all these people?"

I didn't look at her. I just asked Evan, "Did you open the jewelry box too?"

He paused.

"I know the combination."

"So?"

"I figured you never wear them anyway."

He said it so naturally, as if it were a cup he'd used for years, an old piece of clothing packed away at the bottom of a trunk. As long as I didn't touch it often, it automatically became something he was free to dispose of.

Rosalie's eyes reddened. She slowly slipped the bracelet off and set it on the coffee table.

"Stella, I'm so sorry. I really didn't know this was something your mother left. Evan only said you had a lot of jewelry and that this one suited the look best."

I picked up the bracelet, turned, and went into the master bedroom.

The old wardrobe had been torn out. My mother's camphorwood jewelry box was shoved into the very back of the new closet. The clasp was crooked, like someone had forced it.

When I opened it, two necklaces and a pair of earrings were missing.

"Where's the rest?"

Evan followed me in.

"Mom took them to match Rosalie's outfit."

I turned to look at him.

"How much did you take?"

"Just a few pieces."

"How many?"

He frowned. "Stella, do you really have to interrogate me like this?"

I didn't answer. I just called Diane. But the ringtone went off in the living room.

Diane stood in the doorway, her face grim.

"The things are all at my place. Nothing's lost."

"Bring them back now."

"They're needed tomorrow."

"Now."

She stared at me for a few seconds, then gave a cold laugh.

"So the things your mother left are precious, but the Matthews family's reputation is worthless, is that it?"

I put the bracelet back in the box.

"Why should the Matthews family's reputation have to be propped up with my mother's things?"

The living room went quiet.

The locksmith had already changed the lock cylinder and came over with the new keys. I kept only one and put the rest in my bag.

Evan's face darkened when he saw what I was doing.

"You won't even give me a key?"

"This is my house."

"I'm your husband."

"Then you of all people should know you can't just take things without asking."

The locksmith was bagging up the old cylinder he'd removed when he suddenly looked up.

"Was this lock just changed a few days ago? It's still pretty new."

I nodded.

"I didn't change it."

The locksmith glanced at Evan.

"When an outside locksmith comes into a complex like this, they usually have to register with the property office. You'd better ask what paperwork they left on file at the time."

Right then I called the property front desk and asked the manager to come up.

A few minutes later, the property manager arrived.

After hearing me out, he looked down and searched the system for a while.

"There is a record, yes."

He turned his phone toward me.

"Submitted half a month ago. The applicant is listed as Ms. Henson herself."