The diamond before the fall

*Mom's last gift*

Heiley ripped through her desk drawers, papers and pens scattering everywhere. She dropped to her knees and checked under her bed, tossing aside pillows, flipping through her clothes. Her breath came faster. “Where is it...?” she muttered.

Her necklace drawer was torn open, velvet boxes overturned, but it wasn’t there either. Her chest tightened. She loved that necklace. Thin gold chain, small diamond pendant. The last thing Mom left her for her engagement.

She stopped, hands on her hips, scanning the room one more time. Nothing. She trudged downstairs, her face etched with worry.

Nancy was setting the kitchen counter. She noticed immediately. “Miss Heiley, what’s wrong? You don’t look good,” she said, concern in her voice.

Heiley sighed, rubbing her temples. “I’m looking for my necklace... the one Mom left me for my engagement. I can’t find it anywhere.”

Nancy’s expression turned thoughtful. “I don’t know, miss. Maybe you asked Emily if she’s seen it?”

Heiley’s eyes narrowed. “Emily? I doubt she knows where it is. I warned her not to touch my things.”

But her gut twisted. She stormed toward the poolside. The sound of splashing water and Emily’s laughter filled the air.

There she was. Emily, lounging on a deck chair, wearing the necklace. Gold chain glinting against her skin. She held her phone up, pouting for selfies.

Heiley’s blood ran cold. “Get it off! That’s mine!” she demanded, her voice trembling with rage.

Emily smirked, not even lowering her phone. “It’s just a necklace, Heiley. No big deal. I was just taking photos. I was going to bring it back after.”

Heiley’s anger boiled over. “Give it back! Now!”

Emily shrugged, fingers playing with the pendant. “I said I’d bring it back. Chill.”

Heiley lunged. She grabbed Emily’s wrist. They clashed, grappling for the necklace. The chain snapped. The diamond pendant skittered across the pool deck and stopped at the water’s edge.

Harris, alerted by the commotion, rushed to the poolside. Emily saw him approaching. Her eyes darted to him, then to Heiley. She shoved Heiley hard and threw herself into the pool, screaming, “HEILEY, NO, DON’T PUSH ME!”

Water exploded around her. Emily thrashed, gasping. “Help! I can’t swim!”

Sarah came running right behind Harris. She clutched her chest. “She can’t swim! Help her!”

Harris didn’t hesitate. He dove in, clothes and all, pulling Emily out as she sputtered and cried. He set her on the tiles, dripping. Then he turned to Heiley, his face stern, water running down his face. “Why did you push her into the pool?”

Heiley’s eyes flashed. She was shaking. “If I say I didn’t push her, will you believe me?”

Harris’s expression hardened. “I saw it with my own eyes. You’re denying it?”

Heiley’s voice rose, cracking. “She pushed herself into the pool! You always believe her!”

Sarah rushed over, wrapping a towel around Emily. “But dear, Emily knows she can’t swim. How can she push herself into the pool?”

That was it. Heiley’s anger boiled over and she turned to her dad. “Even if I say a hundred truths, you can’t believe me! But your precious step-daughter and her mom can say one lie and you believe them!”

Harris’s face darkened and he slapped Heiley, his voice low. “Don’t disrespect Sarah.”

The c***k echoed. Heiley’s head snapped sideways. The metallic taste of blood hit her tongue. Her eyes widened in shock, holding her cheek. Tears sprang to her eyes. “Dad... you slapped me... over this? Do you know what she did? I hate you.” She’d never been slapped by her parents before.

Harris regretted it immediately. His hand stung. He hadn’t meant to hit her. Seeing his daughter crying because of him broke his heart. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Sarah looked stunned. She didn’t expect Harris to slap his daughter. Her hand flew to her mouth. Emily, dripping and shivering on the ground, was enjoying the scene — but she buried her face in her hands, sobbing loud enough for Harris to hear.

Heiley turned and ran into the house, crying. Her bare feet slapped against the marble.

“Princess, I didn’t mean to...” Harris called out, but she didn’t turn back.

His eyes landed on the necklace. The broken chain and diamond pendant were still on the pool deck, right where Emily had dropped them. His expression froze.

He walked over, picked it up, and turned to Emily. His voice was low, dangerous. “Who gave you that necklace?”

Emily stammered, pulling the towel tighter. “I-I got it from Heiley’s room... I just wanted to take some pictures and take it back... I didn’t... know she’ll be mad...”

Harris’s face darkened. He held the broken necklace up. “Do you know what you have done? That’s Heiley’s last gift from her mom. She cherishes it more than anything else.”

He turned away, anger in every step. “You’ve done enough, Emily.” He left the two alone.

Sarah looked concerned, reaching for him. But Harris didn’t stop to explain. He rushed into the house, leaving them stunned behind.

He stood outside Heiley’s room. The sound of her muffled sobs pierced through the door. He knocked softly. “Princess... can we talk? I’m sorry,” he said, his voice breaking.

Heiley’s voice, thick with tears, shot back, “Go away! I don’t want to see you. I hate you! Go!”

His shoulders dropped. Regret gripped him. He pressed his forehead to the door and waited in silence for a while, but Heiley’s cries didn’t subside.

“I’ll wait for you to calm down... and we talk,” he said finally, his voice gentle. He turned and headed to his room, leaving Heiley in her tears.

Meanwhile at the poolside, Sarah turned to Emily, her expression stern. “Emily, what have you done? You’ve caused so much trouble for Heiley. You know that necklace means everything to her.”

Emily looked down, her wet hair sticking to her face. Water dripped onto the poolside tiles. “I just wanted to take pictures, Mom... I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”

Sarah sighed and looked at her intently. “You need to learn to think before acting. And don’t think I can’t see what you’re up to. You are trying to create a gap between dad and daughter, but you have to stop whatever is going on in your head.”

Emily pouted, crossing her arms as she headed off towards the house. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”