Chapter 4 The Necklace
662 Words
Renata could barely remember how she got home that night.
The brain cancer, mixed with the brutal symptoms of early pregnancy, was destroying what little strength she had left. She was becoming forgetful.
Sometimes she curled up on the hard bed in the maid's room for an entire day, quietly feeling both her own life and the tiny unexpected life inside her slowly fading away together.
She did not know how much time had passed before one afternoon, the door creaked open softly.
Carlin walked in carrying a glass of warm milk, smiling gently. "You don't look too good lately, Renata. Drink some milk, okay? You need strength."
Renata silently accepted the cup. She did not drink it. She only held it in both hands, absorbing the faint warmth.
Carlin sat beside the bed, her eyes casually drifting toward Renata's neck.
Her voice sounded as affectionate as ever. But the words that followed made Renata's body turn cold.
"Renata, do you remember the iris necklace Mom left us? My necklace accidentally got lost a few days ago. Douglas is taking me to an important banquet tonight, so... could I borrow yours for a little while? It'll feel like Mom's watching over me too, giving me courage."
Renata's grip on the glass tightened instantly. Her knuckles turned white.
Slowly, she lifted her eyes and stared at her sister's shifting expression. She was lying.
"You're lying to me."
Carlin's face stiffened for a second. But soon, she stopped pretending altogether.
"Fine. I sold my necklace."
She straightened slightly, her tone turning defensive. "Renata, you need to understand. I'm trying to fit into high society now. I need things that actually make people respect me."
Renata's lips trembled faintly. "That was the last thing Mom left us..."
"Renata!" Carlin suddenly raised her voice. "Do you think I don't miss Mom too? I didn't have a choice! Did you already forget how miserable our lives used to be? We finally have a chance to change everything, so why can't we grab it? Are we supposed to cling to those pathetic poor memories forever?"
"They weren't pathetic!" Renata suddenly sat upright despite the pain shooting through her body. Her pale face flushed red with emotion.
"Those were the things Mom left for us. How could you... how could you throw yours away like it meant nothing?"
Tears filled her eyes stubbornly, refusing to fall.
"I didn't throw it away!" Carlin stood too, frustration flashing across her face. "I just wanted enough confidence to survive in those kinds of places. Why can't you understand that?"
She stepped forward and reached for Renata's hand, her tone softening again. "Renata, please. Just lend it to me..."
"No!" Renata violently shoved her hand away and backed up like a frightened animal.
The firm rejection instantly wiped away the last bit of guilt in Carlin's heart. Instead, disappointment took over.
She only wanted to borrow a necklace for one night. Why was her sister being so unreasonable?
"Renata! Since when did you become this selfish?"
This time, Carlin stopped being gentle. She shoved Renata aside and forcefully ripped the necklace from her neck.
Carlin did not think she had used much strength. But Renata's body was already weak and unstable. The shove sent her slamming hard against the sharp corner of the bedside cabinet.
"Ugh!" A tearing pain exploded through her lower abdomen instantly. Her vision went black. All the strength drained from her body as she slid weakly onto the floor.
Carlin paused briefly. Then she frowned impatiently. "I barely touched you. Stop pretending. I'm taking this for now. Don't be so childish."
Then she hurried out of the room.
Warm blood slowly trickled down Renata's legs. Soon, a dark red stain spread beneath her body.
"The baby..."
Renata did not know how much time passed before she finally regained a little awareness through the overwhelming pain.
Trembling violently, she crawled out of the room before collapsing unconscious by the roadside.
- Writer
