Before I could say anything, Nora dropped her chores on hand and started walking towards Rachel. Unexpectedly, she turned back and picked up the knife. “I can overlook anything else, but how could she shamelessly con him of my grandma’s bracelet?” she muttered under her breath.
I was shocked when I saw her with the knife. I quickly went up and pulled her aside. “Calm down! Your grandpa gifted this to Anthony’s wife. Since Anthony gave it to her, you should not fault her for it,” I explained.
She pushed me aside and fumed, “My grandpa may be senile, but I am not. First of all, Anthony will never be her man. It is okay for that bracelet to go to Anthony’s wife but not her. That would be an insult to my grandma. Secondly, my grandpa meant that as a gift for Anthony’s wife, meaning you. She is a fake and that means she misled my grandpa. I cannot forgive her for that.”
She angrily stormed up to Anthony and Rachel and taunted her. “Ms. Zimmer, that bracelet looks good, right?”
Rachel was alarmed when she saw the knife in Nora’s hand. She stumbled backward and nearly dropped the plate of fruit in her hand.
“Ms. Oberick, what are you doing?” Her face regained some color as she stood close to Anthony, feeling more secured.
“Give it back to me!” she demanded, barely hiding her anger.
“What do you want?” Rachel was puzzled. She had no idea what Nora was referring to.
“The bracelet!” Nora hollered. “Do you think any Tom, Dick and Harry can take my grandma’s bracelet? How shameless can you be? The old man was confused and you took the opportunity to con him of that bracelet? Ms. Zimmer, show some grace.”
The commotion attracted the rest, and Tabitha came running over. “What’s wrong?” she probed.
“Why are you holding a knife? That is dangerous. Chill and talk calmly!” Laurel tried to remove the knife from Nora, but she managed to jerk away.
Nora glared around and snapped, “Go back to what you were doing. This is between her and me. Stay out of it.”
No one knew what was happening. They could only look on, worried.
Rachel regained her composure. She knew that with so many people around, Nora would not be able to hurt her.
“Ms. Nora Oberick, is there a reason for you to kick up such a big fuss? Indeed, this bracelet is a gift from your grandpa. Mr. Featherstone and Ms. Stanhope were both present and they witnessed your grandpa gave it to me. How did you get the idea I conned him? Does the Oberick family always give something then turn around, and demand it back? What would happen to the reputation of A City’s famous Oberick family if words got out about what happened today?” Rachel challenged, emboldened by the crowd that gathered.
“How disgusting! My grandpa gave this to Mrs. Featherstone. Who are you to take my grandma’s bracelet?” Nora had always been straightforward and will shoot off her mouth when she is mad.
“It’s you, Sienna Stanhope, isn’t it?” Rachel turned her attention on me and jeered, “You are really beyond my comprehension. On one hand, you chased him away. On the other hand, you are still out to milk him. Are you jealous I got the bracelet and wanted it for yourself, so you instigate someone else to get it for you? Sienna Stanhope, if you want it, come get it yourself, and quit hiding cowardly behind others. One word from Anthony, and I will hand it to you. You don’t have to resort to such underhanded means.”
That was ludicrous. When I saw Rachel trying to remove her bracelet, I stopped her. I darted a quick look at Anthony. He stood there like a bystander, so I turned back to Rachel to clarify. “You are mistaken. I did not instigate Nora to get the bracelet from you. First and foremost, it is because Anthony and I are not related anymore, so what he does with the bracelet is none of my business. Secondly, the reason Nora objects to you having the bracelet is that you are a disgrace.”
“You…” She was aghast at what I said. “Mr. Featherstone, I’ll give this bracelet back to you. I will never accept this ever again,” She woefully looked at Anthony and quavered, as she removed the bracelet and shove it into Anthony’s hand.
Anthony had not uttered a word. He just stared at me coldly. When Rachel turned to walk away, he grabbed her arm, surprising her.
His action stunned Nora too. She actually did not care who had the bracelet. She was just annoyed with Rachel’s attitude, which was why she frowned when Anthony held Rachel back.
The crowd which gathered around was perplexed, but I could anticipate Anthony’s next move.
He held on to Rachel, but his gaze was on me, cold and with disappointment.
“Ms. Featherstone…” Rachel looked at him in bewilderment. The woeful look in her eyes could melt most hearts.
“This is yours, so wear it,” Anthony indulgently insisted in his deep, mellow voice. He put the bracelet on Rachel’s wrist, held on to her hand, and spoke tenderly, “This is a gift for you, so it’s yours. You don’t have to remove it if you don’t wish to.”
Rachel was caught off-guard by Anthony’s loving behavior. Her anger dissipated immediately, and she blushed girlishly. She was overjoyed.
“Anthony Featherstone, you…” Nora was speechless with anger.
Armond, who had been quietly setting up the grill, walked over and pulled her away. “Don’t you want to watch the stars tonight? If you delay any further and it starts to rain, then all you get to watch will be cloud and lightning.” He took the knife from her and handed it to me. “Solve your own problem,” he solemnly uttered.
Me? What?
I looked around and felt everyone seemed to think I instigated Nora to create this scene. I wanted to defend myself, but on second thought, I kept my peace. I will only come across as being guilty if I try to defend myself.
I looked at Anthony blankly. Rachel arrogantly gave me the eye, showing off her bracelet triumphantly.
I pursed my lips, kept quiet, and went back to cut the remaining vegetables.
Everyone also resumed what they were doing. with the earlier incident weighing on their mind.
Laurel finished washing her vegetables and brought them to me. “Sienna, did you not told us you are married? How did you get into this entanglement with Mr. Featherstone?” she whispered.
She stole a glance at Armond and Nora. “Also, I always thought Armond was interested in you. When did he become so close to Nora? What has happened?” she probed.
Her curiosity amused me. “You bombarded me with so many questions. Which am I supposed to answer first?” I jested.
She thought about it and decided, “First, tell me, what is your relationship with Anthony Featherstone?”
“Yes! Yes! I noticed the way he gazed at you was different. Don’t tell me you were once lovers!” Tabitha poked her head over for gossips.
Indeed, women can never resist juicy gossips.
“Lover, my foot. She is his legitimate wife. That man has been bewitched!” Nora joined us, still fuming with anger.
“What? You are Anthony Featherstone’s wife?” the two girls exclaimed, wide-eyed.
“Ex-wife. We are divorced.” I stopped whatever I was doing and corrected them. I was worried more misunderstandings will arise if I don’t.
“B*llsh*t. You initiated the divorce, but Anthony has not agreed to it yet,” Nora countered.
“So, how are you related now? And what is with Ms. Zimmer?” Tabitha grimaced.
“That’s right, the three of you have such complex relationships. How awkward for an ex-wife to meet up with the current girlfriend. At first, I thought they were a couple, so sharing a tent seems normal.
Sienna, you must be so ill at ease with them spending the night together,” Laurel added.
“Not to worry, I am not bothered. It is actually quite nice to see them together,” I replied, unconcerned.
“My gosh! You drove away such a catch! Are you out of your mind, Sienna?”
“I agree!”
Tabitha and Laurel chipped in animatedly, and they seemed astounded.
“You would be the ones out of your mind if you decide to continue with this gossip. It may start to rain and this beautiful starry night will turn into a cold rainy night instead,” I interrupted them.
“Don’t worry, I checked the weather forecast. No rain expected,” Nora declared confidently.
“Well, you never know. These are ready. Start grilling them.” I thrust the cut potatoes and vegetables into her hands and hurried her on.
Tabitha was called away by her fiancé. Laurel stooped next to me and continued her tattle. “I heard Anthony’s company is based in K City, so you came from K City too, right?. You have always said you lived in A City, so I thought you were from there. I’m curious, did you two break up because of Rachel?”
“Very often, a couple breaks up due to personal differences, not because of a third party.” I shook my head and continued skewering the cut potatoes.
She nodded in agreement. Her face appeared a little forlorn. “You’re right. The future is unpredictable. Back then, I married him with so much joy and anticipation. Never had I expected that every single day of my married life would be like hell to me. I can’t even run away.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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