Chapter 5

Anya POV

The next morning, I woke up to excruciating pain. My right arm was violently grabbed, and I was roughly pulled up.

My vision blurred from the pain, and then I was shoved hard against the headboard.

"Anya, you truly never cease to amaze me."

Jacob's face was grim, and behind him stood Celeste, eyes red-rimmed and looking utterly wronged.

"What's with this tantrum so early in the morning..."

I didn't understand.

"Hand over the item."

"What item?"

"Don't play dumb!" Jacob suddenly raised his voice.

"Celeste's blue diamond necklace, did you take it?"

I found it absurd.

"When have I ever taken her things?"

"Jacob..."

Celeste tugged at his sleeve, her voice tearful.

"Maybe she just borrowed it to wear for a couple of days... It was grandma's keepsake for me. As long as she returns it, I won't pursue the matter..."

Her words confirmed my "guilt" of stealing out of jealousy.

"I didn't steal it! I don't care for her things!"

"Yesterday during the move, you were the only one who touched that box!"

Jacob's eyes were sharp.

Turns out that black jewelry box I'd personally carried was a setup.

"The box was sealed; I didn't even open it! You can check the surveillance cameras!"

"The surveillance system was down yesterday due to a power outage during renovations." Jacob looked at me coldly.

"Did you plan this all along?"

"I didn't take it." I closed my eyes.

"Believe it or not."

"Fine." Jacob forced a laugh, clapping his hands.

Two bodyguards immediately entered.

"Since you won't hand it over, I'll find it myself."

Jacob ordered.

"Search. Turn the place upside down until you find it."

"Jacob! How dare you! This is my privacy!"

"Because I'm your husband, and because you're a suspect."

He waved his hand coldly. "Go."

One bodyguard pinned me to the bed. I struggled desperately but was easily restrained.

"Let go of me! Jacob, you bastard!"

The other bodyguard searched through everything. My purse was emptied, my phone, wallet, even personal hygiene items scattered across the floor.

Next, the bodyguard picked up the red wooden box from the bedside.

"Don't touch that!"

I shrieked hysterically.

"That's from my mom! There's only paintings inside! Jacob, I beg you!"

A flicker of hesitation crossed Jacob's eyes, but Celeste's sobbing interrupted him.

"Jacob... that was grandma's memento for me..."

"Open it."

With a "click," the wooden box was pried open by force.

The bodyguard turned the box upside down, violently emptying its contents onto the floor.

Clatter.

A few old paintbrushes, yellowed manuscript notebooks, fragments of unfinished paintings tumbled out. Several fragile thin papers shattered the moment they hit the floor.

I stopped struggling.

I stared blankly as my mother's last traces in this world were being trampled and searched through.

"Mr. Thorne, nothing," the bodyguard reported.

The room was dead silent.

"Anya, where did you hide it?"

His expression was grim.

I didn't answer.

I slowly crawled off the bed, knelt on the floor, and began picking up the shattered manuscripts, piece by piece.