Chapter 9 - The Night Everyone Saw the Emerald|
Thursday arrived.
October 15.
The night that had ended my freedom in my first life.
I remembered everything.
The crystal chandeliers.
The champagne.
The photographers.
The moment Colin fastened the emerald around my neck.
And the police officers who waited for me in a hotel corridor.
This time, I wore a simple navy-blue gown.
No emeralds.
No borrowed diamonds.
Nothing that belonged to anyone else.
Colin examined me as I came downstairs.
“Where's your green dress?”
“In the closet.”
“I thought you were wearing it.”
“I changed my mind.”
His eyes moved to my throat.
“Where's the necklace?”
I smiled.
“Tessa has it.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
“June, please.”
“Please what?”
“Don't make a scene tonight.”
I laughed softly.
“Why would I?”
At seven thirty, we entered the grand ballroom of the Whitmore Hotel.
More than two hundred guests filled the room.
Bankers.
Politicians.
Hospital executives.
Wealthy donors.
And at the center of everything stood Marlene Shaw.
She wore a black evening gown and looked as regal as a queen preparing for war.
Our eyes met.
She gave the smallest nod.
I returned it.
Then Tessa arrived.
She wore a fitted emerald-green dress.
Her blonde hair fell over one shoulder.
And around her throat glittered Marlene Shaw's antique necklace.
Colin's face turned pale.
Tessa smiled brilliantly.
“Surprise!”
I clasped my hands.
“Oh, Tessa. You look incredible!”
She turned toward a nearby photographer.
“Make sure you get my good side!”
The camera flashed.
Then another.
And another.
I watched Colin scanning the room.
His gaze found Roland Shaw standing near the head table.
Roland was sixty-four, distinguished, with silver hair and a cold smile.
The two men exchanged a look.
A silent warning.
Then Marlene approached.
She stopped directly in front of Tessa.
Her gaze settled on the emerald.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Tessa smiled nervously.
“Mrs. Shaw. Lovely to see you.”
Marlene lifted her chin.
“That's an extraordinary necklace.”
Tessa beamed.
“Thank you!”
“Where did you get it?”
“June lent it to me.”
Marlene turned toward me.
“June?”
I stepped forward.
“Yes, Mrs. Shaw?”
“Where did you get the necklace?”
Every conversation around us seemed to fade.
I looked at Colin.
He wasn't breathing normally.
“My husband gave it to me for our anniversary.”
Marlene slowly turned toward him.
“Colin?”
His face drained of color.
Then she spoke clearly enough for the surrounding guests to hear.
“That's interesting.”
She pointed toward the emerald.
“Because that necklace belongs to me.”
Tessa froze.
The photographer lowered his camera.
Marlene continued:
“And it has never been legally released from the collateral vault.”
Silence filled the ballroom.
Then Tessa whispered:
“Colin?”
May you like
My husband's confident smile disappeared.
And for the first time, he had nowhere to hide.
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