The next day at noon, Jessica messaged me. [Have you packed your bags? I bought a 3 PM flight; I'll pick you up soon.]
I replied with [Okay.]
Then I opened the safe deposit box, intending to take the jade pendant my parents had left me for protection. But the safe was empty; the pendant was nowhere to be seen.
A sense of foreboding washed over me and I rushed downstairs. I saw Ludwig wearing an apron, cooking for Whitney in the kitchen. Whitney was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, watching TV, the jade pendant around her neck.
I strode up to her and said coldly, "Give me back my jade pendant."
Whitney frowned and clutched the pendant tightly, "This was a gift from Ludwig. It is meant to protect me. I can't give it to you."
I sneered, "This is something my parents left me. Why should he give it to you?"
Hearing the commotion, Ludwig came over. Seeing Whitney and me arguing over the jade pendant, a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes.
Then he tried to reassure me, "Whitney is going to a very far place for training next month. I was a little worried about her being alone, so I lent her the jade pendant. Don't worry, I'll return it to you when she gets back."