He had erased the original engraving.
It now bore the name Valerie James.
In front of the cheering crowd, he solemnly fastened the clasp around her neck—stripping me of my history and handing my birthright to the woman who destroyed me.
"My little princess, congratulations. Your wish has come true."
I don't remember how I made it out of there.
My phone buzzed relentlessly—a constant, stinging reminder.
"Actually, I recognized you that day at the Starlight Club."
"You saw everything clearly, didn't you?"
"The jade pendant is mine, and Jonathan is mine. You look like a mangy dog that no one wants."
"Living such a pathetic life... why don't you just die, Big Sister? Hehe."
When I didn't respond, Valerie sent one final message:
"Big Sister, I asked Jonathan to bring you a birthday gift. Enjoy it."
I wandered the streets like a hollow shell until nightfall. When I finally returned to our rental apartment, I understood exactly what Valerie meant by her "gift."
The front door hung open.
Inside, the room had been ransacked. Debris littered the floor. Jonathan was pinned to the ground by a group of men, struggling like a dying animal.