“The hospital kept demanding payment, but I couldn’t reach anyone.”
“What?” Mitchell frowned, but before he could say more, Maggie walked over.
“Nora, come inside. Are you feeling better? Do you need money for the payment? Let me transfer it to you.”
“I’ll handle it,” Mitchell said, sending me a transfer of 15 thousand dollars.
“Is that enough?”
–
I nodded, ready to head out and redeem my necklace.
“Where are you going now?”
“My necklace. I pawned it at the hospital.”
Before I could leave, Maggie stopped me.
“It looks like it’s going to rain. You just got out of the hospital, so you shouldn’t run around. Let the driver handle it.”
I didn’t want to agree, but Mitchell’s stare made it clear—if I refused Maggie’s suggestion, he’d be furious.
The driver was gone for a long time but came back empty-handed. The nurse said the necklace was missing.
I immediately rushed over to the hospital.
“How could it be gone? How could it just disappear? It’s only been two hours! I told you I’d bring the money to get it back!”
“Well, there are so many people coming and going in the hospital. We don’t know what happened. At least you don’t have to pay for the treatment.”
I grabbed the nurse, pleading and demanding an explanation.
“Enough! Stop embarrassing yourself! Mom gave you that necklace, and you handed it over so carelessly! Now it’s gone—who’s to blame for that?”
Mitchell pulled me away, apologized to the nurse, and dragged me out of the hospital.
“I’ll ask someone to look for it. Stop causing a scene. Why are you yelling in public? Do you have no shame?”
His harsh words left me speechless.
–
I locked myself in my room that night, unable to sleep.
For some reason, the loss of that necklace left me terrified and restless.
It was one of the few things in my life that truly belonged to me, and yet, I couldn’t keep it safe.
That night, I dreamt of my mother. She stroked my face, her smile so gentle, her eyes full of pain.
“My darling, why have you become so thin? Has Mitchell not been taking care of you?”
I held back my tears and hugged her, crying uncontrollably.
“Who’s been bullying you? Should I teach them a lesson? Was it Mitchell?”
“No, Mom. Mitchell treats me well.” I couldn’t stop the tears. “Mom, I miss you so much. I’m so tired. I lost the necklace you gave me. I’m so useless.”
The next day, I stayed in my room all day, not wanting to see anyone.
Mitchell didn’t come to check on me, but Maggie did.
When I saw her, I tried to close the door, but she raised her chin, revealing the necklace I’d lost.
“How did you get that?”
While I was stunned, she pushed the door open and walked in.
–
“Give me back my necklace!”
“Why should I? Mitchell already gave it to me. He said you don’t deserve to wear it, that only I can.”
