Chapter 4 - The Necklace That Was Never Mine
Our fifth wedding anniversary fell nine days after Grace's funeral.
I had forgotten the date.
Alexander hadn't.
At 8:17 that morning, he entered the kitchen holding a small velvet box. His eyes were red, and his beard had grown unevenly along his jaw.
“I know this won't make things better,” he said, placing the box on the table. “But I want you to know that I haven't forgotten you.”
I looked at the box without touching it.
“What is it?”
“Something I bought a while ago.”
That answer was almost funny.
For years, Alexander had remembered birthdays when his assistants reminded him, anniversaries when restaurants sent confirmation emails, and holidays when his mother demanded his attendance.
I opened the box.
Inside lay a diamond necklace, delicate and beautiful, set in white gold.
“It's lovely,” I said.
He sat beside me.
“I meant to give it to you weeks ago.”
“Why didn't you?”
He hesitated.
“I didn't want it to feel like another obligation.”
I closed the lid.
“Thank you.”
His shoulders relaxed as though I had just granted him forgiveness.
“There's an anniversary dinner at my mother's house tonight. You should come.”
“Why?”
“Because we're married, Emily.”
I looked at him.
“Are we?”
His expression tightened.
“Please don't start this again.”
I didn't argue.
I went upstairs, packed the necklace into my handbag, and dressed for dinner.
Eleanor's dining room was crowded when we arrived. Madison stood beside the fireplace, talking to two cousins. Several executives Alexander knew from business were already seated around the table.
And Olivia was there.
She wore an elegant black dress.
Around her neck was a diamond necklace identical to the one in my handbag.
For a moment, I wondered whether I was mistaken.
Then Olivia touched the pendant and smiled at me.
“Emily! I was hoping you'd come.”
I took the chair opposite her.
“Happy birthday,” I said.
“Thank you.” She tilted her head, allowing the diamonds to catch the light. “Isn't this necklace beautiful? I found it in Alexander's car a few weeks ago. I thought it was meant for me.”
Madison stopped talking.
Eleanor suddenly became interested in her wineglass.
Alexander looked as though someone had pulled the floor out from under him.
“Olivia,” he said sharply, “we discussed this.”
She widened her eyes.
“You never told me it was for Emily.”
I reached into my handbag and placed my own velvet box on the table.
Everyone stared.
“I believe this is the other half of the misunderstanding.”
Alexander closed his eyes.
“Emily, I can explain.”
“There's no need.”
“I bought yours first. Olivia found the other necklace in my car because I was carrying both boxes. I'll replace it.”
“Replace what?”
“Your necklace.”
I pushed the box toward him.
“Keep it. Or give it to Olivia. She seems to enjoy wearing things that were intended for someone else.”
“Emily,” Eleanor warned.
I turned to her.
“Did you know?”
She folded her hands.
“Alexander is under extraordinary pressure. You should be more considerate.”
“Considerate.”
I repeated the word slowly.
“My daughter was buried nine days ago.”
The room fell silent.
“And tonight, at our anniversary dinner, I'm being told to be considerate because my husband can't remember which woman he bought a necklace for.”
Olivia looked down.
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“That's enough.”
I nodded.
“Yes. It is.”
I stood and walked toward the dining room doors.
Madison followed me into the hallway.
“Emily, wait.”
I stopped.
She glanced toward the dining room before lowering her voice.
“There's something you should know. Olivia has been attending Alexander's private business dinners for months.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“Not all of them. But whenever he has an event with important clients, she's often there. Mom says Olivia understands his world.”
“And I'm not allowed to understand it?”
Madison's face reddened.
“I didn't say that.”
“No. You simply watched while everyone made certain I never belonged.”
She swallowed.
“I thought you knew.”
I felt something inside me settle into place.
For five years, Alexander had claimed his business dinners were unsuitable for wives. He'd told me that the conversations were too complicated, the schedules too unpredictable, and the clients too demanding.
Whenever I offered to accompany him, he smiled and kissed my forehead.
You wouldn't enjoy it, sweetheart.
I had believed him.
Meanwhile, Olivia had been sitting beside him, wearing my husband's attention like a second necklace.
I returned to the dining room.
Alexander rose immediately.
“Emily, let's go home and talk.”
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then I said the words I'd been rehearsing since the funeral.
“Alexander, I sincerely hope you and Olivia find happiness together.”
His face went pale.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I'm giving you something you've always seemed to want.”
“What?”
“Freedom.”
I collected my handbag.
He moved toward me, but his mother caught his arm.
“Let her calm down,” Eleanor whispered.
Alexander hesitated.
For one last second, he looked at me as though he expected me to turn around, apologize, and return to my seat.
I didn't.
I walked out of the house.
Outside, the evening air was cold enough to sting my cheeks. I stood beside my car and finally allowed myself one long, shaking breath.
My phone rang before I could open the door.
It was Margaret Reed.
“Emily, I need to tell you something about the Toronto position,” she said. “The board has accelerated the schedule. If you're still accepting, we need you here immediately.”
I looked back at Eleanor's illuminated windows.
May you like
“Yes,” I replied. “I'm coming.”
And this time, nobody was going to persuade me to stay.
