Chapter 2

At three in the morning, I finally dialed my family’s number.

My father’s anger was just as I expected. When he heard I wanted to come home, he exploded. “That bastard! Did he hurt you? If he so much as laid a finger on you—”

Sophia, disturbed by his voice, whimpered in her sleep. “Mommy… Daddy…”

Suddenly, there was silence on the other end.

“Who was that?” My father’s tone changed, a hint of disbelief and hope breaking through.

“It’s… it’s Sophia.” I turned to look at the small figure on the bed. “My daughter. She’s six.”

“A daughter? Maria, come here!” I heard him shouting for my mother. “Elena has a daughter! We have a granddaughter!”

He insisted I bring Sophia home for Christmas right away, but I asked for two more days—so my daughter could have one last Christmas with Marco.

He didn’t agree at first, but when I told him we could spend many Christmases together in the future, while Sophia would only have this one with her father, he reluctantly gave in.

After hanging up, I returned to Sophia’s side and gently stroked her cheek.

The next morning, the doorbell broke the quiet of the house.

“Grandma!” Sophia ran to the door, her voice bursting with joy.

Marco’s mother, Grace, stepped inside, arms full of bags, looking like she planned to stay for a while.

“Sophia.” Grace nodded coolly.

She never liked me or Sophia. To her, I was always the foreign woman who seduced her son, and Sophia was just the result of that mistake.

Sophia tried to make conversation, but Grace’s replies were always curt and cold.

It wasn’t until dinner approached that Grace’s expression finally softened.

“We’re expecting guests tonight.”

Not long after, the doorbell rang again.

I opened the door to see Marco standing there with Claudia.

Claudia wore a deep red evening gown, elegant and commanding, nothing like a widow in mourning.

“Good evening.” She smiled, her gaze calm as it swept over me. “I hope we’re not intruding.”

I looked straight at Marco, but he avoided my eyes.

I stepped aside to let them in.

Claudia absently rested a hand on her stomach.

Grace noticed. “Claudia, you look wonderful lately.”

“Thank you,” Claudia replied with a soft smile. “Maybe it’s because of some good news. The doctor says I’m pregnant.”

Marco’s eyes lit up with surprise.

Grace’s smile was open and unrestrained. “That’s wonderful! Now you and Marco can get engaged—”

“Mom.” Marco cut her off, glancing at me, uneasy.

“Am I going to have a little brother or sister?” Sophia asked innocently.

Claudia finally noticed her. “And who is this young lady?”

“Oh, that’s Sophia,” Grace said quickly. “She’s a child Marco adopted. Elena looks after her.”

“I’m not adopted!” Sophia shot to her feet, her voice trembling with anger. “I have a mom! I have a dad!”

She pointed at me, then turned to Marco. “Mommy! Daddy! Tell them!”

All eyes turned to Marco.

I watched him, waiting.

He lowered his head, refusing to meet Sophia’s hopeful gaze—or mine.

Sophia’s face shifted from anger to confusion, then disbelief.

Her lips trembled, her eyes wide and shining with tears, as if she couldn’t believe her beloved father would do this to her.

“Daddy?” Her voice was barely a whisper, clinging to one last hope.

When Marco stayed silent, Sophia finally broke down, tears spilling over.

My heart shattered for her.

She was experiencing her first taste of rejection from her father.

“Come here, sweetheart.” I stood and gathered the sobbing Sophia into my arms. “Let’s go upstairs.”

“Mommy…” she hiccuped, burying her face in my shoulder.

“It’s okay.” I patted her back gently. “You’ll just have to start getting used to life without a dad.”

I turned to leave the dining room, holding my daughter close.

As we climbed the stairs, I heard Claudia’s voice drift up behind us. “Marco, isn’t there some special necklace in your family that only goes to the heir’s wife? I think it’s time you gave it to me?”

Grace’s eyes flickered. She called after me, “Elena, bring the necklace down for Claudia, will you?”

I stopped and turned slowly.

The necklace was resting quietly against my skin, hidden beneath my collar.

“Marco.” I looked at him. “Are you sure about this?”

He’d placed it around my neck himself nine years ago.

That day, he’d sworn to love me forever and handed me his family’s heirloom, saying only the true woman of the house could wear it.

For that promise, I’d given up everything, run away with him, and hidden my identity.

All these years, the only reasons I stayed were Sophia—and the necklace.

Marco finally looked up, but couldn’t meet my eyes. “It’s… it’s just a necklace.”

I gazed at him, then finally smiled. “You’re right. It’s just a necklace.”

With one hand, I unfastened my collar and unclasped the necklace that had been with me for nine years.

The sapphire glinted coldly under the lights. I looked at it one last time, then let it slip from my fingers.

It hit the floor with a sharp, clear sound.

“Since it’s just a necklace, then let the person who really needs it have it.”

Marco’s face went pale, his mouth opening as if to speak, but no words came out.

I didn’t look at him again. I just held my daughter tighter and walked away.