Chapter 141: Shattered
Owen hesitated for a long while before finally turning to Yunice. “If someone gives an expensive gift, they expect something in return. Just agree to whatever Quinton asks you to do, and that way, you won’t have to return the bracelet.”
Yunice looked like she’d just heard a joke and burst out laughing. “So you think I’m going to do free labor just to give Elsie a jade bracelet? What exactly would I be getting out of that?”
Owen responded with irritation. “We’re all family: why make it so complicated? If Elsie wears your bracelet in public, anyone who asks will know you gave it to her. Wouldn’t that reflect well on you?”
Yunice clapped for him. “Thanks, Mr. Owen, for the good reputation. How about this—why don’t you just give me the Saunders Family Hospital? I’ll tell everyone about it too; that’ll make you look good, right?”
Owen’s anger flared. “Why are you being so unreasonable? You don’t understand basic decency!”
Yunice couldn’t be bothered to keep arguing. She turned her head away, drawing a clear line. “Mr. Owen, I don’t think I’m a part of your family, so don’t expect me to play along with your lovey-dovey family games.”
Owen snapped. “So you don’t acknowledge me—fine. But what, you don’t acknowledge Dad either? You cut ties with the Saunders family, and you won’t even have the right to visit his grave anymore!”
Gill looked up at the sky, trying not to laugh out loud. Will’s ashes had already been relocated by Yunice a long time ago. These idiots still thought they could use the ashes to threaten her.
Yunice shot Owen a scornful look. She didn’t say a word, but her expression made it clear she wasn’t the least bit threatened.
Owen’s brow furrowed; his fist clenched. “I’m not joking!”
Yunice didn’t even want to play along anymore. She rubbed her ears, as if they’d heard too much nonsense. “Then I guess it’s best to call the cops.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Gill picked up her phone and started dialing. Lily panicked and lunged forward, ready to pull the same old stunt. But one glare from Gill froze her in place. There was no way she could compete with someone as strong as Gill. Besides, calling the cops might stop it once, but there was no way to stop it forever.
Elsie finally cracked under the pressure. “Enough! Stop pushing them. I’ll take it off.”
Lily’s eyes turned red as she whipped around, heartbroken. “How are you going to take it off? We’ve tried so many times. If it were that easy, it’d be off by now…”
Elsie’s face was full of determination. “Even if I ruin my hand, I’ll get it off. I can’t stand watching you and Owen beg for me anymore.”
Hearing how thoughtful she was, Owen’s nose stung, and he shot Yunice a hateful look. In that moment, the contrast between the two sisters couldn’t have been clearer in his eyes. But he seemed to forget—the bracelet had belonged to Yunice in the first place. She had every right to ask for it back.
Elsie kept trying; her hands trembled from the effort, and the bracelet had already scraped her skin red and swollen. Seeing her face flush and veins pop from how hard she was trying, even Yunice had to admit—her acting was impressive.
Just as Owen was about to stop her again, Elsie suddenly cried out in pain. The jade bracelet slipped from her fingers and flew across the room.
“The bracelet!”
With a sharp crack, the jade bracelet smashed against the corner of the wall, instantly shattering into pieces. Everyone’s face went pale—except for Elsie, who wore a faint, almost imperceptible smirk. If she couldn’t have it, Yunice couldn’t either.
Owen was the first to rush toward the shattered bracelet. Gill looked at Yunice, her face drained of color. Four million dollars; there was no way they could afford to pay that back. But Yunice—maybe she was in shock—barely reacted at all as she stared at the broken jade.
The others gathered around and watched as Owen tried to piece the fragments back together with his hands. But how could a shattered bracelet magically repair itself? And even if it could be fixed, a jade bracelet like that would lose most of its value.
Owen’s expression turned grim: he had no idea how to handle the situation now. Elsie collapsed into Lily’s arms, her legs giving out. She sobbed, “Owen, it’s all my fault. I used too much force. I’ll take full responsibility for the bracelet.”
Owen knew exactly how capable Elsie really was. What is she going to use to pay for it? All he could do was turn to Yunice with a heavy gaze. Unless Yunice agreed to keep the gift, there was no way out of this mess.
Yunice saw right through him and said softly, “Even I don’t know what Quinton wants from me. How could you accept a gift like that on my behalf?” If she couldn’t handle whatever Quinton asked for, then everything would have to be returned.
Owen’s next words got stuck in his throat. He hadn’t wanted to beg Yunice. He’d never intended to take something that belonged to her. But what was done was done.
Owen closed his eyes, gritting his teeth as he came to a painful decision. “We’ll sell the house.”