"Madam, Ms. Henson is here. She's waiting for you in the living room." Jessica's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I walked downstairs to find Sarah sitting in her wheelchair, a beautifully wrapped box in her lap.
"Jasmine." Seeing me, she flashed a sugary smile. "Yesterday was my fault."
"I made these cookies myself. Will you try them?"
I looked at her coldly.
"What do you want?"
Her smile faltered for a second before she recovered.
"My brother went to the neighboring city for a meeting. He won't be back until this evening."
"He was afraid you'd be bored, so he asked me to keep you company."
She placed the cookies on the table and, as if by accident, added, "Oh, right. Jasmine, that bracelet you wore yesterday was stunning. What brand was it?"
I glanced down at my wrist.
Empty.
It was the first gift Simon had ever given me. I never took it off.
Last night, in my distress, I must have left it on the bathroom sink.
Panic flared in my chest. I turned and ran back upstairs.
But the sink was bare, save for my skincare bottles.
The bracelet was gone.
I rushed back down, my gaze locking onto Sarah.
"Where is my bracelet?"
Sarah looked the picture of innocence.
"What bracelet? Jasmine, I don't know what you're talking about."
"When I arrived, Jessica was cleaning the guest room. You should ask her."
I turned to Jessica.
The housekeeper looked flustered. "Madam, I... I didn't see any bracelet."
I was shaking with rage.
There were only three people in this villa.
If it wasn't the maid, who else could it be?
Seeing the storm brewing in my eyes, Sarah said timidly, "Jasmine, don't be angry. Maybe you remembered wrong?"
"Or... maybe it fell somewhere?"
"Is it that important to you?"
"Hand it over."
The color drained from Sarah's face instantly.
"Jasmine... I'm sorry, I really didn't take it..."
Her eyes reddened on cue, big, heavy tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I... I'll help you look! I'll help you find it!"
She began to laboriously turn her wheelchair, craning her neck to look under the sofa and into the crevices of the cabinets.
Her performance was flawless—the pitiful, disabled girl trying to appease the unreasonable villain.
Jessica couldn't stand it. She stepped forward to mediate.
"Madam, please don't be anxious. It must have fallen somewhere."
"Ms. Henson isn't well. Please don't scare her."
Watching the two of them perform this synchronized routine made my stomach turn.
"Get out."
I pointed a trembling finger at Sarah.
"Take your things and get out of my house."
Sarah recoiled, staring at me blankly as her tears flowed harder.
Jessica hurried to push the wheelchair toward the door.
"Ms. Henson, you should go back first. Madam is in a bad mood today."
At the doorway, Sarah turned back, her voice choked with sobs.
"Jasmine, please don't be angry. When I get home, I'll make my brother buy you an exact replacement!"
"No—make him buy ten!"
A cold, sharp laugh escaped my lips.
She always knew exactly where to stick the knife.
After she left, I called Simon.
The phone rang for a long time before he answered. The background was noisy.
"Hello? Jasmine? I'm in a meeting. What is it?"
"Sarah took my bracelet. Tell her to return it." I didn't waste time with pleasantries.
Simon's voice dropped, icy and dangerous.
