“I wondered which school Freya attended and what she had learned. As for me, though not perfect, I’ve tried everything, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.”
“Oh, I almost forgot, Freya grew up in an orphanage. You must have worked really hard to get into college, right?”
Phoebe’s tone carried a clear mix of pride and mockery. “I don’t remember having any sisters. Don’t go around claiming that.”
I looked at the woman pretending to be the victim after taking all the benefits for herself. When the manager brought out my customized jewelry, I brushed past Phoebe. I hadn’t even used much strength, yet she fell to the floor with a loud cry.
Claudia stared at me, shocked. “I can’t believe your temper has only gotten worse over the past eight years. You haven’t even come home yet, and you already dare to push people. If you had returned eight years ago, would you have killed someone by now?!”
She was completely unreasonable. She kept standing in my way, talking nonstop.
“Claudia, I was adopted by another family eight years ago. I only came today to pick up my jewelry, not to look for you.”
“My parents have treated me with love, as if I were their own daughter. I have no wish to be yours.”
Claudia’s face turned completely cold. “What nonsense are you saying? Your mother is standing right here. Even if you’re joking, there should be a limit.”
Yet, a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. The daughter she hadn’t seen for eight years now felt like a stranger, as if something precious had slipped from her hands.
Seeing no one pay her attention, Phoebe slowly got up from the floor.
“Mom, maybe I shouldn’t stay at home anymore. The family isn’t mine; everything I have once belonged to Freya. It’s only right that I give it back.”
As she spoke, she began taking off her jewelry. “Here, these are yours. I just have one small request: can I still be your daughter?”
Her voice sounded heartbreakingly soft.
Claudia’s eyes were filled with visible sorrow. “Enough! Phoebe is already being so humble, what more do you want? She only wishes to stay with us as our daughter. Why can’t you accept that?”
“Even now, you still refuse to call me Mom. I’ve tried to understand you, but you still won’t show Phoebe any respect. You must have been taught poorly!”
Phoebe held on to the angry Claudia, looking heartbreakingly fragile. She offered the earrings, necklace, and ring she had just removed with both hands.
“Freya probably hasn’t seen jewelry this fine before. Any one of these costs more than you could earn in a lifetime. I’m not trying to show off how well Mom and Dad treat me, but since you’re coming home, don’t upset Mom.”
Her words hinted that I was making a scene for money. I looked down at her gifts. Jewelry like that? My brother could buy me a room full of it, there was nothing worth comparing.
I gestured for the manager to bring my order. When I opened the box, a green, hollow-carved sapphire-and-gold hairpin lay inside. I nodded in approval.
Not to mention the craftsmanship, even the imperial green sapphire had taken me several auctions to acquire, and the carving alone had used up a large portion of the stone.
Years of my savings had gone into it, but my mom deserved nothing less than perfection.
“Miss Freya, are you satisfied with the custom-made ‘Golden Sapphire Reunion’ hairpin we prepared for your mother?”
The manager smiled politely and handed me the receipt to sign.
Just as I was about to write my name, a hand suddenly grabbed the hairpin. “So, it was meant for me after all.”
Claudia’s expression softened at once, while Phoebe spoke up beside her.
