2: 2
The next day, Asher Sawyer's engagement party was held at the most expensive hotel in town.
When I arrived, my father's cousin was standing at the door greeting guests.
She wore a wine-red qipao, the fake gold bracelet on her wrist and the fake gold necklace at her throat, the whole of her glowing and festive in all that gold.
When she saw me, her smile stiffened for a second, then warmed right back up.
"Elaine, you made it? Come on in and sit. Your cousin's getting engaged today, so don't go around looking sour. Be happy for once."
I glanced at her wrist. "How's it feel to wear, Nanette? Comfortable?"
She tucked her hand behind her back at once and lowered her voice. "It's a happy day. Keep your mouth shut."
I smiled and didn't call her on it.
Inside the hall, red velvet had been laid over the gift table, and the engagement gift money, red envelopes, and wedding candy were all set out in neat rows.
The host lifted his microphone, his voice booming.
"Everyone, look this way! Today the Sawyer family has prepared a solid-gold three-piece set for their future daughter-in-law, a symbol of a golden match and a rich, happy union!"
Nanette immediately slipped off the bracelet, necklace, and ring and set them on the tray with her own hands.
Applause broke out.
I sat down below the stage and watched her, unable to keep the smile off her mouth.
The bride-to-be, Antonia Matthews, wore a pale pink gown and a slightly forced smile.
Her mother wasn't smiling, though. She stared at the tray for a moment, then suddenly asked, "This gold set is for Antonia?"
Nanette nodded without hesitation. "Of course. When the Sawyers take a wife, how could we come empty-handed?"
I lifted my teacup and took a small sip.
Last time, she had turned my things into her family's face just the same.
The difference was, this time what she put on display wasn't the blessing my grandmother left me. It was the prop set I'd bought for three hundred and eighty.
Jeanette Matthews asked again, "If it's for Antonia, then write it clearly on the gift list. Purity, weight, spell it all out, so there's no arguing about it later."
Nanette's smile thinned for an instant.
Asher, standing beside her, was clearly rattled too.
But with this many relatives watching and Nanette having already talked so big, she had no choice but to brazen it out.
"Write it, of course we'll write it. Asher, come write it down."
Asher picked up the pen, bent his head, and wrote on the gift list:
【From the groom's family to the bride, one solid-gold three-piece set: dragon-and-phoenix bracelet, necklace, ring.】
Jeanette prompted mildly, "And the weight?"
Nanette said quickly, "Oh, come now, we're one family here, no need to talk like strangers. Why write it out in such detail?"
Jeanette looked at her. "It's precisely because we're one family that it should be written clearly."
The hall went quiet for two seconds.
Asher gritted his teeth and added another line:
【Approximately 198 grams.】
I nearly laughed out loud.
That prop set didn't weigh 198 grams even with the box thrown in.
Nanette, though, looked relieved and quickly waved the host on with the rest of the program.
Partway through, I went to the restroom. When I came out, Antonia was standing at the far end of the hallway, staring into space.
I walked over and handed her a note.
There was just one line on it:
【The gift list and the gold set should be tested, preferably today.】
Antonia looked up at me, surprise flickering in her eyes.
I didn't explain any further.
Whether she believed me was her choice.
But at the very least, I wanted to give this innocent girl one more chance to wake up.
After the party ended, I stopped Nanette at the door.
"Nanette, it's time to give the gold set back."
Her face darkened. "What's the rush? I still need to take it back and let the bride's side get a look at it. Nine o'clock tomorrow morning, I'll bring it to your place."
I looked at the jewelry box in her arms. "What you said on the recording yesterday was that you'd return it as is once the engagement party was over."
She held her temper down. "There are so many people here today. Are you determined to embarrass me?"
Asher came over too, his tone impatient.
"Elaine, it's just a set of jewelry. My mom said she'll return it tomorrow, so tomorrow it is. Chasing after it like this, what does that even look like?"
I smiled.
"Fine. Nine o'clock tomorrow morning."
Nanette turned and left with the jewelry box in her arms, her steps quick, as if afraid I'd change my mind.
I stood at the hotel entrance and watched her get into the car.
Last time, I had watched her carry off the real gold set just the same.
This time, I watched her leave again.
Only this time, I wasn't the least bit worried.
