Template placeholder with Chapter 400
Chapter 400:
“Where did you get that necklace you’re wearing p>
Wyatt’s sharp tone caught Pattie off guard. She snapped back after a moment, “Why is that any of your business? I got it from p>
She stopped talking as her gaze landed on the necklace on the table, identical to the one around her neck. She froze, stunned. Turning to Kamila, she asked in confusion, “Mom, why’s there another necklace just like yours p>
Before she could finish, a sharp slap struck her face.
Re𝖼о𝘮𝗆𝖾n𝗱 t𝗈 yo𝘶𝗿 𝘧𝘳𝗂e𝗇𝖽ѕ
Kamila’s blow left a stark red mark on Pattie’s cheek. Clutching her face, Pattie stared at her mother in shock.
“I’ve spoiled you rotten. How dare you swap out Mrs. Della Stewart’s necklace? Take it off now!” Kamila scolded.
Pattie’s disbelief surged at her mother’s accusation. She had just secretly taken the necklace from Kamila’s safe; how could she be blamed for switching it? She hadn’t done anything like that. Her face burned with grievance, but Kamila’s menacing glare silenced her protest.
Everyone saw Kamila as kind and gentle, but Pattie knew a darker truth. As a child, when Jewell rarely visited, Kamila would douse her in cold water. When she inevitably fell ill, Kamila’s first call wasn’t to a doctor but to Jewell. Kamila thought Pattie was too young to remember that, but the chill of those soakings lingered in her memory.
“Wyatt, I’m so sorry. She has been spoiled by me. Please don’t hold the matter against her,” Kamila said, swiftly removing the necklace from Pattie’s neck.
She offered the necklace to Wyatt, but he made no move to take it. Amelia stepped in, saying, “I’ll take it p>
As she accepted the necklace, she noted its gemstone gleamed with a vivid clarity, a faint repair mark visible on the clasp. This was indeed the real necklace.
“Did you really switch the necklace?” Wyatt asked at that moment, his eyes fixed on Pattie.
All eyes turned to Pattie. She lifted her head to look at her brother in name only. As a young girl, she had once liked Wyatt, but Kamila’s constant refrain that he had stolen everything from her had soured her feelings into resentment. After a heavy pause, Pattie nodded. “I did,” she admitted.
Amelia’s expression flickered with mixed emotions after she heard that. She had no fondness for Pattie, yet at that moment, she felt pity for her.
Without another word, Wyatt took Amelia’s hand and strode out, ignoring the others in the room. The servant who had escorted them in hurried to lead the way.
“Wait a moment!” Amelia stopped abruptly as they reached the garden outside.
The servant turned, asking politely, “Is there something wrong p>
Amelia ignored the servant and looked toward the flowerbed on her left. Despite the blazing sun, the flowers thrived, meticulously tended.
As Amelia approached the flowerbed, a flicker of alarm crossed the servant’s face. She moved to intercept, saying, “You can’t p>
“Get out of the way!” Wyatt cut in sharply.
Though unaware of Amelia’s purpose, he bristled at the servant’s attempt to block her. His steely gaze made the servant step aside instinctively.
Amelia’s ears picked up a faint sound, growing louder as she neared. She had assumed it was an injured worker, but instead, she found an elderly woman with silver hair lying among the flowers. Scattered gardening tools surrounded her, and despite the sweltering heat, she trembled.
Before Amelia could act, Wyatt swiftly scooped the woman, Vida Ford, up.
“Barrie, go get a doctor immediately,” Amelia commanded, matching Wyatt’s stride as they hurried back to the house.
The living room’s occupants stared at Wyatt and Amelia, confused about their return, until they saw Vida in Wyatt’s arms.
“What happened to her?” Jewell asked.
Wyatt, ignoring him, gently laid Vida on the sofa. Kamila, positioned behind Jewell, let a flicker of disdain cross her face before masking it with her usual composure. Amelia caught the fleeting look.
Barrie soon returned with the family doctor in tow.