The Calm After the Storm

Anna pulled away from him.

"Ms. Lawson, don't be hard on our senior.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come and bothered you..."

She spoke, and tears started to fall from her eyes. "I'll go now."

"Anna, I told you I'd take care of everything."

Walter felt a pang of heartache.

He gently wiped away Anna's tears and then turned to look at me.

Any trace of pity in his eyes had disappeared and was replaced by disdain.

"Emma, can you please stop bothering us?"

I cut him off, "Fine. We can break off the engagement, but I want my things back."

Walter looked puzzled. "What things?"

I reached up and untied the red string that was around my neck.

Hanging from it was a jade pendant.

It was a family treasure Walter's mom had given me when our engagement was arranged.

My mom had given him something even more precious.

It was an item that had once belonged to a royal palace, blessed by a respected religious figure from ancient times.

"Here's your pendant back. Now, return my bracelets to me."

Walter's expression turned icy.

His eyes fixed on the jade pendant in my hand.

I had treasured it since I was fifteen, and everyone knew it.

"Do you think everyone's as cheap as you?"

Walter grabbed the pendant. "You’re always carrying around junk. You’re too attached to it to let go."

He gave me a final icy stare. "I'll find it and give it to you. Then, we'll be square."

When I arrived home, my brother Matthias Lawson was waiting in the living room.

"Emma, there's something I need to tell you."

He handed me a pile of thick papers.

"I plan to transfer this office building to Anna and let her collect the rent.

"She's had a tough life, and now that she's with our family, it's time for her to have some good fortune."

I looked at the papers.

That building was my mother's inheritance, a piece of property her family owned.

I grabbed the paper emotionlessly and ripped it right down the middle.

"Emma!

"What's this supposed to mean?"

Matthias adjusted his glasses and frowned at me.

"I covered for you when you pushed Anna down the stairs back then.

"Giving her a whole building still can’t make up for what she went through.

"Did you forget what Mom said before she died?"

Matthias went quiet all of a sudden.

Mom had held onto his hand so tightly, making him promise to always look after me, care for me, and love me.

He was supposed to never let anyone hurt me or take what was mine.

"I didn't forget.

"But Anna is my sister too now, Emma.

"It's only fair to give her half of the love I have for you, right?

"Emma, you're just too stubborn and bossy."

Matthias let out a soft sigh. "Why can't you be more like Anna?"