Chapter 5

Victoria was like my stepsister.

She was the orphan of my father, Robert Campbell's, deceased army comrade.

When Victoria was three, her parents died saving Robert Campbell from a landmine.

Robert felt deeply responsible, so he took on the duty of raising Victoria.

He brought Victoria to live with the Campbell family.

The Campbells weren't exceptionally wealthy, but they had more than enough to support another child.

However, Victoria found it difficult to get along with me.

So, they sent me to live with my grandmother in the countryside.

My grandmother's white jade pendant was specifically willed to me.

At the time, my mother was heartbroken over her mother's passing, clutching the pendant and weeping.

I felt sorry for her, so I gave the pendant to her.

But Eleanor had said I could always take it back whenever I wanted.

Eleanor nervously smoothed her hair.

"Sarah, why are you asking about the pendant the moment you arrive? Why don't you spend some time with everyone?"

When had I ever returned without asking about them?

But did they ever appreciate it?

The moment Victoria came back, their gaze never even strayed to me.

They were the ones who squandered my concern, not me who withheld it.

Eleanor's expression made me curious.

"Mom, where's the pendant?"

Eleanor avoided my eyes.

Victoria's clear voice chimed in.

"Sarah, are you talking about this pendant?"

Victoria pulled out the jade pendant she was wearing around her neck.

"I didn't know it was your grandmother's. I thought my godmother bought it for me."

My body trembled as I looked at Eleanor.

"Mom, that's the pendant my grandmother left me!"

Eleanor tried to explain.

But her words were cut off by Robert.

"What's yours or mine? Sarah, are you being unreasonable? It's just a pendant. Victoria wants it, and you're going to fight me for it too?"

I felt a constriction in my chest, finding it hard to breathe.

I could give up everything else.

But this was my grandmother's pendant!

My grandmother and I had depended on each other for over ten years; this pendant was the only thing she had left me!

Robert continued to press.

"Just a pendant makes you shout at your parents like this? Where's your respect for your elders?"

"Exactly," Jake Campbell chimed in from the side, "It's just a pendant, what's the big deal? Sarah, you're being too petty."

"Jake, that's enough," Eleanor tugged at Jake, then turned to me. "Your sister likes it, why don't you just let her have it?"

I looked at Daniel, who hadn't spoken yet.

Daniel seemed a little uncomfortable under my gaze.

His eyes shifted to the pendant in Victoria's hand.

He had some memory of that pendant.

The first time he met me, I was holding that very pendant.

But he owed Victoria too much.

Daniel spoke blandly, "It's just a pendant. If Victoria likes it, let her have it."

I looked at these people, feeling a profound sense of alienation.

"Just a pendant?"

I suddenly laughed.

My grandmother and I had depended on each other until I was sixteen; she was the only family I had in this life.

"That was given to me by *my grandmother*! What right does Victoria have to take it?!"

"I'm your sister!" Victoria retorted.

I shouted with all my might, "I am *not*!"

Hearing me say that, Robert's eyes widened in anger.

I didn't give him a chance to speak.

"Dad, for Victoria's sake, you sent me away, you ruined my future. Now you're going to give her my pendant too? You're the one who owed your comrade! I don't owe anyone!"

Back then, Victoria wanted to go abroad to study medicine, and I also wanted to go to college.

There was enough money for both of us to study.

But Robert, wanting Victoria to have a better life, gave her double the living expenses.

At that time, I had just passed my art school entrance exam.

But Robert told me to stop studying art.

I pleaded many times to continue my painting, but Robert remained unmoved.

Robert, stung by my words, stood up from the sofa and slapped me hard across the face.

"What are you doing!" Eleanor pulled Robert back, then walked over to me.

"Sarah, your father didn't mean it. Be generous, apologize to your father, and this will all blow over."

Eleanor always tried to play peacemaker like this.

Her constant attempts made me feel utterly helpless.

"You knew that was my grandmother's, why did you give it to Victoria!"

I grabbed Eleanor's hand, forcing her to look at me. "Mom, that was the only thing my grandmother left me! I've already given up everything else, why do you have to take the last little piece from me?"

Eleanor was at a loss for words.

Victoria spoke up from the side.

"Sarah, don't blame Mom. It's all my fault. I'll give it back to you."