Esther, with tears streaming down her face, said in a trembling voice, “Shirley, I know you’re proud, and I get that everyone has their secrets, but… But wasn’t Joel your boyfriend? Why couldn’t you just tell him?”
I let out a cold laugh, knowing that explaining anything to them would be a waste of time. “Esther, did your dad, who’s worked as our family’s butler for so many years, ever tell you one thing? My dad is the most doting father you’ll ever meet. If he finds out about this, what do you think would happen?”
Esther’s face paled as she looked nervously at Joel. “It’s not like that, Joel! Shirley is probably just trying to find a way out…”
Tears started rolling down her cheeks again. “It’s fine… If it makes her feel better, let her have it.”
Joel immediately wrapped her in his arms, protective as ever. “She’s always been this shallow. Just ignore her.”
I was too tired to deal with either of them, so I squatted down and started searching the grass for the ring. That ring was worth millions, a gift from my dad to celebrate my graduation with a master’s degree from MIT, so it meant the world to me.
I didn’t know how long I searched, but behind me, Joel scoffed. “Typical of someone from a poor background, ready to fight to the death over a piece of glass.”
Without looking up, I shot back, “If you can mistake a diamond for glass, no wonder you fell for Esther.”
“You–” Joel’s face turned red with rage. “Esther’s the daughter of this mall’s owner! Aren’t you afraid of getting fired for treating her like this? I’m only trying to help you!”
Just then, something caught the light in the grass. I quickly picked it up, dusted it off, and slipped it into my purse.
I turned to find Esther standing there, hugging herself, looking fragile and about to collapse. “Shirley, if you had just said you liked it, I would’ve given it to you. No need to embarrass yourself like this.”
I walked briskly to my sports car, got in, slammed the door, and locked it in one swift move. It was my car, after all.
Seeing the two of them standing there frozen outside, I rolled down the window and sneered, “You’ve lived off me for years, and now you really think you’re in charge, don’t you?”
The “you” was directed at both Esther and Joel.
With that, I hit the gas and sped off.
The next morning, I woke to find dozens of missed calls from Joel, who had apparently spent the entire night trying to reach me. When I opened the door to leave, there he was, standing outside, fuming.
