“If Mr. Kasprak can’t afford it, then I’ll have to switch to another store,” Elisa said as she walked in, carefully examining the jewelry store’s interior. There’s no way they couldn’t come up with even a million dollars.
“I believe there’s another store that can afford this nearly four million necklace, such as James Jewelries around the corner.”
James Jewelries was Mr. Kasprak’s competitor, and as soon as he heard that, he was about to say something, but the woman in front of him suddenly stood up.
“Leaving aside the fact that a four-million-dollar necklace as the flagship product will attract more customers, even if you sell it in the city for four or five million, you’d still make a net profit of three million. Three million could renovate your store, couldn’t it?” Elisa said nonchalantly as she walked out. The more nonchalant she appeared, the more anxious Mr. Kasprak became, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
“Miss Powell, please wait…”
Elisa paused, flicked her eyes, and looked at him, holding back her smile.
“I’ll buy it for a million.”
“Deal.” She smirked, her stern features softening slightly.
A million transferred, and she also needed to sign a contract. Elisa gripped the pen and awkwardly scrawled her name.
Mr. Kasprak looked at her hand and then at the bracelet on her left wrist.
“This bracelet of yours must also be worth quite a bit, isn’t it? Its craftsmanship is much finer than that emerald and diamond necklace.”
Elisa finished signing and put down the pen, extending her wrist for Mr. Kasprak to examine.
The locked bracelet was something Hamish had put on her on her birthday, and she hadn’t taken it off since.
What she once adored now disgusted her, but the bracelet had become a shackle.
The things Hamish gave her were all in the five-figure range at the least, not to mention this meaningful birthday gift.
“Could you help me take it off?” Elisa asked.
“You can’t take it off?”
“I’ve tried every method, but nothing works.”
Mr. Kasprak, curious, said, “Let me try. Xiao Wu, bring the toolbox over.”
The bracelet was quite tight, and using a saw would risk hurting Elisa’s hand, so they initially tried the method used for removing jade bracelets, with the use of lubricant.
Even after the skin on her hand turned red, they still couldn’t get it off. Using pliers to cut it, Mr. Kasprak exerted all his strength, but there wasn’t a scratch on the chain.
“What material is this made of?” he asked softly.
Elisa murmured, “I have no idea.”
“How did you put it on in the first place?”
Elisa touched the small lock on top. “Once you open this lock, the chain loosens.”
Mr. Kasprak examined it closely, thinking the lock was merely decorative, but it turned out to be the mechanism that secured the bracelet on her wrist.
“It seems only a key can unlock it.”
“I’ve lost the key. Is there any other way?”
“There is,” Mr. Kasprak said seriously, “amputation.”
Elisa glared coldly at him.
“Just kidding,” Mr. Kasprak said awkwardly, laughing. “I’ve tried so many methods, and you’ve seen that none of them work. If you want to unlock it, you’ll need the key. If it’s lost, you’ll have to get a new one made, or contact the manufacturer.”
Forget it, if she dared to look for it, she would have done so long ago.
She would just have to wear it. Besides feeling a bit stifled, she didn’t experience any discomfort, and fortunately, Hamish hadn’t installed a tracker in it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to escape no matter where she went.
…
Elisa borrowed the homeowner’s bank card as she didn’t have one. Upon receiving the million, she withdrew fifty thousand and stashed it in her bag.
Elisa went to the bus station, caught a ride back to town, and shortly after arriving home, she heard a knock at the door.
Elisa figured it was the homeowner at this time.
Sure enough, when she opened the door, it was the homeowner, who immediately asked, “Did you sell that necklace in the county today?”
“Yeah.”
The homeowner looked understanding. “I thought so. I received a sudden message about a million being deposited into the bank card I loaned you, and it startled me.”
“I should have told you beforehand. It’s my fault.”
“What’s right or wrong? You should get your own card. I don’t mind, but it’s more convenient for you to have your own.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Seeing her nod obediently, the homeowner couldn’t help but chuckle. “I don’t know whether to say you’re naive or just generous. That’s a million we’re talking about. Aren’t you afraid I might take it?”
“I’m not afraid. Trust begets trust. You’re my sister, who else can I trust if not you?”
Hearing Elisa’s words, the homeowner’s heart eased, and she resolved to be even kinder to Elisa in the future.
“Have you eaten? Come over to my place for dinner tonight.”
“No, I already ate in the county.”
“I see.” The homeowner’s disappointment showed.
“Constance, thank you for always helping me.”
“What did I do? I just sent a few pictures when you were selling the jewelry. I’d say you sold the necklace at a loss. 3. 5 million for just 1 million.”
“It’s already good enough. It’s the price I had in mind.” After all, in the county, a million dollars could build three houses in the countryside.
The jewelry store she visited had already offered the highest price of a million dollars. Any higher and they probably wouldn’t have bought it.
The two chatted in the room for a while, until the homeowner’s son came downstairs to call her up for dinner, and the homeowner slowly left.
Elisa went into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and steamed herself an egg custard. She hadn’t eaten yet, but she lied to the homeowner about having eaten in the county to avoid inconveniencing her.
She wasn’t that good at socializing, had a reserved nature, and didn’t like to cater to others. She preferred to minimize trouble whenever possible.
The homeowner was very kind to her, and she was grateful, but she was mostly exploiting the kindness of others.
After finishing the custard, Elisa rested for half an hour before going to freshen up. She hadn’t walked such a long distance in a while, and her legs were sore. She soaked them in hot water for a while to feel better. Elisa’s health wasn’t great to begin with, and now, being pregnant, she was even more nutritionally deficient.
She hadn’t thought much of it before, but now, sleeping one night, she suddenly had a cramp and realized how serious it was.
That step of selling the necklace was undoubtedly risky. The jewelry Hamish gave her was all limited edition. If he traced it, he could very well find her.
Maybe she was just too nervous. She thought about how her belly was growing, and she feared she wouldn’t have time to deal with these things once the baby was born.
Since selling the necklace, Elisa had been on edge every day, a taut string always present in her mind. She couldn’t pluck it out, and she couldn’t cut it.
The baby in her belly was growing day by day, and if she kept her nerves on edge, the baby wouldn’t bear it.
Her life had already been turned upside down, and she had just started to adapt to this new life. She couldn’t let herself be overwhelmed by these inexplicable anxieties. She had to live on.
…
Elisa’s stomach problems had been getting increasingly severe. She was too afraid to go to a major hospital for a check-up. Watching her medication diminish, she bought more stomach medicine from the pharmacy, but it proved to be ineffective. With a baby on the way, she dared not take any risks and endured the pain when it struck.
However, not all pain can be endured. One night, she was writhing in bed, unable to rise as the stomach pain made her vomit blood. She curled up, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth, trickling down her face, emitting a pungent, metallic odor.
Her baby hadn’t started kicking yet, but Elisa felt a mild ache in her abdomen. Anxiously, she placed her hands on her belly and, with a trembling voice, tried to console, “Baby… be good, just endure a little more… bear with it, and the pain will go away…”
She wasn’t sure if she was comforting the fetus in her womb or herself.
Thankfully, the baby was healthy, and there were no signs of a miscarriage, at least for now. But that was only for the present. She dreaded what would happen once she finished her medication.
She didn’t dare to entertain those thoughts.
In the pitch-black of night, fear consumed her. Tears streamed down Elisa’s cheeks. Pregnant women are inherently sensitive, and with her intense stomach pain and the baby so small inside her, a moment of panic overwhelmed her emotions.
She was truly afraid that something might happen to her baby.
Her only hope rested in the child. If anything were to happen to the baby, Elisa didn’t know how she would continue living.
……
In a flash, she had been here for 75 days. Despite her substantial savings, she took various supplements daily. However, no matter what she ate, her body remained emaciated, as if a gust of wind could make her vanish.
Her body grew thinner each passing day, except for her expanding belly. Walking a few steps left her breathless. She avoided exposure to the elements, fearing she might collapse in the street with no one to help her.
Seeing her frail condition, the landlord urged her to go to the hospital for a check-up.
Elisa had neither the strength nor the courage to go. She simply brushed it off, saying it was just a typical reaction to pregnancy.
“You must be almost four months along, right?” the landlord asked.
Elisa nodded, mentally calculating. “Probably another two weeks, then I’ll be four months.”
“At four months, the baby is already formed. You should go to the hospital for a comprehensive ultrasound.”
“Can it be done in town?”
“It can, but I feel their equipment isn’t the best. I think it’s better to go to the county center; we can’t be careless about prenatal check-ups.”
Elisa felt nervous, fearing that the results might reveal an unhealthy baby.
Seeing her concern, the landlord squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
“Okay.” To receive genuine care from someone in this unfamiliar place felt like a tremendous blessing to her.
Elisa reminded herself not to overthink things, to relax and nurture her pregnancy, and to live a simple and peaceful life.
She thought life would continue on smoothly until she received a message on Facebook.
The sender’s name was-Finn!