Chapter 15 Relic from Mom
Cyril hadn’t intended to meet Sylvia initially but still decided to go, needing answers regarding Caroline. No matter what, he had to understand exactly what was happening.
Upon seeing Sylvia, he froze in surprise. She now seemed a wholly different person from the wife he knew. At home, Sylvia used to dress plainly with minimal make–up, fresh faced as she went about her day. Aside from the adoring light in her eyes towards him, she seldom behaved improperly.
Now though, divorced and on her own, everything about her exuded striking vibrance as if she had bloomed into a dazzling rose.
“You’re here. Hand me that bracelet I gifted you before.” Sylvia glanced at her watch with no interest in wasting time. She was only passing through the area on errands before needing to return to the company where she had officially started working, albeit in an extremely junior role as her brother’s assistant to learn business operations from scratch.
Hearing Sylvia’s blunt request, Cyril’s brows furrowed slightly. He had assumed they would at least exchange pleasantries but she cut right to the chase.
“You think those gifts actually meant something to me? Just got used to wearing them.” Cyril stated dismissively, roughly sliding off the bracelet to fling it onto the table where it clattered to a stop before Sylvia.
Eyeing it silently for a moment, Sylvia raised her head to face Cyril. “You’re right. Just a matter of habit and convenience, like how you grew accustomed to everything I did for you without a second thought. And conveniently forgot this was my mother’s memento when I gifted it to you.”
Carefully placing the bracelet back into its box, joy had filled Sylvia originally when she gifted it newly restored to Cyril, hopeful for their future then. But time proved certain hopes remained unfulfilled no matter one’s longing.
Worthless to Cyril perhaps but to Sylvia, it was priceless.
Cyril froze as hazy memories surfaced of Sylvia highlighting this bracelet’s origins when she first presented it to him. While financially worthless, its emotional value to her was
inestimable as her sole maternal inheritance.
But as days faded into years, such details held little meaning and the bracelet became just another ornament Cyril wore absently out of habit.
“Habits truly are frightening things.” Sylvia shook her head, a mirthless smile touching her
lips. “Don’t worry, I’ll grow accustomed to life without you just as you’ll happily accept Caroline’s constant presence soon enough.”
“After the divorce, I said I’ll refrain from acting against Caroline and you can choose to believe that or not. But fair warning, she has offended far too many over the years. Let’s see If you can actually shield her from them all.”
Sylvia’s mocking gaze reminded Cyril the disparity between their capabilities and
connections. If her family desired Caroline’s utter ruin, they had ample means to ensure it. Cyril included.
Having said her piece, Sylvia prepared to leave only for Cyril to stop her.
“Regardless what you’ve gone through, you took my sister’s jewelry. Surely you intend to return them?”
Unwilling to just let her walk away so easily, Cyril felt a spark of frustration. Why should Sylvia get to effortlessly abandon this marriage when she had been the eager one insisting on their union from the start? What right had she to play the victim role now?
Pausing, Sylvia glanced back pensively. “If you bothered investigating your sister properly, you would know I didn’t take those. But as expected, you remain blind to their misdeeds.”
Shaking her head, she sighed softly. “Nevermind, nothing links us anymore. Handle your family matters yourselves.”
Having accomplished her own business, Sylvia departed leaving Cyril sitting numbly as unease stirred inside at her cryptic words. Though their relationship had faded over time, Sylvia never lied. If she denied taking his sister’s jewelry, Cyril was inclined to believe her..
Checking quickly, shock and anger flooded Cyril when he learned Bonnie had actually sold off that million–dollar necklace he gifted her, frittering away the money on partying abroad.
Seething rage filling him, Cyril fought to calm down before deciding to call Bonnie for an explanation. But hearing his sister’s flippant cursing upon answering combined with an unknown man’s voice in the background utterly shattered Cyril’s restraint.
While he expected Bonnie was up to no good abroad, her wanton behavior still caught him off guard. Barely maintaining a steady tone, Cyril snarled for her to return in 3 days or he would personally drag her back.
Bonnie’s panicked shrieks confirmed she knew she was in deep trouble. Cyril could almost envision her scrambling in frightened panic at the moment. Good. She deserved to stew in anxiety after everything. At least until he could deal with her face to face.