4 ##Chapter 4 Her smile instantly froze. Without waiting for her response, I turned and went upstairs, pulling open the closet and throwing my suitcase heavily onto the floor. The sound of the zipper closing was like announcing the end of a marriage. Five years of patience and compromise ended completely in this moment. I packed my belongings one by one. Those dark dresses and conservative suits I'd changed into for Axel-I left them all behind. I only took what truly belonged to "Grace James." When I opened my jewelry box, my heart clenched suddenly. My mother's jade bracelet was missing. It was the only memento she'd left me before dying. I searched through the entire cabinet but found nothing. A cold premonition rose from the depths of my heart. I rushed downstairs. In the living room, Ella still sat primly on the sofa. Axel was beside her, relaxed, his arm draped over the back of the sofa, intimate as if she were the mistress of this house. Sunlight fell on Ella's wrist, and my breathing stopped. That jade bracelet-was right there on her delicate hand. I stared at her, my voice trembling with cold: "Take it off." She startled, then laughed softly: "This is a gift from Axel-it has nothing to do with you." Her tone was gentle, but her eyes held provocation. I stepped closer, practically grinding my teeth: "That's my mother's memento." She lowered her head like a scolded child, but her hands protected it more tightly. "But... this is what Axel gave me. He said he wanted to make me happy." At this, she actually began to cry. "You're lying!" My voice was like shattered glass. "The bracelet has a crack-it's a unique mark. You're nothing but a thief!" I lunged at her. Axel blocked me, holding my shoulders: "Calm down, Grace. Maybe there's a misunderstanding-" But I fought desperately to break free. He clearly hadn't expected such violence from me and kept trying to soothe me. Then he turned to Ella: "Ella, take off the bracelet and let her see it." "But she called me a thief... this was clearly your gift to me." Ella sobbed, tears streaming. Axel was caught in the middle: "Alright, Grace, I'll buy you however many bracelets you want. This thing isn't worth much. Ella, don't cry-I'll buy you ten new ones later..." I found it laughable. Axel would never understand-this wasn't about money. That was the only thing my mother had left me, and now it was on the wrist of the woman I hated most. Ella cried and whimpered, finally removing the bracelet. Just as I reached out to take it, her hand suddenly loosened- The bracelet fell heavily to the floor, shattering into pieces. The air went dead silent. I stared at the broken jade, my breathing seeming to stop. My chest ached as if my ribs were cracking. I looked up at Ella. She gave me the faintest smile. In that moment, I understood-she did it on purpose. Furious, I broke free from Axel and slapped Ella across the face. Ella covered her cheek, stunned-she hadn't expected me to actually strike her. The next instant-Axel's hand came down hard on my face. A burning pain. The air froze. "How could you hurt Ella over a broken bracelet? How can this thing be more important than her and my child!" My child. My eardrums roared. He'd admitted it. My child-not his brother's, but his. I looked at this stranger before me, my heart pounding violently. Five years of marriage collapsed completely in this moment. I bent down and picked up the fragments piece by piece. "Very good, Axel. It's all over now." Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!