Chapter 5 — The Emerald Necklace
Chapter 5 — The Emerald Necklace
At 6:17 the next morning, Brenda was still staring at the message.
Tomorrow, bring the necklace to the old chapel. Come alone.
She had not slept.
The emerald necklace lay on the table in front of her.
Even beneath the weak morning light, the stones seemed to glow.
Beautiful.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Brenda had seen the necklace hundreds of times.
Margaret had worn it at charity galas, family dinners, and photographs.
It had belonged to Margaret's mother.
It was supposedly priceless.
But Brenda had never touched it.
Not until last night.
She still couldn't understand how it had appeared inside her handbag.
Her mind replayed the previous evening.
The mansion.
The chaos.
The guards.
Mariana's warning.
And then the message.
She picked up her phone.
Her thumb hovered over Andrew's name.
She wanted to call him.
But something stopped her.
If Andrew was involved, telling him could be a mistake.
If he wasn't involved...
Then someone was watching her.
She put the phone down.
Then she noticed something.
There was a tiny black mark on the velvet lining of the jewelry box.
Brenda leaned closer.
It looked like ink.
She touched it.
Nothing.
Then she saw a small number written beneath the velvet.
17.
Her heart began to race.
She didn't know what it meant.
But she knew one thing.
The necklace had not simply appeared in her bag.
Someone had placed it there deliberately.
At 8:00 a.m., Mariana was already in the conference room.
Daniel entered carrying several files.
"Good morning."
"Any news?"
He placed the files down.
"Several things."
Mariana looked up.
"Start with the necklace."
Daniel opened his laptop.
"The necklace was insured for twelve million dollars."
Mariana raised an eyebrow.
"Twelve million?"
"Official valuation."
"And Margaret claimed it disappeared yesterday?"
"Yes."
"Then why was there no immediate police report?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Because Margaret didn't want the police involved."
"Why?"
"She wanted to handle the matter privately."
Mariana leaned back.
"Meaning?"
"She wanted Andrew to deal with you."
Mariana's expression hardened.
"So the necklace was never about recovering the jewelry."
"No."
Daniel paused.
"It was about creating a reason to humiliate you."
Mariana looked down at the table.
"That explains the accusation."
"But not the necklace."
"Exactly."
Daniel nodded.
"We checked every camera in the mansion."
"And?"
"We found the person who planted it."
Mariana's eyes narrowed.
"Margaret's assistant?"
"Yes."
"Who gave her the order?"
Daniel hesitated.
"We don't know yet."
Mariana stared at him.
"Find out."
"I will."
He closed the laptop.
"But there's something else."
"What?"
"The assistant has disappeared."
Mariana's expression changed.
"When?"
"Last night."
"Convenient."
"Very."
Mariana stood.
"Find her before someone else does."
At 9:30 a.m., Margaret was sitting in the mansion's library.
The room had always been her favorite.
Dark wood.
Antique furniture.
Portraits of generations of Whitmores.
She had spent years telling Mariana that she did not belong among those portraits.
Now, for the first time, Margaret wondered whether she had ever belonged there herself.
The door opened.
Andrew entered.
His face was pale.
His clothes were wrinkled.
He looked like a man who hadn't slept.
Margaret stood.
"Andrew."
"Where's Brenda?"
Margaret frowned.
"I don't know."
"She hasn't answered my calls."
"Perhaps she's with Mariana."
Andrew's expression darkened.
"Why would she be with Mariana?"
Margaret didn't answer.
Andrew looked around the library.
"Where is the necklace?"
Margaret's face changed.
"What?"
"The emerald necklace."
"It's gone."
"I know."
"Then why are you asking?"
Andrew stepped closer.
"Because I found something."
He placed his phone on the desk.
A photograph appeared.
Security footage.
Margaret's assistant entering Brenda's room.
Margaret stared.
Her face lost its color.
"Where did you get this?"
"Mariana."
Margaret swallowed.
"She showed you?"
"No."
"Then how—"
"Her legal team sent it to mine."
Margaret sat down.
Andrew stared at her.
"Mom."
"What?"
"Did you put the necklace in Brenda's room?"
Margaret's eyes widened.
"How dare you?"
"Answer me."
"I did nothing."
"Then why was your assistant there?"
"I don't know."
Andrew's voice became louder.
"Mom!"
Margaret flinched.
"I wanted to teach Mariana a lesson."
Andrew went silent.
"What lesson?"
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"She was destroying our family."
Andrew stared at her.
"You framed my wife."
"She was taking everything from us!"
"No."
His voice was quiet.
"She was keeping everything alive."
Margaret looked away.
Andrew's expression hardened.
"You knew she wasn't a thief."
Margaret said nothing.
"You knew."
Still nothing.
Andrew stepped back.
Then he whispered:
"I hit her because of you."
Margaret's eyes filled.
"Andrew..."
"I hit my wife because you lied."
Margaret shook her head.
"I never told you to hit her."
"No."
He looked at her.
"You only gave me a reason."
At 11:15 a.m., Brenda finally called Mariana.
"I need to see you."
Mariana looked at Daniel.
"Where?"
"Somewhere private."
Mariana agreed.
"Come to my office."
"No."
Brenda's voice trembled.
"Not there."
Mariana frowned.
"Why?"
"Because someone is watching me."
Silence.
Mariana stood.
"Where are you?"
"I'll send you the location."
The call ended.
Thirty seconds later, a location appeared.
An abandoned church on the edge of the city.
Mariana stared at the message.
Daniel immediately said:
"Absolutely not."
"I know."
"It's dangerous."
"I'll take security."
Brenda sent another message.
Come alone.
Mariana almost smiled.
Brenda was afraid.
That meant she knew something.
"Get the car ready."
Daniel frowned.
"You're going?"
"Yes."
"But—"
"She has the necklace."
Daniel's expression changed.
"How do you know?"
Mariana looked at the message.
"I don't."
She paused.
"But I think she does."
The old chapel stood beneath a gray sky.
Its windows were broken.
The wooden doors were weathered.
The place had been abandoned for years.
Mariana stepped out of the car.
Two security officers remained several meters behind her.
She entered.
Brenda was waiting near the altar.
Her face was pale.
"Mariana."
Mariana walked closer.
"Where is it?"
Brenda looked around.
Then opened her handbag.
She pulled out the velvet box.
Mariana stared.
"The necklace."
Brenda nodded.
"I swear I didn't steal it."
"I believe you."
Brenda looked surprised.
"You do?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I know exactly who planted it."
Brenda's eyes widened.
"Who?"
"Your answer comes first."
Brenda swallowed.
"I don't know."
Mariana waited.
Brenda looked down.
"I found it in my bag."
"When?"
"Last night."
"After you left my office?"
"Yes."
"Did anyone enter your room?"
"I don't know."
Mariana studied her.
"What happened before that?"
Brenda hesitated.
"I received a message."
"From whom?"
"Unknown number."
"What did it say?"
"Bring the necklace to the old chapel."
Mariana's eyes narrowed.
"Today."
Brenda nodded.
"Yes."
"Why did you come?"
"Because I was scared."
"Of who?"
Brenda looked directly at her.
"Andrew."
Mariana's expression didn't change.
"Why?"
Brenda reached into her bag again.
She pulled out her phone.
"I received another message."
Mariana read it.
If you tell Mariana the truth, Andrew won't be the only one who loses everything.
Mariana looked up.
"Did you tell anyone?"
"No."
"Andrew?"
"No."
"Margaret?"
"No."
"Good."
Brenda's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I."
Mariana took the necklace box.
She examined it.
Then she noticed something.
The clasp had a tiny scratch.
She turned it over.
There was a symbol engraved beneath the emerald setting.
A small letter.
E.
Mariana's breathing stopped.
Brenda noticed.
"What?"
Mariana stared at the symbol.
"E."
"What does it mean?"
Mariana didn't answer.
She knew that symbol.
It belonged to her father's private collection.
But there was no reason for it to be on Margaret's necklace.
Unless...
Mariana's mind raced.
She looked at Brenda.
"Where exactly did you find this?"
"In my handbag."
"Who had access to your handbag?"
"I don't know."
Mariana looked toward the broken windows.
Something felt wrong.
"Give me your phone."
Brenda handed it over.
Mariana checked the message.
The number was hidden.
But Daniel had taught her years ago how to find information others thought invisible.
She examined the metadata.
Then stopped.
"This message wasn't sent from a normal phone."
"What?"
"It came through an encrypted relay."
Brenda stared.
"Who does that?"
Mariana looked at the necklace.
"Someone who doesn't want to be found."
Suddenly—
A loud crash came from outside.
Brenda screamed.
Mariana turned.
Her security team rushed toward the chapel.
"Stay here."
"Mariana!"
She moved toward the door.
One of the guards stopped her.
"Someone's running."
A black vehicle sped away from the church.
Mariana watched it disappear.
"Get the plate."
The guard shook his head.
"Covered."
Mariana's eyes narrowed.
Professional.
Prepared.
Someone had expected them to come.
And someone wanted the necklace back.
Back at headquarters, Daniel examined the necklace.
His face changed.
"You need to see this."
Mariana looked at him.
He pointed to the engraving.
"E."
"You know it?"
Daniel nodded.
"Your father used this symbol on assets belonging to the old Escalante private trust."
Mariana stared.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because this necklace belonged to Margaret's mother."
Daniel looked at her.
"Are you certain?"
"That's what Margaret always said."
He turned the necklace over.
"The craftsmanship is old."
Mariana touched the stone.
"Then how did it get this symbol?"
Daniel looked at the valuation report.
"Maybe it didn't belong to Margaret's family."
Mariana's eyes sharpened.
"What are you saying?"
"I think the necklace may have belonged to your family first."
Mariana froze.
"That's impossible."
Daniel shook his head.
"Not necessarily."
He pulled another document from the archive.
"Look."
Mariana read it.
The document was twenty-eight years old.
A private insurance record.
Item:
Emerald necklace.
Owner:
Escalante Family Holdings.
Mariana stared.
Her hands became cold.
"Twenty-eight years ago?"
"Yes."
"Then how did Margaret get it?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Mariana's mind raced.
Her father had never mentioned an emerald necklace.
But there was something else.
A memory.
A childhood memory.
Her mother wearing a green necklace in an old photograph.
Mariana had been seven.
She remembered the color.
Emerald green.
She had always assumed it was a different piece.
She suddenly stood.
"Call my father."
Victor answered immediately.
"Mariana?"
"Father."
"What happened?"
"Did our family ever own an emerald necklace?"
Silence.
A long silence.
Mariana's expression changed.
"Father?"
Victor finally spoke.
"Where did you hear about it?"
"Just answer me."
Another silence.
"Yes."
Mariana closed her eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought it was gone."
"Where did it come from?"
"It belonged to your grandmother."
Mariana stared at the necklace.
"Then how did Margaret Whitmore get it?"
Victor's voice became quiet.
"She didn't."
Mariana's heart stopped.
"What?"
"Mariana..."
"Father."
"I need you to come home."
"Why?"
"Because there's something you need to know about your mother."
Mariana froze.
Her mother had died fifteen years earlier.
"What does this have to do with her?"
Victor sighed.
"Everything."
That evening, Mariana returned to the Escalante residence.
Victor was waiting in the private library.
He held an old photograph.
He handed it to her.
Mariana looked down.
Her mother stood beside her grandmother.
Around her neck was the emerald necklace.
The exact necklace now sitting inside Mariana's hand.
She looked at her father.
"How?"
Victor sat down.
"Your grandmother gave it to your mother."
"But Margaret said—"
"Margaret lied."
Mariana's heart pounded.
"Why?"
Victor looked toward the window.
"Because your mother and Margaret knew each other."
Mariana's eyes widened.
"What?"
"They were friends once."
"Friends?"
"Before your mother married me."
Mariana stared at him.
"Why would she lie about the necklace?"
Victor's expression became grim.
"Because your mother discovered something."
"What?"
Victor didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
"Someone in the Whitmore family stole from us."
Mariana went still.
"How much?"
Victor looked at her.
"Enough to start a war."
The next morning, Mariana returned to Whitmore Global.
Andrew was waiting outside the building.
He looked exhausted.
He stepped toward her.
"Mariana."
She stopped.
"What?"
"I need to talk to you."
"About what?"
"The necklace."
Her expression hardened.
"Why?"
"Because I know Mom lied."
Mariana said nothing.
Andrew looked at her.
"I know you didn't steal it."
"I never did."
"I know."
"Then why are you here?"
He took a breath.
"To apologize."
Mariana looked at him.
"An apology won't change what happened."
"I know."
"You don't get to hit me and then say you're sorry."
"I know."
"You don't get to betray me and then ask me to trust you."
"I know."
His voice cracked.
"I know, Mariana."
She stared at him.
For the first time, Andrew looked smaller than she had ever seen him.
"I was wrong."
Mariana remained silent.
"I thought you needed me."
She looked at him.
"You were wrong."
"I thought I built everything."
"You were wrong."
"I thought you were beneath me."
Mariana's eyes hardened.
"And you were wrong."
Andrew lowered his head.
"I know."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Mariana said:
"There's something you don't know."
Andrew looked up.
"The necklace belonged to my family."
He froze.
"What?"
"My father has records."
Andrew stared at her.
"Then why did my mother have it?"
"I don't know."
Andrew's expression changed.
"Neither do I."
Mariana turned to leave.
Andrew grabbed her wrist.
She immediately pulled away.
His face changed.
"I'm sorry."
She looked at his hand.
Then at him.
"Don't touch me again."
He released her.
Mariana walked away.
Andrew watched her disappear.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Hello?"
A man's voice spoke.
"Mr. Whitmore."
"Who is this?"
"You need to stop asking questions about the necklace."
Andrew frowned.
"Who are you?"
The voice laughed softly.
"You really don't remember?"
Andrew's face went pale.
The call ended.
That night, Andrew returned home.
Margaret was sitting alone in the library.
He entered.
"Mom."
She looked up.
"What?"
"I know about the necklace."
Margaret's face changed.
Andrew closed the door.
"I know it belonged to the Escalantes."
Margaret said nothing.
"I know you lied."
Still nothing.
"And I know Dad knew."
Margaret stood.
"Andrew..."
"Tell me the truth."
She shook her head.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it."
"It was twenty-eight years ago."
"What happened?"
Margaret looked toward the family portrait hanging above the fireplace.
Her eyes filled with fear.
"Your father made a mistake."
"What mistake?"
She whispered:
"He stole it."
Andrew stared.
"From Mariana's family?"
Margaret nodded.
"Yes."
Andrew felt the room spin.
"But why?"
Margaret's voice trembled.
"Because he believed they would never find out."
Andrew stared at his mother.
"Then why did you accuse Mariana?"
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Because I was afraid."
"Of what?"
She looked at him.
"That she would discover everything."
Andrew's blood ran cold.
"What everything?"
Margaret didn't answer.
Then—
The library door opened.
A man stood in the doorway.
Andrew recognized him.
His father's former business partner.
But the man had been dead for ten years.
Andrew stepped back.
"That's impossible."
The man smiled.
"It isn't."
Margaret screamed.
The lights went out.
And when they came back on—
the man was gone.
Only a small envelope remained on the table.
Andrew walked toward it.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
His father.
Mariana's mother.
And Margaret.
Standing together twenty-eight years earlier.
On the back, four words had been written:
Ask your mother why.
Andrew looked at Margaret.
For the first time, he realized the emerald necklace had never been the real secret.
May you like
It was only the first door.
And behind that door was a history neither he nor Mariana had ever been told.
