Annabelle had had a long day and just wanted to rest, but right from the moment she stepped into the estate, every member of the family just popped up one after the other to annoy her. Can't they just let her be even if just for a moment? She just wanted to pick up some things and leave, but no, they just wouldn't give her time and space.
And now? Lilian walked in like it was her own room, a bright smile on her face as she approached Annabelle, who couldn't be more exasperated. What did she want this time?
"I knew you were back," Lilian spoke, her voice filled with so much excitement that Annabelle questioned what she saw in the woman's eyes during the day. Her thoughts were written all over her face then, but now, seeing her like this, Annabelle couldn't so sure anymore. "Did you see my message? I wanted you to have my number too so we can always communicate."
"No. I must have missed it," replied Annabelle. Lilian mentioning the message was all she needed to wipe away any surfacing doubts she was beginning to have.
"Well, it doesn't matter anymore. You can always just check it later. Just know that I meant every word I said…" she trailed off as he eyes caught sight of pearl necklace on the bed, neatly packed.
Seeing where she was looking, Annabelle frowned, not liking the sudden spark in Lillian's eyes.
"Is it yours?" she asked, stepping closer to it.
"Yes, that's why it's in here," Annabelle almost rolled her eyes.
"Mm…. I've seen that somewhere before," said Lilian, tapping her chin lightly, "Ah… that's right. It belongs to Grandmother." she picked it up before Annabelle could react. "It's grandmother's keepsake, right? Can I keep it?"
"Give it back," Annabelled said coldly. Her I don't care expression from before vanished replaced with cold and detached stare that sent a shiver down Lillian's spine the moment their eyes met.
"W…what are…doing?" Lilian stammered, instinctively clutching the necklace to her chest and taking backward steps only to be stopped by the bed behind her. "It's Grandmother's keepsake. It belongs to the Marudas."
"Don't make me repeat myself," Annabelle began closing the distance. "GIVE. IT. BACK. NOW."
Lilian was taken aback by the sudden animosity directed at her, she looked behind her, there was nowhere to go.
"Fine, you can have it back. I just thought that since you've had it for so long, I could keep it for just a little while." She said, stretching her hand towards Annabelle with the necklace.
As if a switch was turned inside of her, the moment Annabelle touched the necklace, and Lilian smirked. The sudden shift in her demeanor had Annabelle pausing for a second, and Lilian used that opportunity to pull on the necklace, and Annabelle instinctively tightened her grip, causing the necklace to snap and scatter.
As the pearls fell one after another, Annabelle felt all strength leave her body, her eyes following each piece as they rolled away and Lilian took advantage of that to push her out of the way and run towards the door.
While Annabell tried to regain her footing, Lilian opened the door, and suddenly, she began crying. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to. If I'd known, I wouldn't have taken it. It may be grandmother's, but she entrusted it to you. If you didn't want to give it to me, you should have said so, you didn't have to destroy it."
'The hell…?' Annabelle stared at her, dumbfounded. What is she doing? Why was she saying she destroyed it when it was her?
"Miss, why are you crying?" Annabelle didn't notice the opened door until a maid came by and poked her head inside.
"I know I was wrong Anna, please don't cuss at me again. I didn't mean to take everything away from you…"
Lilian continued with her act instead of replying to the maid but that was all that was needed to turn one's imagination.
The scenes began gaining more attention as more servants joined and soon, Samantha Marudas joined them, panting as she walked in and a maid running behind.
"What's going on here, Anna? Why is Lilian crying? What did you do to her?" She threw question after question without even waiting for Annabelle to answer. Just one look at Lillian's sorry state was enough to tell all she needed to know.
She stepped closer to Lilian and began examining her, checking any physical injuries. Relief flooded her face when she found none but her scowl remained intact as she pulled Lilian behind her and ordered, "Explain yourself Annabelle."
Before Annabelle could speak, Lilian spoke first, "It's fine Mum. I was only frightened. I didn't think she would destroy Grandmother's keepsake because I asked to see it."
At the mention of the keepsake, Samantha's eyes fell on the floor where all the pearls lay scattered.
"What have you done?!" She looked horrified as she fell on her knees and began picking the beads. "You…. How could you, Annabelle. Mother trusted you with it and what do you do to it?"
Annabelle just stood there at a loss for words. She couldn't believe how things were playing out and she was once again on the losing end. Her eyes found Lilian, although she pretended to cry with fake hiccups once in a while, she was smirking and the moment their eyes met, she couldn't look more pleased at what she had caused.
"I can't believe you would do this. Even out of anger, why would you destroy your grandmother's treasure, Annabelle? If you didn't want to give it to Lilian, you should have just said so. We didn't raise you to be like this." Samantha continued almost shedding tears.. "Lilian, call father. He must see this."
"Mum, no. Grandfather would…" Lilian began but Samantha was having it as she turned to the maids and ordered,
"Go and call father, now. There is only so much that can be tolerated."