"Was I ever!" Betty pouted, shooting covert glances at the relatives, cueing them to keep up their act.

"Joseph!"

I yelled with everything I had, but my plea was muffled and cut short, and all I could do was watch as Joseph was whisked away by Betty.

He did not even spare a glance for that messy corner.

In the bedlam, I was shoved hard and hit the ground with a thud, my knees screaming in pain.

Laughter, sharp and mocking, rang out around me. My fingers clenched into my palms, fury simmering just below the surface.

Those so-called relatives, paragons of virtue on any other day, circled me like a pack of hyenas who were ready to rip me apart.

"That's it!"

I could not take it anymore. With a burst of energy, I sent them reeling.

They stumbled back, their faces etched with fear.

As they scattered, Betty, heels clicking with determination, stormed back to me, ready for battle.

She caught sight of my ragged state and a glint of satisfaction danced in her eyes.

"Aria, what on earth happened to you?"

She gasped in mock horror with her eyes wide, but her uncontrollable smirk betrayed her.

"Don't tell me you tried to swipe something, got caught, and now, you're seething with shame?"

Her eyes then locked onto the silver necklace I wore. It was the last thing my mother had given me.

"Wait!" she screeched, her eyes gleaming with avarice,

"That necklace... It looks awfully familiar. You didn't steal it from my husband, did you?"

I clutched the necklace protectively. "This was my mother's gift to me. It's none of your business."

Betty scoffed, lunging for the necklace, "Oh, sure! I bet it was you, you little thief, who took it from my husband!"

"Back off!"

The pendant on the necklace held a strand of my mother's hair, my final keepsake of her.

Betty's face contorted with malice, her nails digging painfully into my hand. "Hand it over! Someone like you doesn't deserve to wear something so nice!"

The relatives around us began to taunt me.

"Right, how could Aria afford such an exquisite necklace?"

"It's definitely stolen! Just look at how guilty she seems!"

In the midst of the tugging, a sharp 'snap' rang out, and the necklace broke.

The silver chain spilled onto the floor, the pendant shattered, and the lock of my mother's hair was carried off by the wind.

At that moment, my world came to a standstill.

"Oops, my bad, but it's probably for the best. It was stolen goods anyway!" Betty gloated with mock sympathy, her eyes alight with victory.

I slowly lifted my head, the last traces of warmth draining from my gaze.

The peace I had nurtured over five years of spiritual practice shattered in an instant, replaced by a chilling rage.

I spoke, my voice eerily steady. "Betty, do you have any idea what you've done?"

She recoiled from my sudden burst of energy, stepping back, but quickly puffed out her chest in defiance and bragged, "What's the big deal? It's just a lousy necklace. I can pay you back since my husband's filthy rich!"

She waved my lucky charm. "See this? Now, this is a real gem. It's a family heirloom from my husband's side!"

I just stared at her, ice in my gaze, not bothering to intervene. "Go on. Smash it then."

Betty blinked in confusion. "What?"

A smirk played on my lips. "Isn't that what you've been itching to do? Do it. I won't stop you."

My challenge lit a fire in Betty, her face turning red. "You think I won't?"

She hoisted the charm high and, with all eyes on her, hurled it to the ground.

Crash!

The charm exploded on impact, shards glittering as they flew.

Just then, from where Joseph stood, a scream tore through the air.

"Ah!"