Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 07

Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 07: The Broken Pearl Necklace

The next morning, when a maid came to help Thera Sutherland, her limbs were as limp as if she had no bones. Her skin, pruned from the long soak in cold water, trembled with pain at the slightest touch.

Helped back to her guest room, she choked down the fever medicine a maid handed her and collapsed onto the bed, drifting into a groggy sleep.

She didn’t stir until a hand gently shook her shoulder, startling her awake. She opened her eyes to see Julian Rhodes.

Julian Rhodes stood beside the bed, his eyes fixed on her exposed arm, which was still wrinkled from its time in the water.

He frowned deeply, his voice laced with confusion.

“You were in the water for less than ten minutes yesterday. How did you

end up like this?”

Thera Sutherland hid her arm under the covers, avoiding his gaze.

Julian Rhodes reached out to feel her forehead.

But just then, Sylvia Chevalier’s voice came from outside the door. “Julian, the bridal shop delivered the dresses for tomorrow. Why don’t we go downstairs and choose one together?”

Julian Rhodes froze. He immediately turned to explain to Thera Sutherland, his tone placating, “My wedding with Sylvia tomorrow… it’s just a formality. We’re doing it for Yara.”

The words had barely left his lips when Sylvia Chevalier pushed the door open and walked in. “Thera, since you’ve been married before, why don’t you come downstairs and advise us?”

Julian Rhodes frowned and glanced at Thera’s pale face. “She doesn’t look well. We should probably let it go.”

“Oh, but that’s exactly why she should come down and get some air.”

Sylvia Chevalier linked her arm through his, pleading sweetly, “I’m a little nervous, and I was hoping to get some pointers from Thera. If anything goes wrong tomorrow, Yara will just worry again. Don’t you agree?”

Julian Rhodes hesitated. “Well… why don’t you go down for a look? You can just sit for a bit.”

After a few seconds of silence, Thera Sutherland nodded.

By the time Thera Sutherland reached the downstairs living room, the dress fitting was nearly complete.

Sylvia Chevalier was trying on necklaces.

But after trying on several, none of them were to her liking.

Suddenly, as if she’d just remembered something, her tone became deceptively friendly.

“Oh, that’s right, Thera. I remember you wore a pearl necklace at your wedding to Julian. It was gorgeous. Why don’t you let me try it on?”

“Absolutely not.”

Thera Sutherland’s head snapped up, her eyes filled with wariness.

Sylvia Chevalier turned to Julian Rhodes and said softly, “Julian, I just want to try it…”

Julian Rhodes said in a low voice, “Just let her try it on. It’s only a necklace.”

“Julian Rhodes, you know what this necklace means to me!”

Thera Sutherland’s body trembled with agitation.

But he ignored her and ordered a maid, “Go get the pearl necklace.”

“Julian Rhodes!”

Thera Sutherland tried to stop them, but her high fever left her powerless. “You can’t do this!”

A trace of impatience entered Julian Rhodes’s voice. “That’s enough. Stop making a scene. It’s just a necklace, isn’t it? I’ll buy you a better one.”

The maid quickly returned with the necklace. Sylvia Chevalier put it on and smiled at her reflection. “It’s beautiful. It’s so much more elegant than anything in the stores.”

Thera Sutherland said nothing, her eyes fixed on the necklace.

Seeing her expression, Sylvia Chevalier sighed theatrically. “I know it’s important to you. I wouldn’t dream of taking something you love.”

As she spoke, she unfastened the necklace and held it out to Thera Sutherland.

But before Thera could even touch it, the necklace slipped from Sylvia’s hand. It hit the floor with a sickening CRACK, pearls scattering

everywhere.

Thera Sutherland lunged at her, grabbing Sylvia Chevalier’s arm. “You did that on purpose!”

Sylvia Chevalier crumpled to the floor, tears instantly streaming down her face. “You’re the one who didn’t catch it! How can you blame me?”

Julian Rhodes rushed forward and helped Sylvia Chevalier up. “That’s enough! Sylvia was handing it to you. It was you who didn’t take it.”

Thera Sutherland stared at him, her eyes red as she screamed, “That was

the only thing I had left from my parents!”

Julian Rhodes froze, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. But then Sylvia suddenly slumped against him, crying, “Julian, my ankle… it hurts so much…”

Julian Rhodes immediately scooped her into his arms and said coldly, “Stop making trouble! I know you don’t want us to get married, but you can’t change what’s happening tomorrow.”

With that, he carried Sylvia Chevalier away.

Thera Sutherland sank to the floor, sobbing as she picked up the pearls one by one.

She finally understood. Some love, like a broken necklace, could never be pieced back together again.