Chapter 2 What Is My Sister-in-law Doing With The Necklace?

• "Jewelry?"
• I slightly frown, raising my voice to Richard who has just entered the bathroom, "Richard, sister Bianca is here, I'll go downstairs and see her."
• Almost the next second, Richard strides out, with a cold expression I've never seen before.
• "I can go, you don't need to worry.
• Go and clean up." he said.
• This man, who is usually calm and restrained in front of me, seemed to carry a mixed emotion in his voice, as if he was irritated, but also nervous.
• I felt a bit strange, "I already cleaned up, I even squeezed the toothpaste for you, remember?"
• "Alright, let's go together then, so as not to keep the guest waiting."
• I held his hand and walked downstairs.
• The stairs were designed in a curve, halfway down, I could see Bianca Lincoln wearing a plain white dress, sitting elegantly on the couch.
• She also looks up at the sound, her smile peaceful.
• When her gaze fell on the intertwined hands of me and Richard, her cup trembled, spilling a bit of tea.
• "Ah..." It must have been a little hot, she made a soft sound in the midst of her hurry.
• Richard suddenly pulled away his hand, ran downstairs anxiously, took the cup from her hand, "How can you be so clumsy, can't even hold a cup securely?"
• His tone was stern and strict, but he unwaveringly led Bianca Lincoln to the sink, washing her hand in cold water without objection.
• Bianca was helpless, tried to pull her hand back,
• "I'm okay, you're making a fuss over nothing."
• "Shut up.
• If you don't take care of burns, they'll scar, you know?" Richard coldly rebuked, without letting go.
• I stood on the stairs in a daze, watching this scene, a bit stupefied.
• A memory rushed into my mind.
• It was when we just got married.
• Upon learning that Richard had a weak stomach, I started learning how to cook.
• Even though we had Aunt Sandra at home, her food didn't really suit his taste.
• Being new to cooking, I often ended up cutting my hand or burning myself.
• Once, I accidentally knocked over a pan, and the boiling oil rolled all over my stomach following my movements.
• My clothes got entirely wet, and the burn made me grimace in pain.
• Hearing the noise, Richard came over. His demeanor as gentle as ever, "Are you okay? You go take care of it, I can finish the cooking."
• He was gentle and considerate, yet plain and unexciting.
• Occasionally, I had a vague sense that something seemed off.
• But I had secretly loved him for many years, countless emotions scattered throughout my diary pages were about him.
• Marrying him was already more than I could ask for.
• I just thought, he was naturally reserved and introverted. ...
• "Miss Bianca was served lemon water by me," Sandra's auntie's murmur distracted me from my thoughts.
• My eyes blurred unknowingly, my heart felt like it was being clutched tightly by an invisible hand, making me breathless.
• Look.
• The cup that was clearly taken from Bianca's hand by him, due to his chaotic emotions, he even lost the ability to tell whether the water was hot or cold.
• Taking a deep breath, I slowly walked downstairs with a half-hearted smile, "Honey, auntie Sandra served Lemon water to sister Bianca, it's cold, unable to cause burns.
• What if you worry that she might get frostbite from the cold?"
• I tried to hold back, but I still let out a sarcastic remark.
• Richard stiffened, then let her hand go, avoiding my gaze whilst lashing out at Bianca,
• "Are you shrieking at cold water? You're the only one that is delicate."
• Bianca shot him a grumpy look, then turned to me with a gentle smile,
• "He's always been an overthinker, don't mind him."
• When she finished speaking, she walked to the coffee table, picked up a velvet gift box with a workmanship obviously having a high value, and handed it over.
• She smiled softly, "This belongs to you."
• I took it, opened it for a glance; my nails sharply dug into my palm.
• A storm of shocks surged inward.
• Is the woman in the video, Bianca? When I looked up again, I hid my emotions, wanting to laugh, but I couldn't.
• Last night, I had hard-pressed Richard take back the necklace, and now, the necklace is in my hands, yet I can't muster any sense of relief.
• I looked at Richard with probing eyes, and his gaze was unfathomably deep before he pulled me into his arms.
• "Do you like it? If you do, then keep it. If you don’t, do as you wish with it.
• It's just a worthless trinket after all. I can buy a new gift for you."
• "Fine." I pursed my lips, sparing Bianca a little dignity in front of me.
• Or perhaps, I was the one who wanted to save face.
• For a moment, I couldn't quite discern the purpose of Bianca's visit here today.
• Was she sincerely feeling that she shouldn't have accepted this necklace? Or was she declaring something? Upon seeing this, some emotion flashed across Bianca's face too quickly to capture.
• She laughed lightly, “I was afraid this necklace might cause some misunderstanding between the two of you.
• It seems that it hasn't, so I will take my leave.”
• Aunt Sandra saw her out.
• The moment the door closed, I disentangled myself from Richard's arm,
• "Didn't you say you bought it for Henry? Besides, isn’t Sister Bianca married?
• When did she also become one of Henry's...mmph!” Cutting off my remaining words, he abruptly kissed me.
• He forcefully took control of me, fiercely and desperately, as if venting something.
• When it became hard for me even to breathe, he broke away slightly, gently caressing my head and admitting guilt.
• "I lied to you."
• He pulled me closer, "She's divorced now, and I was afraid she would do something foolish, so I gave her a gift."
• I froze, now comprehending the meaning of his words in the video, "Congratulations on your new beginning."
• I bit my lip, half skeptical, half hopeful, "Is that all?"
• "Yes, that's all."
• He replied with conviction, his voice warm and smooth, explaining patiently, "You should know that her mother sacrificed herself to save me.
• I could not just sit by idle."
• I remember Aunt Sandra mentioning something about this.
• His biological mother died of childbirth complications, and when Richard was five years old, his father remarried, this time to the mother of Bianca.
• Despite being his stepmother, she treated Richard exceptionally well, just like her own child.
• She even risked her life to save Richard when he was in danger and has been in a vegetative state ever since, lying in bed for many years.
• If that’s the reason, it makes sense.
• I felt a sudden relief, but I couldn't help reminding him gently, "Richard, I believe that you're only trying to repay her kindness, and you only see her as a sister." ...
• That necklace, I eventually threw it into the storage room.
• Maybe, my suspicions did not completely dissolve.
• They were merely suppressed temporarily, and they could easily resurface one day after being repressed over and over.
• Overwhelmingly.
• Unexpectedly, that day came sooner than I imagined.
• I majored in clothing design in college and interned at the Lincoln Corporation's Design Department.
• Being married to Richard Lincoln didn't affect my career planning.
• Four years down the line, I was already the assistant director of the design department. "Director Steph, having lunch without me?"
• That day, I was having lunch in the office cafeteria when my college roommate Amelia, carrying her food tray and swaying her slim waist, flirting sat down across from me.
• "I will rush back to draw up the design draft after finishing my meal."
• Seeing her wink at me provocatively, I helplessly asked,
• "What's up?"
• "I heard from the HR department this morning that the new director of the design department has been decided!"
• An ecstatic smile spread across her pretty face, "I bet it's you.
• Isn't this why I came to congratulate you on your promotion in advance? If one prospers, all will prosper."
• "Before the official appointment letter comes down, who can be certain?
• Lower your voice." The department director resigned at some point this month, and everyone says the position is most likely going to be mine.
• I have some confidence in myself, but I'm also afraid of any unexpected changes.
• "How could it be uncertain? Not to mention that you are the president's wife,
• " She lowered her voice at the end of the sentence, because my marriage to Richard was not public.
• The outside world only knew Richard favored his wife, but they didn't know his wife was me.
• Later, she went on to boast about me unabashedly: "Your achievements since joining the company are there for all to see.
• Balancing brand design and private customization, how many companies are covertly dreaming of poaching you!
• Why wouldn't the Lincoln family promote you?"
• Just as Amelia finished speaking, both our phones rang at the same time.
• The official appointment letter.
• Her eyes lit up when she saw those big characters in the email, she was excited at first glance, but then her brow furrowed with some annoyance.
• " Bianca Lincoln, who's that?"