Before the Wedding, My Father Gave My Black Onyx Ring to My Sister Chapter 2

At noon the next day, Aiden drove his old SUV up to the Ferro estate.

His coat was faded from countless washes but neatly pressed, and he carried two boxes of fresh bagels and a square velvet box.

The front hall was piled high with wedding gifts from all the major brands, but no one paid any attention to him standing at the door.

I dragged a stool out of the kitchen for him.

Aiden didn't sit. His gaze went straight to the bruise on my wrist. "What happened?"

I pulled my hand back into my sleeve. "I bumped it against a doorframe."

He didn't press. He just took a tube of ointment out of his pocket and set it on the table.

Then he opened the velvet box.

Inside was an emerald bracelet.

"This was my mother's. Before she died, she told me to give it to my future wife myself."

My fingertips had barely touched the edge of the box when Lucia leaned in. "It's gorgeous."

My mother's eyes lit up too. "Lucia's going to a private Cassano family dinner tomorrow night. She'll be sitting with those people. She can't show up wearing jewelry that looks cheaper than everyone else's. Chloe, lend it to her for a day."

I closed the box and held it tight. "This was Aiden's mother's. I can't lend it out."

The smile left my mother's face. "She's your own sister. Wearing it for one day won't hurt the stones. Since when did you get so stingy?"

Lucia bit her lip. "Mom, don't give Chloe a hard time. I'll just wear something plain. It won't matter if people laugh at me a little."

Victor came over with his coffee and set the cup down hard. "You're not even married yet, and Dr. Brooks is already teaching you to turn your back on your own family?"

Aiden stepped forward and put himself between us. "Victor, this was my mother's. I'm really not comfortable lending it out."

Then he turned and pushed the box back into my hands. "It's yours. Keep it safe."

My eyes stung.

So I really didn't have to give up everything that belonged to me.

That afternoon, my mother called Lucia and me into the study to divide up what was left of the assets set aside for our weddings.

The deed to the Upper East Side apartment went to Lucia. My father put a family investment account in her name. Victor tossed her a set of yellow diamond jewelry.

When it was my turn, the table was empty.

Walter, the butler, dragged in two black garbage bags.

The bags sagged open, revealing the two old furs, still reeking.

My mother didn't even look at them. "You're not moving far, and Aiden's apartment isn't big. These two coats will be plenty."

I didn't touch the bags. "Where's the sapphire brooch my aunt left me?"

Without thinking, Lucia tugged her shawl up to hide the flash of deep blue at her collarbone.

My mother didn't even blink. "She's having dinner with the Cassano family tomorrow night. The dress needed something at the neckline, so I had the brooch reset for her. She can wear it for now."

I looked at Lucia. "Do you think it was yours all along, too?"

She fumbled with the brooch. "If Chloe wants it, I'll give it back right now."

I'd barely reached out when my mother held her still. "Tonight's styling photos have already been sent to the Cassano family. If she takes it off now, do you want everyone to know you two are fighting over jewelry?"

Victor slapped my hand away. "She's just borrowing it. Are you seriously going to snatch it back from her?"

I slowly pulled my hand back. "Since we're all family, shouldn't my name go on the deed to the Upper East Side apartment, too?"

Lucia clutched the deed.

My mother looked at me for a few seconds. "That apartment is for Lucia to use when she's in and out of Manhattan after the wedding. It's been part of the plan for ages. You want to change the list now and make the whole team redo everything?"

I looked at them.

When they wanted something of mine, plans could change in an instant.

But when it came to Lucia, a line on a list was suddenly set in stone.