Chapter Four: Returning the heirlooms

Elena turned around to walk away. She had never seen such shamelessness before. She was afraid it was contagious, and she would catch it. “Stop right there. How dare you try to kill someone?” Cecile said. “I am convinced this is a house full of clowns. I had only opened my mouth, but I tried to kill someone. Old woman, you can prove this to a judge, right?” Elena said. “You spread lies about her and then say you are clean? If you wanted to leave this family, can’t you leave quietly?” Cecile shouted. “Are you all not the ones clinging to me? Since I stepped into this house, none of you have allowed me to pass so that I could pack my things. Everyone of you hurry over to act out a play,” Elena said, stepping forward towards them. “This old woman, you have jumped like a frog since I entered the door to say I should come cook even though I have divorced your son. Then you fall dramatically when I push you away to leave,” Elena took another step to say. “And you, dirty cheater. You entered the room and immediately began to samba, proclaiming that I had done something to your mistress. I am the one asking you all, Why can’t you let me leave your house quietly?” Elena asked and matched over to the ‘fainted’ Melanie and threw a slap. The slap resounded across the room, as if no one had expected it. Even Melanie’s eyes quickly fell open at being suddenly slapped. “Elena!” Cecile and Daniel shouted at the same time. “Ah, you have woken up, Melanie. Your fall and faint were spectacular, worthy of an award,” she said, and the other two caught the look of anger in Melanie’s eyes. Melanie couldn't help but give Elena a death stare. A stare that everyone there saw. “What kind of unconscious person wakes up with eyes like yours? Did your acting coach not teach you to be subtle?” Elena asked. Adding fuel to the fire always exacerbates the situation. Egging Cecile to keep talking or this idiotic cheater to keep saying nonsense. Are you sure you are not the snake that tempted Eve to eat that able?” Elena asked, turned around and left them there. She went ahead and packed her things. She couldn't comprehend how dramatic this entire family could be. She picked up the phone and called her childhood friend Janet. “Hey, your husband is on the news again. Except this time, people know that he is married. Hah, the comments on these videos are everything,” Janet said. “You are not immediately convincing me to leave? Where is my best friend, and what have you done with her?” Elena asked. “All these years I have been talking, my mouth has gone dry and cracked; I even needed surgery. What happened? You did not listen. You still stayed. I have already accepted that your IQ is gone and will not recover,” Janet said. “My IQ returned. I signed the divorce papers today,” she said to Janet. “Really? We need to throw a party. We need to get you a side piece just to annoy that jerk!” Janet said it excitedly. “No. I need to go home. I have played outside for too long,” she said as she threw her things into her bag. “Make sure you take everything you need. There is no need for you to return there for any reason,” Janet advised. “Don’t forget something and return to act movies with them. That family is too dramatic for anyone to handle.” “True. You stay on the line. I am going to get something back,” Elena said. Elena marched out of the room and towards the living room, where Melanie was still trying to make her case, attempting to convince them that she wasn't the one who released the photos. Elena waled up to Cecile, who was completely shocked by how close she was and leaned back cautiously. “Return the gift I gave you when you came to this house,” Elena said, and Cecile frowned. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” she said. "Yes, you do. It is around your neck right now. That was my grandmother's inheritance. Hand it over.” Elena spoke, and Cecile scoffed. “You gave this to me. It is mine now. I will not give it back for any reason,” Cecile answered, and Elena nodded and took out her phone and placed it in her ear. “Janet, please get the lawyers and call the police over to the Mathews residence,” she said, and Daniel frowned. “Isn’t it just a necklace? Why are you calling the police?” he asked. “Are you stupid?” Elena scolded back, and he froze. Elena rarely ever spoke to him this way. Today, she consistently showed him a side of her that he was not accustomed to. “Even if it is dirty on the ground, I just said it belonged to my grandmother, yet you think I should leave it to your mother? It is not dirt on the ground; why is she refusing to return it?” Elena shouted at him. “You gave it to me!” Cecile insisted. “I gave it to you when I got married. Our prenuptial agreement stipulates that upon divorce, I must return every gift I give as a greeting. How dare you try to covet my grandmother’s things?” Elena uttered these words, while Cecile turned to Daniel for assistance. “Mother, just hand it over,” Daniel said, much to her disappointment. “Why should I? Our family gave her things too in this marriage.” Cecile spoke, and Elena chuckled. Daniel understood why Elena was laughing. She had not taken a cent from the marriage. While she was married to him, she did not even bother to use his money. He felt as though her laughter was mocking him. “From the water I drank to the clothes I wore while I was married to him, your son has not given me a cent. Despite the prenup's provision for alimony, I was unsuccessful in obtaining it. Anyone can say that they have given me something, except your son,” Elena said. “Everything I gave must be returned. That watch you are wearing and the necklace. You must return it now. Otherwise, we'll go to court over it. I will report it as stolen, and when the police arrive at this mansion, I will make you all famous,” Elena threatened. Daniel Melanie noticed that there was no way out, so she stepped up. “How about you let Auntie keep it as a goodbye gift instead, seeing as she liked it so much?” Melanie said. “Bring your own family heirlooms for her if she wants shiny things so much. She has been acting like a shrew just because her son struck it rich, but her poor mentality shows. Every time she leaves the house, those in her circle avoid her because she is no different from a village woman,” Elena mocked, and Cecile was infuriated. Elena had touched her sour spot. Despite her son's acceptance in high society, she found herself marginalized. The woman in the circle looked down on her and acted as though she were a plague.