CHAPTER 10: THE FAMILY EVENT

Lauretta and Ashley hurried down to Carol's room; Juliana and the two servants followed closely behind. Lauretta's determination propelled her forward, and she reached the room just moments before Ashley. Without wasting a second, Lauretta made her way to the dressing table. With steady hands, she swiftly opened the lock, revealing a treasure trove of jewelry, every piece she had ever gifted to Ashley and Carol. Ashley's eyes were beaming with anger at what Lauretta was doing, but before she could intervene, Lauretta began retrieving the items one by one. With each piece she reclaimed, Ashley tried to stop her; she protested, but Lauretta remained unfazed, her focus solely on reclaiming what was rightfully hers. Lauretta held the retrieved jewelry in her hands; a sense of fulfillment washed over her. Retrieving all the gifts she had once given away felt like reclaiming a piece of herself, and it brought her a profound sense of satisfaction. With a serene smile, she closed the chapt