Chapter 8: The Pawnbroker's Surprise
Chapter 8: The Pawnbroker's Surprise
While Andrew was signing his life away, Brenda was trying to secure hers.
She walked into the most exclusive jewelry buyer in the city.
She wore a trench coat and oversized sunglasses, looking like a movie star in hiding.
She placed the velvet box on the glass counter.
"I need to liquidate this," she told the appraiser. "Quietly."
The appraiser, an old man with a jeweler's loupe, opened the box.
He examined the heavy emerald necklace Margaret claimed was a priceless heirloom.
He looked at it under the light.
He tested the metal.
He checked the refractive index of the stones.
Then, he sighed and closed the box.
"I can give you fifty dollars for it," he said dryly.
Brenda ripped off her sunglasses.
"Fifty dollars? Are you insane? This is a Sterling family heirloom!"
"It's worth at least half a million!"
The appraiser chuckled.
"Ma'am, the metal is brass coated in cheap gold plating."
"The 'emeralds' are dyed cubic zirconia."
"This is a replica. A bad one at that."
Brenda's jaw dropped.
"That... that old witch," she whispered.
Margaret had lied about everything.
The wealth, the status, the family legacy. It was all smoke and mirrors.
Suddenly, the door to the shop chimed.
Two men in dark suits stepped inside.
One of them held up a police badge.
"Brenda Vance?" the detective asked.
"Yes?" she squeaked.
"You're under arrest for the possession of stolen property."
"Wait!" Brenda cried. "He just told me it's fake!"
"Not the necklace," the detective said, pulling out handcuffs.
"The sports car you drove here in."
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"It belongs to Escalante Holdings. And the owner reported it stolen this morning."
Brenda was dragged out of the shop, screaming, her grand illusion shattered on the pavement.
