The Green Jade Pendant That Exposed a High-Society Matriarch's Darkest Secret

The Shadow of the Past

Within minutes, security and medical staff rushed to Beatrice’s side. Emily stood frozen, her heart pounding against her ribs as the wealthy matriarch was carried away to a private suite upstairs. Emily expected to be immediately fired, or worse, accused of causing the incident. Instead, the head of catering approached her with a pale face, instructing her to follow him to the private holding room. "The family requested you specifically," he whispered nervously.

When Emily entered the opulent private room, Beatrice was sitting on a plush velvet sofa, sipping water. Her son, Julian, stood beside her, looking fiercely protective. When Beatrice saw Emily enter, she waved her son away. "Leave us, Julian. I need to speak to her alone," she demanded, her voice weak but commanding.

Once the door clicked shut, the silence in the room was heavy. Beatrice stared at Emily, tears welling in her eyes—a stark contrast to the cold matriarch she had seemed moments before. She pointed a trembling finger at the green jade pendant.

"That pendant was carved by my grandfather," Beatrice said softly. "There are only two in existence. One is in my safe. The other belonged to my younger sister, Marion."

Emily gasped, her mind spinning. "Your sister? But my mother grew up in a small town in Ohio. She never spoke of any family, let alone wealthy ones."

Beatrice closed her eyes as a tear escaped.

"Because our parents erased her. Marion fell in love with a mechanic, a man they deemed beneath our family's social standing. They gave her an ultimatum: abandon him or be completely disowned. Marion chose love. She took her jade pendant, walked out of this life, and changed her last name to Calder to hide from us. I was too cowardly to stand up for her. I let her go."