The Secret of the Jade Pendant That Made a Billionaire Faint
Previously: When a catering server wore her mother's heirloom to a high-society gala, she didn't expect the wealthy hostess to collapse at the sight of it—or to uncover a shocking family truth.
The Secret in the Private Study
The ballroom erupted into absolute chaos. Security guards rushed forward to assist the fallen matriarch while guests whispered frantically among themselves. Emily stood frozen, staring at the shattered glass and spilled champagne pooling around her shoes. She was convinced her catering career was over, and worse, that she might be held responsible for the wealthy woman's sudden medical emergency.
However, as the estate's private physician arrived and Beatrice slowly regained consciousness, she refused to be taken to a hospital. Instead, she pointed a trembling finger at Emily. In a weak but commanding tone, she ordered her security detail to bring the young server to her private study immediately. Terrified and confused, Emily followed the guards down a quiet, dimly lit hallway lined with oil paintings of the Calderwood ancestors.
When Emily entered the study, Beatrice was resting on a velvet chaise lounge, her breathing still shallow. She dismissed the guards, leaving the two of them in complete silence. Beatrice stared at Emily, her eyes tracing the lines of the girl's face with a mixture of grief and disbelief.
"You look so much like her," Beatrice whispered, tears finally escaping her eyes. "Marion was my oldest daughter. She was the light of my life, but she was also incredibly stubborn."
Emily’s breath caught in her throat. She had grown up believing her mother was an orphan with no living relatives. Marion had lived a quiet, humble life as a seamstress, never speaking of her past. Now, this powerful billionaire was claiming a connection.
"My mother never spoke of any family," Emily said, her voice defensive yet trembling with curiosity. "She raised me alone in a small apartment. Why would she hide this from me?"
Beatrice closed her eyes, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She explained that twenty-six years ago, Marion had fallen in love with a man from a working-class background. Beatrice, obsessed with status and family legacy, had demanded that Marion break off the engagement, threatening to disown her. Marion chose love over luxury, fleeing into the night with nothing but her grandmother's jade pendant.
”Marion chose love over luxury, fleeing into the night with nothing but her grandmother's jade pendant.