Emily opened the antique mahogany jewellery box, her fingers tracing the velvet lining. The diamonds sparkled in the morning light, making her heart ache with memory. Her grandmother had given her the set a month before passing awaya ring with a large centre stone, delicate earrings, and a pendant on a fine chain.
Liams voice carried down the hallway.
“Em, are you ready? Theyve already called three times!”
“Almost,” she replied, closing the box.
He appeared in the bedroom doorway. Three years of marriage had taught Emily to read his moods from the slightest cues. Today, he was tense.
“Admiring Grandmas jewellery again?” He nodded at the box. “Might as well wear them sometime.”
“Its just your colleagues birthday party,” she countered. “Why would I wear diamonds?”
Liam shrugged and left. Emily took one last glance at the jewels before carefully tucking the box into her dresser.
Two weeks later, her mother-in-law, Margaret, came for dinner. Emily was in the kitchen when she overheard Margarets voice from the living room.
“Liam, darling, show me those diamonds of Emilys again,” she cooed. “Such beauty going to waste!”
Emily froze, gripping a plate as irritation surged inside her.
“Mum, theyre her inheritance from her grandmother,” Liam said. “Shell wear them when she wants.”
“I know, I know,” Margaret sighed. “But Cynthia Whitmores daughter is getting married next month. Imagine the impression Id make wearing that set!”
Emily walked in, setting the plates down with deliberate calm.
“Margaret, as Ive said before, these pieces mean a lot to me.”
“Just for one evening!” Margaret clasped her hands pleadingly. “Ill be ever so careful!”
“No,” Emily said firmly.
The air at the table grew heavy. Liam ate silently, avoiding her gaze, while Margaret pushed her plate away with a pointed sigh.
Over the next month, Margaret visited more often, always finding an excuse to mention the diamonds.
“Emily, dear,” shed say sweetly, “the university reunion is coming up, and the vice-chancellor will be there. Id love to look my best!”
“You have plenty of lovely jewellery, Margaret,” Emily replied, forcing patience.
“Not like yours!” Margaret would exclaim. “Liam, tell her!”
And then Liam began to change. Where hed once stayed silent, he now took his mothers side.
“Em, whats the harm?” hed say when they were alone. “Mums not asking forever.”
“Liam, these were Grandmas! She trusted me with them!”
“Honestly, its just jewellery,” hed dismiss. “Youre upsetting Mum over nothing.”
Emily stared at him, bewildered. Where was the thoughtful man shed married?
One evening, after another visit from Margaret, the argument erupted.
“Your mother is unbearable!” Emily burst out the moment the door closed.
“Youre the unbearable one!” Liam snapped unexpectedly. “Hoarding trinkets like a miser!”
She recoiled. Trinkets? He called her grandmothers legacy trinkets? Her chest tightened. This wasnt the man she knew.
“If thats how you see them,” her voice shook, “then we dont speak the same language.”
“Mums right,” Liam pressed. “Youre selfish. Its always about you!”
Tears burned her throat. She clenched her fists, refusing to let him see how deep his words cut. Without another word, she turned and slammed the bedroom door behind her.
Margarets sixtieth birthday loomed. Emily agonised over a gift.
“Margaret, is there anything youd like?” she asked during a visit.
Margaret gave her a patronising smile. “Oh, I have everything I need, dear.”
Emily glanced at Liam, who was glued to his phone.
“Liam, what should we get your mum?” she asked that evening.
“Dunno. Figure it out.”
“But shes your mother!”
“So?” He tossed his phone aside irritably. “She said she doesnt want anything.”
Emily bought an expensive silk scarf and French perfume, wrapping them elegantly despite her unease.
The morning of the party, she dressed in an emerald-green gown, reaching for her grandmothers less valuable emerald earrings. She opened the jewellery boxand froze. The velvet slots were empty.
Her pulse spiked. She tore through the dresser, checked every shelf. Nothing. She stormed into the kitchen, where Liam sipped his coffee calmly.
“Liam! Where are my diamonds?” Her voice cracked.
He took another sip before answering flatly, “I gave them to Mum. They suit her better.”
The room swayed.
“What did you do?” she whispered.
“What shouldve been done ages ago,” he said, setting his cup down. “Stop being so selfish!”
“They were mine! How dare you?!”
She gripped the table edge, vision blurring with rage. Liam stood, unmoved. His indifference hurt more than his words.
“Oh, quit the dramatics! Mum deserves them more. At least shell wear them!”
“That wasnt your decision to make!”
“Watch your tone! Thats my mother!”
“And Im your wife! Or does that not matter anymore?”
She grabbed her bag and fled. The taxi ride to Margarets was a blur.
Margaret answered the door in a crimson dresswearing Emilys diamonds.
“Emily? Youre early!”
“Take them off,” Emily hissed.
“Excuse me?” Margaret stepped back.
Emily lunged for the necklace clasp. Margaret shrieked, swatting at her.
“Thief! Ill call the police!”
“Go ahead,” Emily said coldly, yanking the earrings free. “Explain how your son stole his wifes inheritance.”
Margarets face purpled with rage. “How dare you ruin my day! Liam will never forgive you!”
Emily paused in the doorway. “Dont expect me at the party. I never thought youd stoop this low.”
She slammed the door hard enough to rattle the windows.
At home, Liam was waiting, furious.
“Have you lost your mind?!” he shouted. “You humiliated Mum!”
“Your mothers a thief,” Emily said, brushing past him. “And so are you. How could you?”
“How dare you!” he blocked her path. “Mum wanted them, so she got them!”
Emily stared at him, chest aching. Three years of love, ending like this. He looked like a stranger.
“And what am I to you? Nothing?”
“Youre selfish! Valuing stones over family!”
The words sliced deep. She bit her lip, refusing to cry. Fury steadied her.
“Youre a spineless mummys boy whod rob his wife for her whims! Get out of my flat!”
He stepped back, stunned.
“What?!”
“You heard me. Pack your things and run back to Mummy. Since she matters more!”
“Y-you cant kick me out!”
“Watch me. The flats in my nameor did you forget? Or maybe youll gift that to her too?”
A month later, the divorce was final. Emily sat in the empty flat when her phone rangMargarets number.
“Well, happy now?” Margaret sneered. “Stones mattered more than your marriage!”
Emily smirked.
“No. You prized shiny rocks over your sons happiness,” she said calmly. “You made him steal from me.”
“How dare”
Emily hung up. The jewellery box sat open on her dresser, diamonds glinting softly. Her grandmothers legacy was still hers.
Six months passed. The silence, once jarring, was now healing. Shed returned the diamonds to the box but kept it on her vanityno longer a source of pain, but a reminder of love and strength. Shed thrown herself into a new job, reconnected with old friends whod quietly disapproved of Liam all along.
One Saturday, as she brewed coffee, a text arrived from the family solicitor whod handled her grandmothers will.
“Emily, we need to meet regarding your grandmothers estate. Theres a condition requiring your attention.”
Her heart skipped. What now?
On Monday, she sat across from the solicitors oak desk as he handed her an envelope.
“Your grandmother was a wise woman,” he said. “When she gave you those jewels, she left this letter with meto be delivered only if they caused serious conflict in your marriage. Given the divorce the condition was met.”
Hands trembling, she opened it. Her grandmothers elegant script read:
“My dear Emily, if youre reading this, my fears were justified. True value isnt seen by all. These stones arent just jewelstheyre a test. I didnt leave them to gather dust, nor to breed discord. I left them because I saw in you a bright, strong spirit meant to shine as they do. Sell them, my love. Buy yourself what
