Wheres my ring?! Eleanor shouted, turning the whole bedroom upside down. My emeraldset ring is nowhere to be found!
She stood in the middle of the room, breathing heavily, surrounded by open drawers and overturned boxes. Her hands trembled with rising panic. The ring was her pride bought with the bonus shed received for her first major award, a reminder of how far shed climbed in the firm. And now it had vanished.
Andrew let out a tired sigh, pulling himself away from his mobile.
Ellen, it cant have disappeared. You must have just misplaced it. Youll remember where it is once you calm down, he said.
Im sure of it, Eleanor turned to her husband, eyes blazing. I only ever keep it in the little jewellery box on the dresser. Never anywhere else. You know that.
Andrew waved her off. Itll turn up. Dont get worked up over nothing.
Nothing? Eleanors voice rose sharply. Its not nothing, Andrew, its something valuable It must be Charlotte. Shes the only one who could have taken it. Shes the only one who could have done it!
Andrew furrowed his brow, set his phone aside, and stared at her with thinly veiled irritation.
Youre blowing this out of proportion. Christine would never do that.
Really? Eleanor crossed her arms. Who else has been in our flat the past three months, poking around while were at work? I want her to give the ring back this instant. Lets drive to her place now.
Andrews shoulders tightened, his lips forming a thin line. He clearly didnt want the trip, didnt want a scene, but Eleanor would not back down.
Ellen, maybe we should think this through. Why would she need your ring?
Its beautiful and expensive. Lets go. Now.
With Andrews reluctant sighs, they packed themselves into the car and headed for the village of Ashford, a few miles outside London. Eleanor sat in the passenger seat, phone clutched tight, her thoughts churning. Every kilometre felt like an effort. Andrew remained silent, only casting occasional sharp glances at her, full of quiet rebuke.
After about an hour they arrived at Andrews parents cottage, greeted by an uneasy quiet. Eleanor was the first out of the car and marched straight to the front door.
Margaret, Andrews mother, opened it and froze on the threshold, astonishment etched on her face.
Andrew? Ellen? What on earth? she asked, surprised. We werent expecting you.
Wheres Charlotte? Eleanor snapped, skipping the pleasantries.
Shes home, of course. She just arrived from you yesterday, Margaret said, stepping aside to let them in. Come in, whats happened?
Eleanor entered the sitting room where Henry, Andrews father, and Charlotte were already seated. Charlotte looked up, her eyes widening.
Charlotte, you must return my ring at once, Eleanor announced, stopping in the centre of the room. Otherwise things will get very messy. I wont let this slide.
A heavy silence fell. Henry rose slowly from his chair.
Who gave you permission to behave like this in someone elses house? his voice was low and threatening. Are you accusing our daughter of theft?
Im stating the facts, Eleanor replied, her heart thudding in her throat. My emerald ring has disappeared. It vanished after Charlotte left. No one else has been in the flat.
Margaret shouted, My daughter would never steal! Youre insulting our whole family!
Exactly. Explain where my ring is. Hurry up, because my patience is wearing thin, Eleanor demanded.
Andrew stood by the door, pale and silent, his gaze flickering between his wife and his sister before returning to the floor.
Charlottes lower lip quivered, tears welling in her eyes.
I I just wanted to try it on for a moment. Its so beautiful. I thought you wouldnt notice if I put it back, she stammered, voice breaking. I didnt mean any harm.
Eleanor was stunned. She had expected denial, outrage, maybe a tantrum, but not such a candid confession, delivered as if she herself were at fault.
Is that it? Eleanor exhaled, feeling anger surge. I spent my bonus on that ring, worked three extra months to earn it, and you just took it without asking! Thats absurd!
Ellen, calm down, Henry finally intervened. Youre making a mountain out of a molehill. Shes young, she just admires pretty things. You already have everythinggood job, a home, a husband. Let her keep it as a reminder of you, and you can buy another.
Are you serious? Eleanor gasped. You think I should hand over something I paid for because my sisterinlaw wants it?
Margaret moved forward, putting an arm around Eleanors shoulders. Sweetheart, Charlotte isnt doing this out of malice. Shes simply envious of your ring. You have a stable life, shes just starting out. Dont be selfish; its not the most important thing in life.
Eleanor turned to Andrew, searching his eyes for any sign of support, any word in her defence. He only shook his head, avoiding her gaze.
Youre overreacting, Ellen, he said finally. Its just a ring. Not the end of the world.
It was just a ringher achievement, her joy, her property. Standing among the people she had long considered family, Eleanor suddenly realised how mistaken she had been.
Her hands steadied. A cold calm settled inside her.
She pulled out her phone, dialed three digits, and held it up to Margarets face.
Ill give you two minutes, she said, voice flat and icy. Return the ring to me, or Ill call the police. Your choice.
You wont Henry lunged forward, his face turning bright red.
Well see, Eleanor replied, unmoved.
Charlotte began to sob loudly, clutching her mother. Margaret shot Eleanor a furious look but said nothing.
Times ticking, Eleanor reminded.
Andrew! Margaret implored. Say something to your wife! Stop her!
Andrew remained silent, staring at the floor. Eleanor smirked, bitterly. She reached for the call button.
Enough, enough! Charlotte shrieked, darting to her room and returning a minute later with a familiar velvet box. She slammed it onto the table in front of Eleanor.
Take it! My precious ring! You greedy, miserly witch!
Eleanor lifted the box, opened itinside, the emerald sparkled as before. She slipped it into the pocket of her coat and closed the box.
Youre a terrible person, Charlotte sniffed, wiping tears from her cheeks. I thought you were decent, but youre just cruel.
Eleanor headed for the door, pausing at the threshold. Her voice rang with barely contained fury.
If Im so bad, why did I live in this house for three months? I paid the rent, used the internet, the hot water? If Im so terrible, why did you ask me to pay for your courses? Explain that to me, she demanded.
Charlotte turned away, speechless.
Andrew stood there, hunched, still not looking up. Eleanor, with disdain, said, I didnt expect this from you, Andrew. Given your family, it isnt surprising youd be like this.
She thrust a set of keys into his hand.
What? he asked.
The car is mine too. I bought it with my own money. Hand over the keys.
Ellen
Keys! she snapped.
He fished them from his pocket and placed them in her palm. She clenched them into a fist and, at the doorway, turned once more.
Ill move my things tomorrow, and Ill file for divorce then, she said, stepping out without waiting for a reply.
A month later the divorce was finalized. Eleanor looked at the dresser; the jewellery box sat exactly where it always had. On the velvet cushion inside, her emerald ring gleamed.
Her phone buzzed on the tableanother notification. Former relatives were accusing her of coldness, selfishness, destroying the family. She simply added their numbers to her blocked list, as she had done with dozens of others.
Life without Andrew proved simple and light. The troubles of his family no longer touched her. She didnt care whether Charlotte found a job or not, nor how his parents would survive the winter.
Eleanor began to make plans for herself, looking forward to holidays spent with those who truly loved her.
She had learned that clinging to material symbols and grudges only weighs you down; letting go of false expectations frees you to live authentically and find genuine happiness.
