The look on my sister’s face when I dumped our grandmother’s jewelry on her coffee table in front of all her friends was priceless. Sophia had always gotten away with everything… until now. Sometimes public humiliation is the only language entitled people understand.
I never thought I’d have to write something like this. Families are supposed to protect and love each other. But sometimes, the people closest to you are the ones who can hurt you the most. I learned that the hard way.
It all started with a phone call.
I was finishing up some work at home when my grandmother, Carol, called me.
“Joyce, sweetie… do you know where my jewelry is?” she asked in a trembling voice.
I frowned, setting down my laptop. “What do you mean, Grandma?”
“My jewelry. My wedding ring. My mother’s pearls. The bracelet your grandfather gave me on our anniversary. They’re all… gone.”
My stomach twisted into knots. Grandma wasn’t the type to misplace things. She had a big old wooden jewelry box where she kept her most precious items.
She opened it every Sunday just to admire them.
It wasn’t because they were expensive. She just did that because all those pieces held memories, and they reminded her of a well-lived life.
And now they were gone? How was that even possible?
“Don’t worry, Grandma,” I said, already grabbing my keys. “I’ll be right over.”
When I arrived, she was sitting on the couch with the wooden jewelry box on the table. Her hands were shaking as she opened the lid.
It was empty. Completely empty.
My chest tightened.
“Grandma, did anyone come over recently?” I asked. “Someone who could have taken them?”
She hesitated before whispering, “Sophia was here yesterday.”
Of course. Sophia.
She was my younger sister, the golden child, and the one who always wanted more, more, and more. She was also drowning in credit card debt but refused to get a job because she thought she deserved a luxurious lifestyle without working for it.
I clenched my jaw. “What did she say?”
“She was acting strange,” Grandma murmured. “Kept saying she wanted to try on my jewelry. I didn’t think much of it. But now…”
She trailed off, her eyes filling with tears. A single drop slid down her cheek, leaving a glistening trail on her weathered skin.
That was it. I couldn’t see her cry. I couldn’t let anyone make my grandma cry.
“I’ll handle this,” I promised, hugging her tight. “Don’t worry.”
Grandma shook her head. “I don’t want to cause trouble, Joyce. She’s your sister.”