Returning the Heirloom

Two days later, Valerie stepped out of her car in front of Bancroft Villa, holding a cellophane-wrapped fruit basket. In the past, bringing a generic supermarket gift would have seemed absurdly distant. She used to visit like family, bringing personal gifts or desserts. Now, she was an outsider paying a formal call. Polite distance was the proper boundary.

A maid opened the door and took the fruit basket with a puzzled blink. Valerie offered a crisp nod and stepped into the foyer.

Miriam Bancroft descended the marble stairs with polished grace, smoothing her silk blouse. "Val, you are finally back."

Miriam stepped off the bottom step and reached for Valerie’s hands. "Sweetie, look at you. It has been six months, and you have gotten thin. Are you getting used to working at your family's company?"

Valerie pulled back before Miriam's fingers could touch her, letting her hands rest at her sides. "I am doing well, Mrs. Bancroft. Thank you for asking."

Miriam paused, lowering her empty hands as her smile tightened. She motioned toward the leather sofa. "Come, sit down. Let the kitchen bring us some tea."

Valerie stood rooted to the polished floor. "There is no need for tea. I will not take up much of your time. Mrs. Bancroft, I came here today to cancel the engagement."

Silence descended upon the room. Two maids dusting near the grand fireplace froze.

Miriam gasped softly, the warmth vanishing from her face. She stepped closer, her voice dropping into a soothing, patronizing hum. "Val, listen to me. Did you go abroad because you were angry with Desmond? Harrison and I have already given him a firm reprimand. He only feels gratitude toward Miss Channing because she pulled him out of that river. That is all it is. They are close out of obligation. You must not overthink things, darling."

Valerie met Miriam's gaze calmly. In her previous life, she had believed those excuses until Desmond destroyed her family and handed her divorce papers without mercy.

Valerie looked her straight in the eye. "That is not the reason, Mrs. Bancroft. I simply do not love Desmond anymore."

Miriam parted her lips in shock. Valerie had chased Desmond for years, enduring his cold indifference with stubborn loyalty. Hearing her discard that bond sounded unthinkable.

Miriam raised a hand to her pearl necklace. "Val, you cannot mean that. You two grew up together. You are meant to be his wife."

Valerie unzipped her bag and placed a heavy red velvet box firmly onto the glass coffee table between them. The antique box gleamed against the crystal surface.

Miriam stared down at it. The Bancroft heirloom ring rested inside, a priceless antique reserved exclusively for the heir’s lawful bride.

Valerie clasped her hands lightly. "It is no longer right for me to keep this. I am returning it to its rightful owner."

Miriam’s breath hitched in her throat. "Val, does your father know about this? Do your parents agree?"

Valerie cut her off with a crisp tone. "I am the one involved, so I can make this decision myself. Take care, Mrs. Bancroft. I will take my leave now."

Without waiting for an answer, Valerie gave a polite bow, turned on her heel, and walked out the front doors.

The crisp air hit her face the moment she cleared the stone porch. As Valerie walked down the wide steps toward the driveway, two tall figures came around the curved hedge. Desmond Bancroft walked with his hands buried in his trouser pockets, his dark blazer slung over one shoulder. Beside him, Tobias strolled with an easy swagger.

Six months had passed since she last saw him. In her previous life, an absence of six days would have broken her heart. Now, seeing him felt like looking at a stranger.

Desmond stopped mid-step, his eyes flickering over her with cold boredom. He did not say a word. He stood with his hands in his pockets, radiating indifference.

Tobias stepped forward with an arrogant smirk. "Well, look who finally decided to come home. Valerie, you went running to Aunt Miriam to file a complaint the second your plane landed, didn't you?"

Valerie did not slow down. She fixed Tobias with a dead-eyed stare that erased his smirk, ignoring him as she walked past.

Desmond brushed past her and climbed the steps into the villa without a backward glance, indifferent to her departure.

Tobias scratched his head, baffled by her silence, and hurried after Desmond into the house.

Valerie reached the driveway and pulled open the door of the silver sedan. She had picked the car from her family's garage in a hurry, discovering too late that it was a manual transmission. Now, her foot struggled against the stiff clutch.

She turned the ignition key. The engine coughed, sputtered loudly, and died.

Valerie gripped the steering wheel, depressed the clutch, and turned the key again, but the starter whined without catching.

A red sports car pulled up beside her, and Lydia Beckett stepped out. Desmond’s aunt adjusted her oversized sunglasses, sneering as she walked over and rested a manicured hand on the car door frame.

Valerie rolled down the window. "Good afternoon, Aunt Lydia."

Lydia let out a harsh laugh. "Look at you. You cannot even handle a car, and you still think you can somehow control my nephew? Dream on."

The engine caught with a low roar. Valerie shifted into neutral, holding down the brake.

Lydia took a step forward, blocking the front fender with blatant hostility. "I heard you spent the last six months wandering around abroad. Did you manage to find someone over there? If you did, you had better hold onto him. Desmond is not someone you can reach for anymore."

Valerie nodded with an even expression. "Understood."

Lydia paused, surprised by the lack of tears or anger. Finding no resistance, she lifted her chin, her voice sharp with disdain. "Good. You and Desmond do not match at all. He has no interest in a rich, brainless princess who has nothing going for her except looks and money. He is close with Vanessa now, and you had better not get in her way. Vanessa has an Ivy League doctorate from a top university. She is not like you, a girl who only knows shopping, eating, and spending. Desmond needs someone who can stand beside him as an equal."

In her past life, Lydia had sung Vanessa's praises while treating Valerie like dirt. Hearing the same words now only brought dull detachment.

Valerie tightened her fingers around the steering wheel and kept her voice completely level. "I do not want to get involved in Desmond and Vanessa's business anymore. If he is willing to officially call off the engagement himself, that would be even better. Please move out of my way."

Lydia let out an incredulous snort. "Drop your act. Pretending you do not care will not fool anyone."

Lydia stepped back and turned away. Valerie hit the gas without hesitation, steering down the driveway and leaving Lydia behind in a cloud of exhaust.

Inside the living room, panic gripped Miriam the moment the front door clicked shut. The velvet box rested on the table. If Harrison discovered that Valerie had returned the heirloom ring, the scandal would threaten their business alliances.

Footsteps sounded in the foyer. Miriam lunged forward, snatched the velvet box, and shoved it deep into her cardigan pocket just as Desmond and Tobias entered.

Tobias called out with an easy smile. "Hello, Mrs. Bancroft."

Miriam forced a polite smile, her hand remaining buried in her pocket over the velvet box. "Hello, Tobias."

Desmond walked past the foyer toward the stairs, his eyes glued to his phone screen as he tapped out a message.

Miriam hurried a few steps after him, desperate to bridge the widening distance. "Desmond, Valerie was just here. Did you see her outside? I heard she is working at her family's company now. Don't forget to show her some care, okay?"

Desmond turned a deaf ear to her plea, walking toward the stairs without looking up from his phone.

Tobias sank into the sofa and let out a mocking laugh. "Valerie running an office? She probably went to her dad's company just to mess things up. Let's hope she doesn't ruin Ellsworth Group before the month ends."

Desmond offered no reaction, unbothered by Tobias's insults as he climbed the stairs.

A few minutes later, Lydia entered the room. Tobias cracked jokes that had both Lydia and Miriam laughing, but beneath Miriam's smile, her palm was damp against the velvet box in her pocket.

Desmond soon descended the stairs in a tailored dark suit and crisp white shirt, a platinum watch on his wrist.

Lydia’s eyes softened with open affection. "Desi, are you off to a date?"

Desmond reached into his pocket for his car keys. He had an evening reservation with Vanessa.

Tobias jumped to his feet before Desmond could answer, flashing a grin. "Yep. A date with me."

Lydia laughed, shaking her head. "Come on, stop teasing me."

Desmond checked his watch with a subtle flicker of impatience. "We are leaving."

Miriam watched him head for the door. Desmond never dressed up in tailored suits for casual drinks with Tobias, nor did he watch the clock for anyone besides Vanessa. Tobias's joke was an obvious cover, but Miriam swallowed her bitter words.

Tobias waved cheerfully. "Goodbye, Mrs. Bancroft!"

Desmond pushed the front door open and walked out into the evening without looking back.

Miriam stood alone beside the staircase, her fingers clutched around the hard edges of the velvet box deep in her pocket as the grand front doors swung shut.