Chapter92 Coming-of-Age Gift
The shopping mall.
As soon as Miranda reached the first floor, she spotted her mother sitting by the café's floor-to-ceiling windows.
Arabella wore an elegant beige suit, her demeanor refined and gentle. Time seemed to have favored her particularly, leaving few traces on her face.
She held a coffee cup, her gaze frequently drifting toward the entrance. She'd clearly been waiting for a while.
"Mom." Miranda hurried over and gently hugged her from behind.
"Miranda." Arabella set down her cup and pulled her daughter into the seat beside her. Her gentle eyes immediately examined her up and down, her brow furrowing slightly. "You've lost so much weight. Have you been too busy at work to eat properly?"
Miranda touched her cheek, caught between laughter and tears.
She thought, how could that be possible?
Prescott's chef had skills rivaling a three-Michelin-star restaurant. She'd weighed herself just two days ago and had actually gained four pounds.
She smiled and linked arms with her mother, resting her head affectionately on her shoulder. "Mom, I haven't lost weight at all. I've gained. Are you saying this because you want me to buy less today?"
Arabella laughed at her daughter's playful manner, tapping her forehead with one finger, her eyes full of indulgence. "Would your mother be that stingy? Come on, whatever catches your eye today, I'll buy it for you."
"You said it!"
Mother and daughter exchanged smiles, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.
It had been so long since Miranda could shop with her mother this carefree. The gloom of recent weeks swept away completely. Miranda felt wonderful.
From jewelry and watches on the first floor to designer brands on the third, mother and daughter made quite the haul. Several store clerks had already helpfully taken their purchases to the car.
However, when they reached a luxury boutique on the sixth floor, Miranda's smile suddenly froze.
Not far away, a familiar figure stood before a mirror while a sales associate enthusiastically introduced the latest handbag collection.
It was Ariana.
Miranda's brow furrowed instinctively. She pulled her mother's hand and turned to leave. "Mom, let's check out that store instead. I don't like the style here."
Arabella naturally had no desire to see Ariana's face either. She nodded and was about to follow her daughter when her steps suddenly halted.
Her gaze fell on Ariana's neck, her expression instantly darkening.
Noticing her mother's reaction, Miranda followed her line of sight and asked in confusion, "Mom, what's wrong?"
Arabella's voice carried a trace of anger. "Miranda, look. That necklace Ariana's wearing, isn't that the coming-of-age gift your father and I gave you for your eighteenth birthday?"
Miranda's heart sank. She looked closely.
Around Ariana's neck was a platinum necklace composed of countless tiny diamonds that sparkled brilliantly under the lights. Hanging from the chain was a pigeon-blood ruby, the design exquisite and luxurious.
That necklace...
Miranda's breathing stopped for a moment.
It was the gift her parents had given her for her eighteenth birthday. Beyond its considerable value, most importantly, both her father and mother had personally participated in its design. It was one of a kind in the entire world.
Because it was so precious, she'd always carefully stored it in her jewelry box, only daring to wear it a handful of times for extremely important occasions.
But now, this necklace of such profound significance to her was brazenly displayed around Ariana's neck.
Mother and daughter exchanged glances, both seeing suppressed fury in the other's eyes.
They walked directly toward Ariana.
The sales associate, seeing two more customers approach, immediately put on a professional smile. She was about to greet them when she saw them bypass her and stop in front of Ariana.
The associate paused, asking tentatively, "Do you ladies know each other? This young lady has excellent taste. She just selected several items from our store. Would you like me to make some recommendations for you as well?"
Arabella forced a smile, her voice flat. "Not necessary right now. Thank you."
Miranda's gaze locked directly onto Ariana's neck.
Up close, she could see even more clearly.
Her mother wasn't mistaken. On the back of the ruby's setting, engraved in script, was her name: 'Miranda Lancaster'.
It was hers. No question.
Miranda took a deep breath. "Ariana, take off that necklace."
Only then did Ariana seem to notice them, her face showing perfectly calibrated surprise. "Miranda? Arabella? What are you doing here?"
She instinctively touched the necklace at her throat, asking with feigned confusion, "Miranda, why do you want me to take off the necklace?"
"Because it's mine." Miranda's voice was level.
Ariana laughed lightly, her tone innocent yet tinged with showing off. "Miranda, aren't you mistaken? Your father gave me this necklace."
Miranda laughed in disbelief at her brazenness. "My dad gave it to you? Ariana, are you addicted to stealing my things? First it was clothes and bags. Now you dare touch my most important possessions?"
She stepped forward, her voice calm and steady. "That necklace has my name engraved on it. If you don't return it, I'll call the police and let them handle this."
Hearing "call the police," Ariana's expression finally shifted, a barely perceptible flash of panic in her eyes.
Just then, an angry voice came from nearby.
"Miranda, what kind of behavior is this?"
Dominic appeared from another entrance, his face dark, carrying shopping bags he'd just paid for.
He'd obviously heard Miranda's last words. His expression was ugly.
He strode up and scolded harshly, "Making a scene in public. Do you have any of the manners befitting a Lancaster daughter? Last time you dared hang up on me. Now you've learned to threaten your sister?"
Seeing her father suddenly appear, Miranda felt her heart turn cold.
Before she could speak, Dominic had already positioned Ariana protectively behind him. "I've been exhausted with work lately, terrible headaches, and Ariana's been by my side the entire time, giving me massages and buying medicine. And you?"
He grew angrier as he spoke, finally waving his hand dismissively and making his decree. "It's just a necklace. I gave it to Ariana. What's wrong with her wearing it?"
"Uncle, please don't be angry." Ariana immediately grasped Dominic's arm, her eyes reddening, her voice thick with tears as she stirred the pot.
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have accepted such an expensive gift from you. Miranda, don't be angry at Uncle. I'll return the necklace to you."
Though she said this, her hand still clutched the necklace protectively, the picture of wounded innocence.
Seeing this, Dominic felt even more protective. "You don't need to return it. I said I gave it to you, so it's yours!"
His gaze cut like a knife toward his own biological daughter.
Looking at her father, Miranda felt her blood turning to ice. Her voice trembled with a last thread of hope.
"Dad, do you even remember what this necklace is?"
"It's my coming-of-age gift. You and Mom gave it to me together!"
She stared intently into Dominic's eyes, as if using every ounce of her strength.
"As long as Ariana wants something of mine, whether it's my husband or my necklace, will you personally take it from me and give it to her?"
After Miranda spoke, Dominic's face stiffened as he belatedly remembered that this necklace was indeed the coming-of-age gift he and his wife had given their daughter.
He still remembered flying personally to France to give his daughter a surprise, communicating multiple times with top designers, even drawing part of the design himself.
He even remembered how eighteen-year-old Miranda's bright eyes had shone with pure joy and adoration when she received the gift.
As if recalling those beautiful memories, the fury in Dominic's eyes faded somewhat. For a moment, he found himself speechless.
Seeing this, Ariana's heart tightened, afraid he might change his mind.
She immediately spoke, interrupting this brief moment of warmth. "Uncle, since it was Miranda's coming-of-age gift, it must be extremely meaningful. I really shouldn't have taken it."
Her tone turned resentful and aggrieved. "Unlike me, when it was my coming-of-age..."
"What about your coming-of-age?"
Ariana had only gotten halfway through when Miranda's icy voice cut her off.
Miranda stared at her as if seeing right through her.
"At your coming-of-age, didn't I, my dad, my mom, and my brother all give you gifts? To make you happy, Mom and Dad threw you a birthday party just as lavish as mine."
"Ariana, what are you playing at?"