The Sapphire Ring: Unraveling the Past

The Sapphire Ring: Unraveling the Past
Lucian, who was often composed, was surprisingly anxious as he hit the accelerator. 

He didn’t want to wait any longer to discover if his mother-in-law’s heirloom was hidden in the photo frame.
A grim expression was set on Roxanne’s countenance. Her heart was racing. Winnie cares so much about the object Mom left behind that she’s still searching for it after failing for more than a decade. Whatever it is, it must be important. Perhaps it’s evidence that she killed Mom. I really want to know how she inflicted a slow-acting poison on Mom because they didn’t interact with each other directly back then!
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Jarvis residence.
It was morning, but Bill was still searching around with the bodyguards. They knocked on the walls, trying to locate a hidden storage space.
When he saw the couple rushing in, he asked, “Did something happen?”
Lucian shook his head, zipped through the living room, and entered his mother-in-law’s room.
Seeing that the wedding photo was still affixed on the wall, he became more at ease.
The picture was hung relatively high, so Roxanne grabbed a chair for Lucian to stand on before he carefully lowered the picture frame.
This is heavy! The mahogany frame must be expensive.
Confusion swirled in Bill’s eyes as he watched the couple. A few seconds later, he understood something.
“I examined the picture before but didn’t notice how unusual the frame was.” As a famous, experienced cop, he could swiftly realize what he had missed.
Lucian nodded. Like last time, he quickly removed the heavy mahogany frame columns.
Then he brushed his hand along the columns and grinned. The difference in weight is subtle, but I can still tell one side is lighter than the others.
He proceeded to lay three other frame columns aside and inspected the one in his hand scrupulously.
No one could notice anything odd about it because its peculiarity couldn’t be spotted with the naked eye.
However, Lucian used another method to detect it. He knocked on the column from top to bottom while listening to the sound it produced attentively.
Knock, knock. Knock, knock…
For the most part, the produced sound was dull and quiet.
Near the end of the column, that sound became crisper.
Promptly, Lucian and Roxanne exchanged a look of delight.
Bill was visibly elated. “You two found it! That section of the column has clearly been hollowed out. Wait for me. Don’t break it open with brute force. I’ll go grab some tools before we figure out how to saw it open.”
Lucian nodded in agreement because whatever was hidden within might be damaged if the column was shattered haphazardly.
Moments later, Bill returned to the room with a tiny saw and meticulously cut the column.
By the end, the sawn-off section revealed a tiny, concealed tube, which had almost been damaged during the process.
The tube was lodged inside that hollow section of the column. Its ingenious design prevented it from making any sounds.
“There should be a piece of paper hiding inside. Maybe all the answers are written there.” Looking at the tube, Lucian slowly removed it from the column.
When he did, he noticed the tube had a hollowed center.
It was then a faint blue light flashed before the trio’s eyes.
Bill was fast and caught the ring falling to the ground in time.
Then he opened his palm and handed the ring to Roxanne.
Lucian’s attention was also drawn to the ring. As he stared at the blue ring in his wife’s hand, he exclaimed, “This is a priceless sapphire!”
 The will contained records of the last three years of Roxanne’s mother’s life, which read: My daughter, my beloved Roxanne, I wonder how many years will pas before you read this will. Will it be a decade? Two decades? Or perhaps you’ll never find it. 

My daughter, I love you so, so much. You gave me the courage to accept my fate. I know my life is slipping away, but I’m not afraid at all.
I don’t understand why this terrible luck befalls you. You were only three years old. You had only learned how to jump, how to speak with standard pronunciation, and how to call me Mommy. Yet, so soon after, you would have to learn how to face the threat of death. It makes me angry at how unfair your life is. I pray to the heavens that you’ll keep living no matter how. If the price I must pay for that wish is to be banished to hell, I’ll gladly accept it.
You had a congenital genetic disorder. I took you to visit many doctors, and I finally found a way to treat you. However, the medical fee required for the treatment is a million. I didn’t have the money, so I asked your father for help.
Your father’s cheating on me. He thought he hid it well, but I knew. I was heartbroken and devastated. I’ve lost count of the nights I spent crying about it.
However, in order to obtain the necessary fund for your treatment, I must endure the pain patiently to draw more money from him.
I didn’t expect him to do such a heartless thing even though he promised he’d die of old age with me. He aimed to exploit my kindness and lied to me about picking up an orphan. I knew the child belong to him and his mistress, but I didn’t say anything about it.
Your father kept asking me to take care of that child. Back then, I had to obey him to get the money I needed to save you. Each time, I’d ask for tens of thousands from him. He would mock and humiliate me mercilessly. I knew his mistress was secretly controlling him.
Finally, I gathered one million from him. It was time for your treatment. The doctor said the surgery might negatively affect your body afterward, so I was concerned you would suffer sequela. It wasn’t until you woke up and cried for me that I relaxed.
Then, I noticed something was wrong with my body. I’m confident I was poisoned by that homewrecker. After thinking about when she could’ve done it, I realized it must’ve been when I cared for her child. I visited him twice every week, but I stopped once you recovered.
I’m getting incoherent now, my daughter. At the time of writing this, my eyesight has weakened considerably. Of course, I don’t want things to end this way. I want to keep living and watch you grow up. I’ve been obedient to your father because I hope he’ll at least be a responsible dad to you.
Roxanne, I’ve just learned the homewrecker’s name. She even gave birth to two children. I’m worried they’ll bully you when they grow up. However, I can’t hold on any longer. The happiest moments of my life were when you cheerfully returned from kindergarten and hugged me.
I hope you’ll grow up happily. In the future, don’t end up like me and marry the wrong man. Also, I hope you’ll have your own career.
Roxanne, my good daughter, I’ll always love you. Even when I die, don’t get sad. Instead, you must learn how to survive. I’ll be watching over you from the heavens.
I think I may leave this world soon, Roxanne. Now that Rachel has left, I feel a little lonely. Aside from you, there’s nothing else I’ll miss about the world.
I hope you’ll one day wear that ring, Roxanne. My mother pased it down to me, and now I’m pasing it down to you. Once you’ve become capable after growing up, avenge me. Don’t forgive any of them!
Remember to marry the right man, Roxanne…