chapter1336

Although Astrid never revealed where Evelyn's collection of glittering jewelry came from, Thalassa had her suspicions. It must be the handiwork of Bruce when he was at his charming best.

Bruce had a silver tongue, especially when it came to wooing women with shiny trinkets. And poor Evelyn had been utterly beguiled, ensnared by his sweet nothings.

Bruce was such a loathsome creature that Thalassa could barely contain her urge to tear him to pieces! Why on earth would she want to hold onto anything that bastard had given Evelyn?

Jewelry was just ordinary stuff, after all. Selling it for cash made sense, to buy Astrid some treats, maybe a hearty steak and some medical care.

As for the jade pearls, they had the look of an antique.

If it was truly an antique, it had to be worth pretty much. Bruce, that penny-pincher, wouldn't part with something so valuable for a woman, would he?

That's why Thalassa was convinced the jade pearl couldn't possibly come from Bruce. They must have a story behind them. So she decided to keep the pearl.

"Thalassa, | don't need any fancy treats, I'm not a child anymore,” Astrid insisted, unwilling to let Thalassa sell Evelyn's jewelry. It was, after all, a tangible memory of Evelyn. Without it, even that small comfort would be gone.

Gently patting Astrid's hand, Thalassa reassured her, "Auntie, trust me, | know what I'm doing. | would never dishonor Mom's memory. Having this jade pearl is enough."

How could she possibly keep anything from Bruce, the man who had made her mother's life so miserable?

To hold onto anything he gave her mother would be the ultimate disrespect.

She intended to erase every trace of Bruce that lingered around her mother.

She hoped her mother would never have to encounter Bruce's soul, in this life or the next.

“Alright, if you've made up your mind, then that's that," Astrid said with tearful eyes. "It's getting late, you should go to bed." "Sure, Auntie, you should get some rest too," Thalassa said, soothing her aunt until she lay down. Then she left Astrid's room. She had intended to sleep with the kids, but after they had cried themselves to sleep, she didn't want to disturb them. Instead, she headed to a spare room.

Their villa was a gift from Lysander, well-furnished and totally different from their former dilapidated home.

The decor was exquisite, but lying in the well-appointed room, Thalassa felt none of the warmth she'd known in their old house.

There was neither sense of home, nor familiar scents or sounds.

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Her heart skipped a beat, and she threw back the covers to peer toward the edge of the bed.

Ashadow loomed, a tall and lean figure whose intense gaze seemed to emit an eerie glow in the moonlight, commanding yet terrifying.

"Ah!" Thalassa’s heart contracted in shock, and she instinctively sat up, scooting backward.

"Don't be afraid. It's me." The man

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Recognizing Lysander's voice, Thalassa's first instinct was to push away his hands. "Don't come any closer!" she muttered.