Beyond the Divorce novel Chapter 1363

My father thought for a moment. "Your mother did have a family crest—a brooch. Your mother carried it to commemorate her time in the Avila family."

"Oh? Do you know where it ended up?" I couldn't wait to ask, thrilled that this family crest actually existed.

My father shook his head and sighed, "I don't know. I never saw it again after your mother and I parted ways."

His voice choked up as he spoke about it.

Coming back home, he mainly reminisced about my mother. I suppose that was his greatest emotional wound. He returned, but his beloved was no longer with him.

That kind of pain must have been unbearable. So, every time my mother was mentioned, he would tear up slightly.

I pressed further. "So, where did Mom usually keep her jewelry? I mean, when you were together?"

"Your mother wasn't fond of jewelry. I think she avoided them to avoid putting pressure on me. After we got together, she knew I was struggling financially, so she rarely wore jewelry. That brooch was part of a set which she only wore for special occasions."

My father seemed lost in memories.

"So, I only saw that brooch once or twice. When my business with Louis did well, and we made some money, I bought her a few decent pieces of jewelry. She kept them all in her jewelry box on the dressing table in our bedroom."

To me, everything he said felt like storytelling. I had almost no recollection of any of it. Even their house in Nocturnia was completely unfamiliar to me.

"I once suggested she keep it in a safe. She laughed and said, 'In this house, with its doors open at night, why bother locking anything?'" My father's face lit up with a fond smile as if he could see his beloved wife.

My heart ached a little, and I teared up.

Lauren patted my shoulder, comforting me. "Don't be sad. Maybe you'll remember it someday."

"Why did you suddenly ask about this brooch?" My father looked at me with suspicion.

"Trinity told me about it. She went to Yare some time ago, and she brought it up when I visited her today," I replied. "From what she hinted, this thing seems to have a deeper significance."

My father seemed lost in thought, so I continued, "So I asked because I haven't heard Atlas mention it. Logically, it's most likely with Celine but her behavior lately suggests that she doesn't seem to have it."

"Celine has been stirring up trouble all her life. Just how many secrets does she still have hidden?" Lauren scoffed.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Fred calling.