Chapter 781: Half a Jade Pendant

"That woman also has a son. If you can make the boy disappear without a trace, the reward is two thousand yuan." Bernice’s next words made the thugs’ eyes light up, glinting with greed.

’Three thousand yuan! They’d never earn that much money in their entire lives.’

"For a human life? Two thousand is too little."

"I’ll add another thousand. If you won’t do it, I’ll find someone else. There are plenty of people who’d jump at the chance to earn this money," Bernice sneered.

"Deal!"

The thugs sealed the deal. Four thousand yuan was worth the risk. Besides, it was just a woman and a child in a remote mountain village. As long as they were careful, they were sure no one would find out.

"Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The boy may be young, but he’s a tough fighter. And the woman is quite popular in her village. You’d better be careful and not cause any trouble for me," Bernice cautioned.

In truth, she wasn’t too worried. She had disguised herself every time she met these men, wearing sunglasses and a silk scarf that covered half her face. There was no way they could recognize her.

"Don’t worry, we’ll get the job done."

The thugs didn’t take Rosalind Green and her son seriously at all. ’Just a widow and her orphan son,’ they thought. ’They’ll be easy to deal with.’

Jacqueline Spann left, feeling reassured and in a very good mood. Soon, she would be the real Mrs. Hawthorne. Once she had a son with Ethan Hawthorne, the Hawthorne family’s fortune would all be hers.

The thugs stared at the five hundred yuan on the table, their eyes burning with greed.

"Boss, when are we heading to Millstone Peak?"

"We’ll go tomorrow. Tonight, we’ll go have some fun first."

"Let’s wait for Number Three."

An hour later, a thug with a weaselly face returned. It was Number Three. "Boss, I followed that broad to Silvan District. Damn, she lives in a mansion with a garden. No wonder she’s so loaded."

"Not just loaded, she’s a real looker, too. Get her address. We can pay her a visit later and squeeze her for some cash."

The thugs exchanged knowing, lecherous glances and burst out laughing, their expressions utterly vile.

When Jacqueline Spann learned that Bernice had made the necessary arrangements, she was relieved. ’Adrian Hawthorne’s luck is about to run out.’ She hated the Thorne family and she hated Adrian Hawthorne. It would be for the best if they all met with misfortune.

"I’m going to have a drink."

Bernice was in high spirits. She took a bottle of red wine from the liquor cabinet and began to drink by herself. It wasn’t long before she’d finished nearly half the bottle. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was slightly tipsy. She had even taken off her wool sweater, leaving her in just a blouse with an open collar, where a pendant was partially visible.

"Auntie, your jade pendant is broken."

Jacqueline Spann got a clear look at the pendant. It was half of a jade piece, with an irregular break that clearly showed it had been shattered. ’Why would Bernice wear a broken pendant like that?’ she wondered. ’It’s not like she can’t afford new jewelry.’

Bernice’s expression changed. She grabbed the half-pendant to look at it, then let out a long sigh before downing the rest of her wine in one gulp. She stared blankly at Jacqueline Spann, gently stroking her hair and face as her own gaze transformed.

"Mama’s so sorry... but Mama had no choice. If I had kept you, neither of us would have survived... Mama misses you so much... Where are you...?"

Bernice hugged Jacqueline Spann, murmuring to herself. She was drunk now, mistaking Jacqueline for her daughter, speaking of her hardships and her longing. Jacqueline Spann remained silent, slowly piecing together what Bernice was saying, her heart in turmoil.

’So, my aunt has a seven-year-old daughter—the same age as that damned girl, Tanya Thorne. But my cousin was abandoned not long after she was born, left with only half of a jade pendant. The other half is the one Bernice wears; together, they’d make a whole.’