Before the Cursed Necklace Chose Us

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Before the Cursed Necklace Chose Us

NovelMaster Completed
浪漫-Romance现实主义-Realistic重生-Reborn

Grandma Vivian owned an heirloom necklace, meant to be passed down to one of us three sisters. She first gave it to Elara, my eldest sister, urging her to wear it always. After wearing the necklace, Elara suddenly became withdrawn and mournful, locking herself in her room day after day. No matter what Chloe, my younger sister, and I tried, we couldn’t get her to come out. It wasn't until the morning I was leaving for college, when I went to say goodbye, that I found Elara. She had taken an entire bottle of sleeping pills and passed away. Chloe and I were devastated. I wanted to stay until Elara’s funeral, but Grandma Vivian sent me away. On the bus back to college, Chloe called me, her voice filled with excited surprise. Grandma Vivian had given the necklace to her. A knot of unease tightened in my stomach, but all I could do was tell Chloe to be careful. Yet, before I could even come home for break, the news about Chloe arrived. “Your sister ran away. We’ve searched everywhere, but we can’t find her.” Panic seized me. I immediately took leave from college and rushed home. My boyfriend, Noah, worried something might happen to me, came with me. We searched for two agonizing days, and still no sign of Chloe. That’s when Grandma Vivian announced she wanted to give the necklace to me. I adamantly refused, ignoring my parents' anxious glances. But then, Grandma Vivian called Noah into her room. Noah had promised to tell me everything, no matter what. But when he came out, he looked at me with open disgust, quickly gathered his things, and left. Grandma Vivian then fastened the necklace around my neck and locked me in the basement. Three days passed without food or water. In my fading moments, I saw Elara and Chloe, their faces pale, telling me to live. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment Grandma Vivian was about to give the necklace to Elara. 1 “Elara, starting today, I'm entrusting you with our family heirloom. You will shoulder the great burden of our family’s legacy.” Grandma Vivian took Elara Hayes’s hand, ready to lead her into the room. “Grandma Vivian, no! Elara can’t wear that necklace!” I rushed to stop Grandma Vivian, and all eyes in the room instantly snapped to me. “What do you think you’re doing?” Mom’s eyes darted frantically, signaling me to back off. I realized then how utterly out of place my interruption was. “Uh… it’s just that… I think the necklace is really beautiful, and I want to wear it too, Grandma Vivian. Why don’t you let me wear it instead?” Grandma Vivian’s gaze sharpened, piercing me like an eagle’s until a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. “But I had you girls discuss this already, didn’t I? Didn’t you all agree to go in order?” “Exactly! Don’t be silly, Aria! This girl is usually so sensible, what’s gotten into her today? Chloe, take your sister outside.” Chloe started to pull me away at Dad’s words, but my feet were glued to the ground, unmoving. No, I couldn't leave. I wouldn't let Elara waste away in despair like she did in my past life. “Aria, let’s just go outside, Dad’s getting angry,” Chloe whispered timidly. I knew she was scared Dad might lash out at her. I gently squeezed her arm, a silent plea for her to stay calm. “Elara, you truly can’t wear it. Aren’t you feeling unwell lately? Didn’t Grandma Vivian always say you shouldn’t take on such a thing when you’re not at your best? If it absolutely has to be Elara, why not postpone it for a few days?” “Heh heh,” Grandma Vivian chuckled, “Aria makes a good point. In that case, we’ll wait until Elara feels better.” As Grandma Vivian’s words settled, a wave of relief washed over me. I had finally changed Elara's fate. Now, I just needed to figure out the necklace’s secret. Grandma Vivian once said she'd worn the necklace constantly since it was passed to her. So, for the next few days, I watched Grandma Vivian's every move, but I found nothing. Except for Grandma Vivian’s strange, cryptic words. “Aria, don’t blame Grandma Vivian. I would never hurt you girls.” That day, I was wiping the table, my eyes glued to Grandma Vivian. Perhaps my stare was too intense, because Grandma Vivian noticed, turned, and fixed her eyes on me as she spoke. I couldn't understand what she meant. But I knew I absolutely couldn't let Elara or Chloe suffer any harm! Yet, despite my vigilance, it happened anyway. As Chloe and I returned from the market, I saw Mom’s grief-stricken expression. My heart plummeted, an ominous feeling settling in. I rushed to ask Mom, “Where’s Elara?” Mom let out a choked sob. “She’s been locked in her room all morning.” I felt like I'd been struck by lightning. Why? Why had Elara still ended up like this? “Who told you to give Elara the heirloom?” Seeing that I’d already guessed, Mom explained, “Elara insisted herself. She woke up early, said she felt fine, and went straight to your Grandma Vivian.” “I don’t know what happened, but when she came out, she was like a ghost, just locked herself in her room and won’t come out. Maybe you should go check on her!” I burst into Elara’s room, not even bothering to knock. Elara was sitting by the window. She saw me come in and made an effort to lift her head and force a small smile. “Elara, what… you promised me you wouldn’t wear the necklace. Where is it? Give it to me.” “Aria, it’s not the necklace. It’s useless. This is our destiny!” After those words, Elara never spoke again. Fearing she might take pills again, I stayed glued to her side, not leaving her bedside for a second. But when I woke up the next morning, all I felt was Elara’s icy hand, and there, on the bedside table, was an empty bottle of pills. 2 Elara was gone. I ran like a madwoman towards Grandma Vivian’s room, but Mom and Dad blocked the doorway. “I need to go in.” “Aria, we’re all heartbroken about Elara. Your Grandma Vivian was overcome with grief and shock this morning, we just brought her back from the brink! You absolutely cannot go in!” “Is Elara’s life just a source of heartbreak? Haven't you ever wondered why? It’s because of that necklace! There isn't even a real necklace, is there?” I tried to read their faces, but their expressions remained unchanged. “You’ll understand about the necklace when it’s your turn to accept the legacy.” “You and she were so close, do you want to see her just lying there, cold? Come help me prepare for the funeral first!” Mom and Dad blocked the doorway, and I knew I wouldn’t get in today. I could only bring Chloe with me to help arrange Elara’s funeral. “You listen to me, your big sister, don’t you?” Holding Chloe’s delicate wrist, I trembled all over. I couldn’t lose another family member. “I’m the most obedient! I’ll do whatever you say, Aria.” Looking at Chloe’s innocent eyes, I sighed deeply. “Promise me, if Grandma Vivian ever tries to give you the necklace, you absolutely must not accept it, okay?” “Okay, I’ll listen to you.” I stroked Chloe’s head, hoping she would remember my words. I would do everything in my power to protect her. “You’re starting college soon, and your Grandma Vivian and Dad want you to go back. We’ll take care of things here.” Just as I expected. As soon as I left, they would give Chloe the necklace, and Chloe would disappear! “I’m not going back! My sister died; I’m staying here to be with her!” “Aria! Going back is for your own good! What kind of impression will it make if you don't return to college on time?” Mom kept pleading with me, her eyes practically screaming how unreasonable I was being. “She’s my sister, not just anyone’s! Who cares what others think of me?” “Your Grandma Vivian has agreed to let you stay until Elara is laid to rest.” Ever since Grandma Vivian fainted that day, she hadn’t left her room. Dad was relaying all her messages, but Grandma Vivian was still the one making the decisions. Elara’s funeral was simple, with few neighbors attending. It was over quickly. “Shouldn’t you be going back soon? Haven’t your professors been asking for you?” “No. I think I’ll stay a few more days. I haven’t seen Grandma Vivian recently; I wonder how she’s doing?” I hadn't seen Grandma Vivian for days, and I couldn't shake the feeling she was avoiding me. “My health is quite good, Aria. But if you don’t go back soon, someone else might get anxious. Your friend is here to see you!” Grandma Vivian walked in from outside, followed by a familiar figure. “Noah?” 3 The person who had arrived was indeed my boyfriend, Noah Miller. “You haven’t been in touch for ages, you didn’t even come back for orientation. I asked your advisor, and he said something happened at home. I thought you might need help.” After being reborn, I’d been so focused on stopping Elara and changing Chloe’s fate that I’d completely forgotten about him for a moment. “Since your friend is here, you should pack your things quickly and leave with him!” Grandma Vivian’s demeanor was outwardly serene, but her every word betrayed her desire to get rid of me. “I’m not leaving, Grandma Vivian. Since you’re here, I want to ask you: who are you planning to give the necklace to next, Chloe or me?” At this point, I didn’t care that Noah was present. The most important thing was to get my hands on that necklace. Grandma Vivian’s expression shifted subtly, her gaze sweeping over me, then Chloe, and finally resting on Noah. “That matter can wait.” I was practically frantic. It was supposed to be only for women, so why did Grandma Vivian call Noah into the room in my past life, and why was she now so openly scrutinizing him? “Aria, what necklace are you talking about?” Noah looked a bit confused. “It’s nothing, Aria. If you want to stay a few more days, why don’t you show your friend around? Our town might be secluded, but it’s a well-known tourist spot nearby.” Grandma Vivian was clearly trying to get rid of me, and Noah’s eyes held a hopeful glint. I couldn't bear to refuse him, so I decided to take Chloe and him to look around the area. “Aria, what was that necklace you were talking about? Do you have some kind of family antique?” “We don’t really know either,” Chloe piped up before I could stop her, spilling everything to Noah. “It’s Grandma Vivian’s prized possession, only for girls. But when Grandma Vivian gave it to Elara, Elara passed away. Aria and I are both a little scared.” Noah’s face became a study in shifting shadows, and he didn't speak for a long moment. When he finally did, his words stunned me. “Aria, let me take you and Chloe away from here!” 4 “Noah, why would you say that?” “Aria, you’re in college, you should know that these things are superstitions. Whatever this 'legacy' is, it hurt Elara, and it will definitely hurt you both!” Noah’s words resonated deeply within me. All I wanted was to protect the people I cared about. Elara was already gone; could I really watch Chloe walk to her death too? “Good. Grandma Vivian isn’t home today. Chloe, you go back and pack your things. I’ll rent a car, and we’ll leave.” Chloe nodded, turning to head home, when Noah suddenly called out to her. “I’ll go back with Chloe. If your parents are home, I can help get her out.” I thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, but you have to take good care of her.” Watching Noah and Chloe disappear from sight, an inexplicable unease bubbled up inside me. Would I even see them again? I couldn’t dwell on it. It was a long drive from our town to the city where the train station was, and I needed to sort out transport quickly. There was only one car service in town, run by Mr. Davis, which mostly transported goods to the city in the mornings and evenings. I found Mr. Davis sitting outside his shop. “Good afternoon, Mr. Davis. Is there a freight truck going to the city tonight?” “Oh, it’s you, Aria! Yes, yes, there’s one leaving soon.” “Mr. Davis, can you reserve four spots for me? Are there any left?” Mr. Davis squinted at me. “What are you planning to do? Your Grandma Vivian just booked the entire truck. Why are you asking for it, aren’t you going with her?” I was stunned. Grandma Vivian booked the entire truck? What for? Was she trying to block me? “Huh? Oh, I’m just heading back to college. Grandma Vivian didn’t mention booking a car. I’ll go ask her about it. Thanks, Mr. Davis.” The feeling of dread intensified, like something dark was about to crawl out from the shadows. I sprinted home, furiously sending messages to Noah and Chloe along the way, but they all vanished into the void, no reply, no news. *Please, please be okay!* I prayed silently, over and over. Panting, I stopped at our doorstep. Before I could even push, the door swung open from the inside! Chloe's cheerful smile appeared in the doorway. “Aria, what took you so long? Come in!” 5 I rushed in and pulled Chloe into a tight embrace. “You’re still here! Thank goodness! I was so scared, I thought I wouldn’t see you again!” Chloe gently patted my back, comforting me. It took a long moment before I finally let go. Chloe walked to the door, closed it tightly, and then locked it. I found that a little strange. “Why are you locking the door? And by the way, where’s Noah? Did you both pack your things?” Chloe smiled, a strange, knowing expression on her face. “Aria, he ran away. He heard the necklace’s secret, and he came back with me to find the necklace and sell it for money.” “How is that possible?” I instinctively retorted. “Noah couldn’t have found the necklace. Why would he run?” Last time, Noah only ran after he learned the necklace’s secret. Could it be… Chloe seemed to read my thoughts. “So Grandma Vivian told him the necklace’s secret, and he ran after hearing it.” My heart gave a jolt. Why was this different? I hadn’t even refused the necklace yet, so why did Grandma Vivian tell Noah? A terrible premonition washed over me. I looked up at Chloe. “So… you know too?” Chloe didn’t answer me, but her smile grew wider and wider. “You’re back.” Grandma Vivian’s voice came from behind me, like a death sentence whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “What secrets are you two whispering? Grandma Vivian has something to tell you too! You’ve always wanted Grandma Vivian’s necklace, haven’t you? I’ve thought about it, and I’ll give it to you right away, okay?” I held my breath, not daring to make a sound. But Grandma Vivian pressed closer and closer, practically leaning on my back, her voice brushing against my ear. “Come into the room with Grandma Vivian.” Her voice merged with the memory of her voice, like a nightmare replaying itself. This time, I wouldn't run! “Aria,” Chloe called out to me. “This is everything for our family, our destined fate! No one can escape it. I hope you can accept it too!” I didn’t turn around, just nodded. Because I already knew the secret of the necklace!

Chapters (5)

第1章

Alex, the billionaire, had a ring custom-made to my size, proclaiming he'd marry whoever it fit. In my first life, Chloe, the fake heiress, secretly had the ring enlarged and married him. Alex beat her face senseless. "She's not the one!" In my second life, Hailey, the adopted sister, starved off thirty pounds for that ring and married him. Alex backhanded her, sending her tumbling down the stairs. "She's not the one either!" In my third life, Serria, my stepmother, shaved the skin from her finger to make it fit. Alex simply sneered, then drowned her in the tub. Another failure. In my fourth life, they were out of options. Terrified, they shoved me forward. The ring slipped onto my finger. A perfect, chilling fit. My whole family finally breathed a sigh of relief. But the moment Alex looked at me, he drew a knife and plunged it into me. "Why isn't it her yet? Where is she?" Now, in this final life, when the ring arrived, all four of us claimed it didn't fit. But the secretary's gaze swept over us, puzzled. "Mr. Alex said the owner of the ring is among you four."

第2章

The four of us stared at the massive diamond ring, completely stunned. Every eligible woman in the Winslow family had already taken a turn being his "bride.". So who on earth was this billionaire actually looking for? Serria, my stepmother, repeatedly confirmed with Alex's secretary, Mr. Vance. "There must be some mistake. Surely...surely Mr. Alex's true beloved isn't among us?" Otherwise, we wouldn't have married him four times. At this rate, we were just collecting headstones. But Mr. Vance frowned with displeasure, stating with serious conviction. "When you four attended Mr. Alex's banquet, you had a table to yourselves. He looked at you then and said the ring's owner was among the four Winslow family ladies." "This matter, it's absolutely not mistaken." With that, he presented the diamond ring, haughtily saying, "Why don't you each try it on?" Chloe, who always cared most about appearances, recoiled instantly. "I'm allergic to diamond rings. I'll drop dead if I wear it." Hailey, who loved money more than life, waved her hands frantically. "I'm so chubby, I'll stretch the ring until it breaks." Serria, who was practically yearning for an affair, forced a smile that looked worse than a cry. "My heart belongs to my late husband. Mr. Alex definitely doesn't love me." Finally, all eyes turned to me. Mr. Vance's face crinkled into a smile. "Didn't Astrid once meet Mr. Alex and fall for him at first sight?" "This ring, it must be yours, Astrid." My heart? It was practically frozen solid with dread. How could I dare to "fall" for him? In my previous life, when I heard those words, I was indeed incredibly moved. After all, Alex and I did have a secret relationship, and he even had the ring custom-made to my finger size. So, when I finally escaped the control of those three and successfully married Alex, I thought my suffering was over. I waited on the wedding bed, a mix of nervous excitement and trepidation for him to arrive. But the moment he clearly saw my face, he furiously grabbed a fruit knife and left me riddled with holes. His eyes, reflecting my terrified face, burned with an inferno of rage. "How dare you marry me in her place? You're not her!" I bled out in immense pain. Even when I woke up in this new life, I still couldn't understand. The woman Alex was looking for wasn't me? Then who could it possibly be?! Lost in my memories, I stood silently, not taking the ring from Mr. Vance. He smiled, "Marrying Mr. Alex certainly comes with a lot of pressure. You need some time to prepare yourselves mentally." "Alright, Mr. Alex himself will come tomorrow. You have one night to think it over properly." "I'll leave the ring here for now." Mr. Vance left the ring, then turned and departed in his diamond-studded luxury limo.

第3章

But staring at that blinding diamond, our hearts remained frozen. We were terrified of dying. The three women who had been constantly battling me for years in the Winslow family surprisingly formed a united front. They pulled me into the living room for an urgent meeting. One by one, they forced the ring onto their fingers. In the end, only my finger offered the perfect, cursed fit. Serria looked at me suspiciously. "Are you sure you were killed by him on your wedding night too?" I rolled my eyes helplessly. "I was left riddled with holes and sent back to the Winslow family. Didn't you all see it?" Hailey nodded frantically. "It was brutal, seriously. Not a single good piece of skin left on her body." Chloe also sighed. "I battled Astrid for ten years, and even I felt bad for her when I saw that." The four of us exchanged glances, then let out helpless sighs. Serria was on the verge of a breakdown. "But if we can't produce someone tomorrow, won't he just kill us all?" The three of them looked utterly devastated. Suddenly, I looked up. "But it's not entirely hopeless. For example, there must be surveillance footage from that banquet, right?" "If the person Alex is looking for isn't one of us, perhaps we can find his true beloved through the surveillance footage?" To save our lives, we decided to act immediately. We hailed a cab and headed to the hotel where Alex had hosted the banquet. Hailey, a master at playing the innocent victim, spun a sob story so convincing it earned us access to the surveillance footage. As the banquet began, we were assigned a table in the corner. My father's death had wiped our name from the city's social ledger. Serria frowned. "The prestigious corner table. How fitting." The four of us were always at each other's throats. The toxicity was so thick, not even the most distant Winslow relative would dare join our table. Chloe was puzzled. "And there were only four of us." At that exact moment, Alex strode down the red carpet. His walk halted as he passed the Winslow table. He turned precisely towards our table, a deeply doting smile on his face. He leaned to murmur something to his secretary. His smile now felt like a predator sighting its prey. I said in a daze, "It seems his beloved is indeed among us." The four of us exchanged glances, seeing fear mirrored in each other's eyes. If we didn't all possess the memories of our previous four lives, we probably wouldn't be able to make sense of it. Hailey shivered. "If it really is one of us, then why did he use such cruel methods to kill us?" I took a deep breath, and a singular solution suddenly flashed into my mind. I looked at them with determination. "I might need to go to Alex's house. You all wait for my news."

第4章

Under their gazes of admiration and gratitude, I set off for Alex's house. They still didn't know that I was the most bewildered one of all. Because Alex and I were still in a secret relationship that no one knew about, and what's more! He was the one who pursued me at the beginning of this relationship! Following the small side entrance Alex and I often used for our clandestine meetings, I easily slipped into his room. He froze for a second when he saw me, then his expression returned to normal. "Why did you come without letting me know beforehand?" The gentle man before me now overlapped with the madman who had brutally stabbed me to death in my previous life. Suppressing the fear in my heart, I walked forward. "Are you going to marry me?" Alex paused, a strange unnaturalness flashing in his eyes. "We've been together for so long, don't you know me?" "I went to the Winslow family with the ring to propose, of course, it's for the woman I love." He smiled and pulled me closer, letting me sit on his lap, a familiar intimacy in his gesture. But I keenly spotted a blind spot in his words. He said he would marry the woman he loved, but he didn't say that woman was me! I dug my nails into my palm, forcing a smile as I asked, "So, who is the woman you love?" Alex suddenly fell silent, sizing me up a few times. "You should know, why are you asking me such a thing?" I thought he would continue to evade, but he then said, "Of course, it's you, Astrid." "As long as you wish it to be you, then it will be you." "When you marry me tomorrow, I will definitely treat you well." I stared into his eyes, seeing nothing but profound affection. Since our secret relationship began, he had always been incredibly good to me. My mind was often slow, and I was frequently bullied by Serria and the other two. I had no shares in the family corporation. But Alex not only supported me behind the scenes, he also gave me many things the Winslow family could never own. Moreover, this man, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, would even tie my shoelaces and cook for me with his own hands. I once believed he would surely marry me. But I also witnessed him descend into madness and paranoia, howling as he plunged the knife into my heart. "You're not her! How dare you marry me in her place?" "Just a Winslow family girl with a title but no real power, how could you ever be worthy of being with me?" "You're nothing but a mistress for my amusement, yet you dare to dream of replacing her and marrying me!" I snapped back to reality, seeing him take my hand and press a kiss to its back. I forced myself not to pull my hand away. But that very action suddenly made me realize a truth that was incredibly crazy, yet perfectly logical. I looked at him, disbelief creeping in. "The woman you love is..." Alex didn't give me a chance to speak, covering my mouth. A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "Are you asking too many questions tonight?" But then his gentle expression quickly returned, "Tomorrow is the big wedding day. You should go back and get some rest." A creeping terror flooded my heart, and I quickly nodded, eager to leave. When I returned to the Winslow family mansion, Serria and the other two hadn't slept. They swarmed me the moment I appeared. "What happened? Do you know who Alex's beloved is?"

第5章

I was silent, then shook my head. Their eyes immediately flickered with frustration and despair. Hailey even started crying. "I don't want to die! Should we just run away?" Serria snapped. "How can we run? Alex's power is immense. We'd be caught no matter how far we ran." Chloe made up her mind. "It's only four hours until dawn. Running away might at least give us a few more days to live, better than dying instantly." But I changed the subject abruptly, my voice firm. "We can't run." "We definitely have to marry. And, I'll be the one marrying him." Chloe looked at me in disbelief. "I hate you, but you died so horribly in the last life, have you forgotten?" Serria frowned. "If you're still a love-struck idiot now, I'm seriously going to doubt if I was ever too good to you." The massive diamond ring, worth hundreds of millions, still sat on the table. If Chloe wore it, she'd be beaten senseless and thrown into the basement, her face infected and festering until she died. If Hailey wore it, she'd be pushed down the stairs, her body shattered from multiple fractures, dying in agonizing pain. If Serria wore it, she'd be drowned in the bathtub, her body swollen beyond recognition before being returned to the Winslow family. And if I wore the ring, my death would be the most excruciating. To punish me, the insolent mistress, Alex had stabbed me twenty times. None of the wounds were immediately fatal. Blood slowly drained from my body, my warmth gradually fading. This sensation of life slowly ebbing away brought me unimaginable terror and despair, like a slow torture. It was so horrifying that even my three archenemies, upon seeing my corpse, felt pity for me. The brilliantly polished, rounded facets of the diamond gleamed, yet they were our execution block. But I walked over. Without hesitation, I put on the ring. "The danger is real. But this is the only way for us all to survive!" Hailey looked at me in disbelief. "What did you find out?" Of course, I did. Telling them the truth would make tomorrow's plan more likely to succeed. But if my suspicion was right, it was far too bizarre and terrifying. I couldn't drag them all into it. I shook my head. "Sorry, not yet." Chloe's expression was grave as she asked. "Tell us, what do you need us to do?" I lowered my gaze. "I need you to attend the wedding as usual, pretending you know nothing." Serria fiercely furrowed her brow. "You'll be stabbed to death after the wedding, and you want us to act as if nothing happened?" The three of them looked at me with deep concern, now completely on my side. I remembered all the things they used to do to me. They were merely petty squabbles over small sums of money, never threatening my life. But the man I deeply loved and trusted had brutally tortured me to death on our wedding night. I took a deep breath, and decided to tell them the truth. "When I went to see Alex just now, he suddenly grabbed my hand and kissed its back." "That very detail made me suddenly realize who the woman he loves is!" "This person is indeed among the four of us. It's someone we would absolutely never guess. She is..."