He did everything he could to make sure the woman he loved was finally happy. Now he valued her, protected her, and loved her fully.
And he didn’t need anyone else in the world.
As for the missing emerald, it was never found. Though Anna had a few private suspicions.
One day Sam from Lukeville came to town on business, and Aunt Lucy came with him. They all sat around Anna’s table, eating well and reminiscing.
At one point the men stepped out onto the balcony, and Anna decided to ask.
“Aunt Lucy,” she said quietly, “when my mother gave you that gold locket years ago… was there a stone in it?”
“What stone?” Lucy said, sounding genuinely surprised. “There was no stone.”
And maybe she meant it. But her eyes flashed just a little too cleverly.
Or maybe Anna imagined it. Either way, she let it go. If that cursed emerald had somehow helped someone in the family build a better life, then so be it.
She didn’t need stolen riches. She had no use for anything that wasn’t rightfully hers.
But what was hers—her own happiness—she had nearly given away for good.
Now she understood something clearly. You can’t keep swallowing hurt forever for the sake of appearances or out of fear. If something matters, you try to repair it. Honestly. Slowly, if you have to.
Even if it means stumbling through mistakes and hard truths first. The important thing is learning how to forgive the people you truly love.
