She Lent Them a Trap, Not a Treasure

1: 1

When my father's cousin's son got engaged, the first thing on her mind wasn't the venue, and it wasn't the bride price. It was my gold set.

In my last life, she cornered me right at our front door.

Elaine, lend your aunt that gold set for now. It'll look good laid out at the engagement dinner tomorrow. You're not afraid I'll stiff you, are you?

I was afraid of being called ungrateful, so I had no choice but to hand over the jewelry box.

At the engagement dinner, Nanette wore my gold bracelet and paraded it around all day, and she deliberately had the emcee announce that her family had prepared a full solid-gold set for the bride.

But when I went to get it back, she said:

"There were so many people on the way, I lost it by accident. You bought it for around eighty-eight thousand, right? I'll give you ninety thousand back. That's more than fair."

Except that year, the price of gold had more than tripled.

I was furious and went to her place to have it out, and she blocked me at the top of the stairs with one line: "Have you gone crazy over money?"

In the scuffle, she flung me off her with all her strength.

I tumbled down from the sixth floor, and before I died I heard her crying out:

"I didn't do it on purpose! She slipped on her own!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day she came to borrow the gold set.

I smiled and pushed the jewelry box across to her.

"Auntie, an engagement is a big deal. Don't let our family lose face."

She just didn't know that this time, the gold set was a fake I'd bought on purpose to bait a thief.

...

After Nanette Winfield left cradling the jewelry box, I locked the door behind her.

My mother stood in the living room, looking unhappy, and after a long moment she asked me, "Elaine, did you really lend out the gold set your grandmother left you?"

My father was frowning too. "Your aunt talks a big game but she's careless. There'll be a crowd at the dinner tomorrow. What if something gets knocked or lost..."

Looking at the worry on their faces, that cold feeling I'd carried back from the stairwell finally eased a little.

In this life, they were still standing right in front of me, safe and whole.

I handed my phone to my mother.

On the screen was the electronic receipt from the bank's safe-deposit box.

Ms. Elaine Winfield deposited three items of solid-gold jewelry today at 10:08 a.m. Seal number: B-0719.

My mother froze. "This is..."

"The real gold set," I said. "I put it in the bank this morning. What I gave my aunt just now was a display piece from the wedding prop shop."

My father's head snapped up. "It's fake?"

My mother sucked in a sharp breath.

"If your aunt finds out, won't she blow the roof off?"

"If she really only borrowed it to put on a show and gives it back exactly as it is after the dinner, she'll never find out."

I took the phone back, my voice calm.

"But if she never meant to return it, she's bound to find out."

I didn't explain what had happened in my last life.

In this life, all I needed was proof.

I opened the folder and checked through everything once more.

The bank seal photo, the purchase receipt for the real gold set, the old reweigh record, the prop shop invoice, the recording of my aunt borrowing itall backed up to the cloud.

Before she left, I'd made a point of having her speak clearly into my phone:

"I, Nanette Winfield, am borrowing three pieces of jewelry from the box belonging to Elaine Winfield today, solely for display at Asher Sawyer's engagement dinner, to be returned exactly as they are after the dinner."

She'd scolded me for being petty at the time.

"We're family. Why are you recording? You think I'd take it and sell it?"

I smiled and answered her:

"Auntie, you're right, it's just borrowed to show off, not to sell. One little recording, and everyone can rest easy."

She rattled off the whole thing impatiently, then took the box and left.

Now that recording sat right there in my phone.

The prop shop owner had just messaged me back too.

Miss Winfield, I've got a sales record on my end for that A17 sample set.

You said a relative might use it to pass off as real gold, so I've already given a heads-up to a few pawnshops I know on the west side of town.

If someone really does bring the A17 sample in as gold, they won't buy it quietly or just hand you the footage. They'll report it through the precious-metals recovery procedure and have me verify the sample number.

I sent back a thank-you.

At eight that night, the family group chat came alive.

Nanette posted nine photos.

In them, the bright yellow bracelet sat on her wrist, her sleeve deliberately pushed way up so no one could miss it.

Underneath she'd typed a line:

Asher's engagement is tomorrow. Here's the gold set we've prepared for our future daughter-in-law. We Sawyers don't cut corners.

People in the chat rushed to play along.

Nanette's really generouslook how thick that bracelet is.

Asher's a lucky one. The bride's family will surely be pleased.

My mother's face went dark as she read it.

"How can she say she prepared it for the daughter-in-law?"

I laid my hand over hers. "Don't rush."

In the chat, Nanette was still sending voice messages.

"A child's engagement is a big deal. The bride's family is well off, so we, the groom's side, can't let ourselves be looked down on. Whatever face needs to be put on, we've got to put it on."

I stared at that voice message and slowly smiled.

She'd already started spinning the thing she'd borrowed into her family's own pride.

Good.

The fish had taken the bait.

2: 2

The next day, Asher Sawyer's engagement party was held at the most expensive hotel in town.

When I arrived, my father's cousin was standing at the door greeting guests.

She wore a wine-red qipao, the fake gold bracelet on her wrist and the fake gold necklace at her throat, the whole of her glowing and festive in all that gold.

When she saw me, her smile stiffened for a second, then warmed right back up.

"Elaine, you made it? Come on in and sit. Your cousin's getting engaged today, so don't go around looking sour. Be happy for once."

I glanced at her wrist. "How's it feel to wear, Nanette? Comfortable?"

She tucked her hand behind her back at once and lowered her voice. "It's a happy day. Keep your mouth shut."

I smiled and didn't call her on it.

Inside the hall, red velvet had been laid over the gift table, and the engagement gift money, red envelopes, and wedding candy were all set out in neat rows.

The host lifted his microphone, his voice booming.

"Everyone, look this way! Today the Sawyer family has prepared a solid-gold three-piece set for their future daughter-in-law, a symbol of a golden match and a rich, happy union!"

Nanette immediately slipped off the bracelet, necklace, and ring and set them on the tray with her own hands.

Applause broke out.

I sat down below the stage and watched her, unable to keep the smile off her mouth.

The bride-to-be, Antonia Matthews, wore a pale pink gown and a slightly forced smile.

Her mother wasn't smiling, though. She stared at the tray for a moment, then suddenly asked, "This gold set is for Antonia?"

Nanette nodded without hesitation. "Of course. When the Sawyers take a wife, how could we come empty-handed?"

I lifted my teacup and took a small sip.

Last time, she had turned my things into her family's face just the same.

The difference was, this time what she put on display wasn't the blessing my grandmother left me. It was the prop set I'd bought for three hundred and eighty.

Jeanette Matthews asked again, "If it's for Antonia, then write it clearly on the gift list. Purity, weight, spell it all out, so there's no arguing about it later."

Nanette's smile thinned for an instant.

Asher, standing beside her, was clearly rattled too.

But with this many relatives watching and Nanette having already talked so big, she had no choice but to brazen it out.

"Write it, of course we'll write it. Asher, come write it down."

Asher picked up the pen, bent his head, and wrote on the gift list:

From the groom's family to the bride, one solid-gold three-piece set: dragon-and-phoenix bracelet, necklace, ring.

Jeanette prompted mildly, "And the weight?"

Nanette said quickly, "Oh, come now, we're one family here, no need to talk like strangers. Why write it out in such detail?"

Jeanette looked at her. "It's precisely because we're one family that it should be written clearly."

The hall went quiet for two seconds.

Asher gritted his teeth and added another line:

Approximately 198 grams.

I nearly laughed out loud.

That prop set didn't weigh 198 grams even with the box thrown in.

Nanette, though, looked relieved and quickly waved the host on with the rest of the program.

Partway through, I went to the restroom. When I came out, Antonia was standing at the far end of the hallway, staring into space.

I walked over and handed her a note.

There was just one line on it:

The gift list and the gold set should be tested, preferably today.

Antonia looked up at me, surprise flickering in her eyes.

I didn't explain any further.

Whether she believed me was her choice.

But at the very least, I wanted to give this innocent girl one more chance to wake up.

After the party ended, I stopped Nanette at the door.

"Nanette, it's time to give the gold set back."

Her face darkened. "What's the rush? I still need to take it back and let the bride's side get a look at it. Nine o'clock tomorrow morning, I'll bring it to your place."

I looked at the jewelry box in her arms. "What you said on the recording yesterday was that you'd return it as is once the engagement party was over."

She held her temper down. "There are so many people here today. Are you determined to embarrass me?"

Asher came over too, his tone impatient.

"Elaine, it's just a set of jewelry. My mom said she'll return it tomorrow, so tomorrow it is. Chasing after it like this, what does that even look like?"

I smiled.

"Fine. Nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

Nanette turned and left with the jewelry box in her arms, her steps quick, as if afraid I'd change my mind.

I stood at the hotel entrance and watched her get into the car.

Last time, I had watched her carry off the real gold set just the same.

This time, I watched her leave again.

Only this time, I wasn't the least bit worried.

3: 3

At nine the next morning, Nanette didn't show.

At nine thirty, the doorbell rang.

My father opened the door, and Nanette, Asher Sawyer, her husband, and a handful of relatives who liked to stick their noses in all crowded into our home.

Nanette's eyes went red the moment she stepped inside.

"Oh, Elaine, I've let you down."

My mother's face went pale. "Nanette, where are the pieces?"

Nanette pressed a hand to her chest like she'd been wronged beyond all telling.

"They're gone."

The living room went silent in an instant.

I looked at her. "How, exactly?"

She had her story ready, and she burst into tears at once.

"After the party ended last night, there were so many people. I was carrying the box out to the car, and somewhere in the crowd someone bumped into me. I didn't notice the box was gone until I got home. Elaine, my heart aches over this too, but it's already happened"

Crying all the while, she pulled a stack of cash from her bag and slapped it down on the coffee table.

"That set cost eighty-eight thousand back when you bought it, didn't it? I'll pay you ninety. That's more than fair."

My mother was shaking with anger. "Do you have any idea what gold is worth now? You think ninety thousand settles it?"

Nanette dabbed at her eyes right away. "That's an ugly thing to say. Whatever it cost then, that's what I'm paying now, plus two thousand extra. I didn't lose it on purpose. Do you want me to ruin myself over this?"

My uncle chimed in to smooth it over. "Elaine, we're all family here, and your aunt's already paying you. Ninety thousand isn't small. Don't blow this up."

Another relative jumped in. "Asher just got engaged yesterday, and here you are picking at it today. Bad luck, all of it."

I looked at that stack of cash and almost wanted to laugh.

In my last life, she'd worn this exact face.

Paid me ninety thousand for gold worth over two hundred, and expected me to be grateful for it.

I didn't touch the money. I just opened my phone and started recording.

"Aunt Nanette, you're certain all three pieces are gone?"

Her crying hitched.

Asher frowned. "What are you getting at?"

I ignored him and kept my eyes on her. "In your own words: the jewelry box is lost, and none of what was inside can be recovered. Is that right?"

She looked like she'd had enough of my questions, and her voice went shrill.

"Yes! Gone! I'm paying you, aren't I? Elaine Winfield, don't be so greedy!"

I nodded.

"Then what's this ninety thousand for?"

Nanette answered at once. "To pay you back for your gold set. Everyone here is a witness. I've paid, and after this we're square."

I took out a sheet of paper and slowly wrote it down.

Received from Nanette Winfield: ninety thousand dollars as temporary compensation for lost jewelry. Whereabouts of original items pending.

Nanette gave it one glance and her face changed on the spot.

"What do you mean, whereabouts of original items pending? You trying to shake me down?"

I drew the paper back.

"Then I won't sign."

Nanette was so furious her face went a shade of green.

Asher let out a cold laugh and turned his phone on me to film.

"Everybody take a look. She just thinks the money's too little. My mom's kind enough to pay her ninety thousand, and she still won't let it go."

Nanette shoved the stack of cash across the coffee table at once.

"The money's right here. Whether you take it is your business. Either way, I've paid."

They came in a noisy crowd, and they left in a hurry.

Right before she went out the door, Nanette made a point of telling the relatives, "From now on, none of you go to Elaine when you need help. Not a shred of feeling between family, only money."

After the door shut, my mother was so angry she was near tears.

"She's bullying us, plain and simple."

I bagged up the ninety thousand from the coffee table and sealed it.

"Mom, don't touch this money yet. She's not paying us. She's leaving herself a piece of evidence."

My father froze. "What do you mean?"

I walked to the window.

Down below, Asher was driving Nanette away.

The car didn't head toward the Sawyer place. It turned toward the west side of town.

I watched the taillights and said quietly, "Her home isn't on the west side."

There's nothing over there but a row of pawnshops.

4: 4

Less than ten minutes after Nanette left, a video from Asher popped up in the family group chat.

In it, the stack of cash on the coffee table was filmed in perfect detail.

Asher had captioned it:

My mom already paid ninety thousand, and some people still aren't satisfied. When it comes to this between relatives, it's honestly heartbreaking.

People in the chat chimed in fast.

Elaine, your aunt already paid up. Let it go, that's enough.

Young people these days count every penny. They'd throw away family over it.

Nobody wanted the gold set to go missing. Nanette didn't do it on purpose.

I didn't reply.

I just sealed the bag of cash, untouched, inside a clear evidence bag, taped it shut, and photographed it for the record.

I wouldn't touch a cent of that ninety thousand.

Because it wasn't compensation.

It was proof that Nanette was swallowing the gold cheap and trying to call it even.

My mom stood beside me, so angry her hands were shaking.

"How can she do this? She's the one who lost the pieces, and now we're the greedy ones?"

I put the sealed bag of cash into the cabinet.

"Mom, don't panic. If she dared post that video in the group, it means she thinks this is already over."

My dad frowned. "What do you mean?"

I walked to the window.

Down below, the car had already vanished past the intersection.

I said quietly, "She thinks ninety thousand bought her more than two hundred thousand."

At 1:12 in the afternoon, my phone rang.

It was the prop shop owner.

His voice was low. "Miss Winfield, Frederick James over at the westside pawnshop just called me to check a serial number. Someone's trying to pawn sample A17 as gold."

My fingers went still.

"Are they still in the shop?"

"They are. Frederick didn't take it in, and he hasn't handed the footage to anyone. He called the police first, by the book, and had his clerk keep them there. I pulled the sales record on my end. Sample A17 is the exact set you bought yesterday."

"What did they say?" I asked.

The prop shop owner paused.

"Frederick only told me one thing. It's a mother and son. They claim they already paid a relative ninety thousand this morning, so the gold set belongs to them now."

I laughed.

Nanette really never disappointed me.

Before he hung up, the prop shop owner reminded me, "Miss Winfield, you can go over, but don't get into it with them. The shop's footage and recordings can only go to the police, not to any private person. If you want the evidence, wait for the police to pull it."

"I understand."

I grabbed my bag, and before I walked out, I sent Antonia a message.

If you want to know whether the gold set on yesterday's gift list is real or fake, come to Frederick's pawnshop on the west side right now.

Half an hour later, I reached the west side of town.

Nanette's car was parked outside the pawnshop.

The door was ajar. The police hadn't arrived yet.

I didn't go straight in. I just stood by the door.

At the counter, Nanette and Asher had their backs to me.

Asher shoved the jewelry box toward the owner, an edge of impatience he couldn't hold back in his voice.

"Boss, take a look. How much can you give me for this set?"

The pawnshop owner opened the box, but he didn't name a price. He only asked, "Where's the receipt? Proof of purchase?"

Nanette waved a hand, irritated.

"It's our own property. Who needs a receipt? Just tell us how much."

Asher lowered his voice. "Solid gold, a hundred and ninety-eight grams. We need cash fast, so give us a fair price."

The owner picked up the bracelet and weighed it in his hand. His expression turned a little odd.

"You're sure this is solid gold?"

Nanette smiled at once.

"It was on display at yesterday's engagement dinner. The gold set the Sawyer family gave our daughter-in-law. Of course it's solid gold."

Asher backed her up. "Don't try to lowball us. My mom already paid a relative ninety thousand to keep this set. I know what gold's going for right now, so don't try to cheat me."

Hearing that, my fingers tightened a little around my phone.

Paid me ninety thousand.

Kept the gold set.

So they hadn't even bothered to hide the story.

The owner didn't respond. He took out his gold-testing tools, then held a magnifying glass to the inner rim of the bracelet.

Nanette was still gloating.

"Asher, what did I tell you? Ninety thousand for more than two hundred thousand, this deal's no loss. That girl thought she could go up against me. She's still green."

The next second, the owner looked up.

His voice wasn't loud, but it landed cleanly in everyone's ears.

"This isn't solid gold."

Asher's face changed all at once.

"What did you say?"

The owner turned the bracelet over and pointed at a line of tiny characters on the inner rim.

"Brass, gold-plated. A wedding display sample."

"That ninety thousand you just paid out bought a box of fakes."