After Hearing the Snakes Talk, I Gave My Husband's Cursed Necklace to a Pig

There was so much left to do. For Virginia's sake, I couldn't afford to panic.

That same night, I reached out to a more authoritative Spiritual Master. Following his instructions, I removed Virginia's necklace and replaced it with a custom replica, then took the blood-red Cursed Jade Pendant straight to my uncle's farm.

I picked the fattest sow on the property and hung Dawn's pendant around its neck, then told my uncle to keep a close eye on it.

"Don't slaughter this one until I call you. Once everything's settled, I'll wire you half a million dollars. After that, you can butcher it or keep it. Your call."

My uncle nodded eagerly, practically bouncing on his heels.

"Don't you worry. She's a breeding sow. I need her for piglets. Unless she drops dead on her own, this one's going to spend her whole life giving birth!"

I stared at the fat, floppy-eared sow and smiled coldly to myself.

Dawn always did love a thrill. I'd make sure she got one.

After leaving the farm, I paid a premium to have the other pendant sealed inside the face of a Patek Philippe watch, then delivered it personally to the research institute where Clement worked.

When I arrived, he was still running data analysis, his profile sharp and composed, the picture of cool elegance.

Looking at him, no one would ever guess how selfish and vicious he truly was.

I buried the hatred in my eyes and handed him the gift box.

Clement's face lit up. "Babe, what are you doing here?"

I smiled and took his hand. "I was out shopping and spotted a watch that's perfect for you. I wanted to give it to you myself."

The words had barely left my mouth when I heard his thoughts.

A watch this expensive, and I've never even seen one in person. But Carla just buys it without blinking.

Clement stared down at the watch, his eyes a tangle of resentment and triumph. Won't matter soon. Once Dawn's lovesick little soul takes over her body, she'll do whatever I say. Everything the Fox family owns will be mine...

A chill crawled through me, but my expression stayed perfectly still.

I'd assumed Clement actually loved Dawn. Turns out she was nothing but a pawn to him too.

Swallowing my disgust, I fastened the watchband around his wrist with my own hands.

"The band is delicate. It can't take any rough handling, so don't keep taking it on and off."

Clement pressed the watch protectively against his chest. "Then I wouldn't dare disobey."

Over the next few days, I sent Virginia to stay with my uncle, then threw myself into the performance of a lifetime.

Every morning, I made a point of swaying as I got out of bed in front of Clement, bracing myself against the wall just to stand.

"Honey, why do you look so pale?"

He walked over with a glass of milk, concern painted across his face like a mask.

I gave him a weak smile. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Lately I feel drained all the time, like my body doesn't even belong to me anymore."

He furrowed his brow the way he always used to. "Should we go to the hospital?"

I shook my head, deliberately letting the fake pendant peek out from my collar. "No need. Look, the pendant's almost completely red. Maybe once it turns all the way, I'll feel better."

Clement nodded. But I didn't miss the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

On the fourth day, I threw myself down the stairs on purpose.

He rushed over to catch me. "Carla! Are you okay?"

I sucked in air through my teeth, my voice shaking. "Clement... something strange has been happening to me. Sometimes it's like I can't control my own body. Like... like someone else is trying to push their way in."

His hands trembled. Before, I would have mistaken it for worry. Now I recognized it for what it was: the kind of trembling that came from barely contained excitement.

"Don't overthink it. You're just exhausted."

He helped me to the couch, then went to the kitchen to make soup.

But the imported squab I usually ate had been swapped out for cheap chicken, and the smell that drifted out was rank and greasy.