Mother was brushing her hair in front of the mirror.

The door creaked open.

Father walked in, his head bowed, broken, clutching the necklace in both hands.

In a thin, almost pleading whisper, he said:

> "I brought you...

A gift worthy of you..."

Mother turned her head.

There was an impatient, scornful look in her eyes.

She glanced at the necklace,

wrinkled her nose.

Then she fixed her gaze on Father.

Her voice was like a poisoned needle:

> "This?"

"This is what you think I deserve?"

"I... am worth so much more than this."

Her words cut through the room like a knife.

Father clasped his hands together.

He couldn’t answer.

His lips trembled.

His gaze fell to the floor.

With a mocking smile, Mother stepped closer.

She picked up a heavy iron poker from nearby.

Father took a step back—but couldn’t stop her.

Mother brought the poker down on the necklace—mercilessly:

CRACK!

The stone shattered.

A thick green smoke spread into the air.

The smoke moved like a living thing.

Mother lifted her head to breathe for a moment.

And in that instant...

The green smoke poured into her nose.

Mother stumbled back.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Her body began to tremble.

Something started to change inside her.

At first, her skin stretched slightly,

then sharp lines formed at the corners of her eyes.

Her fingernails grew longer and sharper.

Her hair fell around her face, tighter and shinier than before.

And the most terrifying part:

A sickly gleam appeared in her eyes.

Her gaze was no longer human—

but like that of a predator, looking down on its prey.

Father recoiled in fear.

He raised his hands.

But Mother only stared at him.

With a scornful sneer, she whispered:

> "You...

You were never worthy of me."

And Father, head bowed, stepped back on trembling legs.

He slipped quietly out the door.