Amelia’s dream of glitz and glamour turns into a disaster when she loses the necklace she borrowed from her best friend. She takes a loan to buy an expensive replica and hides the truth, but matters only worsen when Amelia finds out she is pregnant.

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The busy pub buzzed with chatter and clinking glasses as Margot wiped down the last table and joined her best friend, Amelia, for a quick break after a long day waitressing.

“Amy! You won’t believe what just happened!” Margot’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned close to Amelia and whispered. “Do you remember Gustavo, that rich Italian guy who visited last week?”

“The handsome guy you were secretly hitting on? Yeah!” Amelia’s eyes widened as curiosity piqued at seeing Margot blush sheepishly.

“So…yeah! Ahem! He invited me to a cocktail party at this elite restaurant! And you’re going with me. We’ll find a rich, handsome hunk for you at the party. What say? Sounds like a perfect plan to find the perfect man!”

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

“OMG, Really?” Amelia’s eyes beamed with excitement, but her smile faded when she remembered she didn’t have a nice fancy dress or jewelry to wear for the exclusive party.

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Margot noticed her friend’s expression. “Don’t worry, Amy. We’ll figure it out. We still have two days to prepare, and I’m sure we can find something that will make you look like a million bucks.”

So that evening after their shift, Amelia and her best friend headed to the mall to shop for dresses.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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Excitedly marching through the stores, they tried on various partywear, admiring themselves in the mirrors and giggling like schoolgirls.

But nothing satisfied the two ladies. As they walked past several stores, Amelia’s eyes were finally drawn to a beautiful black dress in the window display of a boutique.

“Wow, that dress is just gorgeous!” she exclaimed, her eyes glued to the mannequin adorned in a black shimmery party gown.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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Noticing Amelia’s admiration for the dress, Margot patted her shoulder, asking, “Why don’t you just get it? It’s really pretty…You’d look great in it. Let’s try it on and see how it looks on you.”

“No…I can’t. It’s too expensive. After paying my rent, I’m down to my last bit of savings this month. And you very well know I’ve been saving money for my dream boutique…I can’t afford such an expensive dress. I guess we’ll have to pick something cheaper,” Amelia disappointedly sighed as she glared at the dress.

“What? That’s expensive for you? Oh, c’mon, Amy. And who recently told me she wanted to open a bridal boutique? Why open your own boutique when you can’t just buy a designer dress from one? And you know what? You have to dress to impress, darling!”

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Yeah, I know…but I can’t afford to spend all the money on a gown, Margot. I need that money to run this month,” Amelia disappointedly replied, unable to take her eyes off the dress.

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“Now stop pinching your pennies. Just get this dress. You’ll never regret it. Trust me. Go for it. Imagine all those hot men swooning for your love seeing you in this shimmery piece. You may never know who you might meet at this party. Quick. Before it gets sold. Hurry up!”

Amelia couldn’t resist the charm of the gown, imagining the romantic possibilities it would bring to the party, and gave in to temptation.

The dress fit seamlessly well, and Amelia was head over heels in love with it. So without further thought, she marched to the checkout, “Pack it!” she told the salesman, extending her card.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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Amelia’s heart raced at seeing her card getting swiped. In seconds, all her savings were down to the last quarter, and the dreamy dress was now all hers.

Margot’s smile widened as she watched Amelia twirl around in the gown back home, looking like a true princess. “It’s so beautiful, Amy. You look stunning!”

But Amelia wasn’t happy because she didn’t have matching jewelry to compliment her beauty and remembered Margot’s beautiful necklace.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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“Hey, babe, could I borrow your diamond necklace for the party? I know it’s expensive…But can I have it only for a night? It would go perfectly with this gown,” she asked, looking at her friend with big, hopeful eyes.

Margot furrowed her brows and hesitated for a moment at hearing the word ‘expensive.’

“I promise to take care of it. Just for a night. Please, Mag!” Amelia pleaded with her friend to let her wear it for the party, and eventually, Margot gave in to her friend’s desperate requests.

“Uhm, well, yes, of course! I’ll lend it to you despite its worth,” said Margot.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

As the two women made their way into the grand party venue on the big day, Amelia was swept up in a whirlwind of grandeur, the intoxicating scents of the wealthy, and the glittery glitz of their world.

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Amelia felt like a queen in her shimmery black gown and stone-studded necklace. The elite party venue was bustling with wealthy people, and the music was enchanting, making the atmosphere feel magical.

She was surrounded by rich and influential people who treated her like one of their own, and she was having the best time of her life, her eyes darting around to find her ideal man.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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“Wow, this place is great, Mag,” she exclaimed as they stood on the balcony of the luxurious mansion, sipping champagne and basking in the breathtaking view.

Margot nodded, smiling. “Well…well! The investment has justified itself, ain’t it, honey? And check out the guests. You never know who your prince charming might be in that crowd!”

Amelia grinned, nodding in agreement. “Yeah. This place is amazing. I’m so happy I didn’t miss all the fun.”

She took another sip of champagne before turning to Margot once more. “And thank you for lending me this necklace, Mag…It’s so gorgeous…I know it’s very expensive, and I can feel all eyes are on me…”

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Ah, don’t worry about it! You look stunning. It really suits you,” Margot waved off her thanks, sipping her champagne. “Besides, what are friends for?”

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Amelia’s face lit up, and just as she raised her toast and their two glasses clinked, they were suddenly interrupted by a young man approaching them from behind.

Mi scusi, le signore!

I couldn’t help but notice you from across the bar,” he said in a smooth, Italian accent, flashing a charming smile that sparked something inside Amelia.

“My name’s Antonio. Can I have the pleasure of buying you a drink?”

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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Antonio was young, handsome, and hot. And Amelia was flattered by the sudden attention, his charm, and those smoky eyes that were fixed on her on that dim-lit balcony.

She exchanged a quick glance with Margot. “Girl, you better get ready to feel the heat tonight coz that man just asked you out, and you’re smokin’ hot, babe!”

Margot’s whisper made Amelia sizzle with a smile. Her heart skipped a beat as she gazed at the handsome stranger, and she couldn’t help but accept his offer.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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As the night wore on, Antonio’s charm and charisma continued to draw Amelia in. They drove around in his expensive car, embarking on a romantic adventure across the moonlit streets.

And as hours crept by, they dined in a luxurious restaurant atop a skyscraper, and it was there that Amelia realized she was utterly under Antonio’s love spell. Later that night, she woke up tangled in Antonio’s arms as they clothed each other under the velvet sheets in his hotel room.

Humming her favorite song as she opened her apartment door, Amelia kicked off her heels and gazed at herself in the mirror. And just then, she noticed it—Her neck was bare, and the stone-studded necklace she’d borrowed from her best friend Margot was missing.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Oh my God…Where did it go? No, it can’t be. Where did I lose it?” Amelia’s heart started thumping. She frantically searched her purse, but the necklace was nowhere to be found.

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“Oh no…What will I do now?” She ran around her apartment, searching for the missing necklace. Amelia couldn’t believe it was gone, and her mind started racing with thoughts of how she would explain it to Margot.

Amelia combed through her wardrobe, corridor, and every inch of her flat but couldn’t find the necklace anywhere.

“I must have left it in the hotel or in his car last night,” she whispered as she rang Antonio, hoping he might have some answers.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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“Hey, babe, it’s Amelia. Listen…I think I might’ve left my necklace in your car last night. Have you seen it? Maybe in the room? Could you please check?”

Antonio searched his car and room but couldn’t find the necklace. “I’m sorry, Amelia, but it’s not here. Are you sure you had it on when we left the party?”

“Yes. It was a really expensive piece. I’m freaking out here. Can you please check your car again? Under the seats. On the dashboard. It has to be there somewhere…”

Antonio promised to look again and call her back as soon as possible. But when he didn’t find the necklace, Amelia’s heart sank even further.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Oh, no…Where did it go?” she panicked. “I lost the diamond necklace Margot lent me. What am I gonna tell her?” She paced back and forth, her mind racing with worry as she tried to think of a way to find the missing necklace.

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Frantically, Amelia scoured every inch of the streets and searched every nook and cranny of her neighborhood, hoping to find the missing jewelry. But her heart sank as she found nothing.

With each passing minute, her anxiety only grew, and her heart skipped a beat when Margot called her.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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“…I wouldn’t mind you keeping it for a few more days. But honey, I have a date with Gustavo comin’ up next week. That’s the only necklace to compliment my dress,” she said.

Amelia’s heart started racing, and she had no choice but to come up with a lie quickly. “Oh, I gave it for a small repair, babe. Nothin’ serious…the clasp broke. Should be able to fix it in two days. Gonna put a better clasp. Expensive one!”

“Alright! Don’t forget. The date is in a week. I need it soon, ‘kay?”

Amelia hung up with a deep sigh, guilty about the lie. But she knew she couldn’t find any other way out of the situation. Margot seemed to buy Amelia’s fib, but Amelia knew she couldn’t keep it up for long.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Jeez. I’ll have to take out a loan and buy Margot the same diamond necklace. I can’t look poor in her eyes. What will she think of me if I tell her I lost it? No…No, I can’t tell her that I lied to her about the broken clasp.”

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So that very afternoon, Amelia rushed to the bank, and following all the paperwork, she took out a loan for $36,000.

“I know where they sell similar expensive diamond necklaces,” thought Amelia.

She hurried to the jeweler, and after a long search, she found an expensive piece closely resembling the one she’d lost. “I hope Margot doesn’t notice the change!” she exclaimed as she bought the necklace and hailed a taxi to meet her friend.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

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“Thank you, Margot! You’re a real gem who helped me out,” she said, her nerves frayed as she handed the jewel over to Margot.

Margot was over the moon to see her necklace and hugged Amelia. “No worries, girl. What are friends for? And I’m just glad it’s back safe and sound. And I have one more great piece of news for you…”

“Another party?” exclaimed Amelia. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet!”

“Nope!” Margot shook her head. “Actually, the Italian who threw us the party that day…Gustavo…remember him? He invited me to live with him in Italy…He has a mansion bigger than the restaurant we were at the party…And I said yes!”

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Wow…cool!” Amelia tried to put on a happy face. Her best friend had just dropped a bombshell about moving to Italy with her new boyfriend. “Are we not going to see each other again?” she thought.

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“And guess what? I heard Antonio lives just blocks away from Gustavo’s house. It wouldn’t surprise me if we turned out to be next-door neighbors in Italy!” As Margot went on and on about her newfound life, Amelia felt nauseous.

“I need to get home early. I think it’s last night’s chicken. I’m feeling a bit sick… Wanna throw up,” she hugged Margot before leaving. Amelia’s worst fears were confirmed when she checked her period tracker later that night.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

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“Oh my God, this can’t be happening,” Amelia burst into tears as she held a positive pregnancy test in her hand. She knew she had to tell Antonio, but his cold reaction only worsened things.

“This isn’t good. I’m not ready for this. You need to have an abortion…I can’t handle this responsibility,” he said.

“What? Are you asking me to abort our baby? No! I can’t do that. This is our child.”

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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“Are you outta your mind? It’s your mistake. You should’ve stopped me when things heated up in bed. You can’t just put everything on me. Look, I’m not going to father this child,” Antonio said.

“I can give you money for an abortion. I have a plane to Italy tomorrow. I don’t want to deal with this baby…”

“I can’t believe you’re offering me money to kill our child. Antonio, please, don’t do this…Hello? You there? Antonio…”

But he had hung up on her and blocked her on everything.

“It’s all my fault,” Amelia cried into her pillow. “Was it worth all that heartache I had to go through? I…I should’ve been more careful…I just don’t know what to do.”

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Amelia returned to work the next day, haunted by the thoughts of the recent events that turned her world upside down. She was no longer the happy and carefree girl that she used to be.

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Amelia was drowned in huge debt and was confused about the fate of the tiny life growing inside her. One day, while clearing the table at the pub, she noticed a mother with a baby sitting on a bench across the street.

Amelia’s eyes welled up, and suddenly, her thoughts shifted as she watched the mother feed a beautiful baby girl wriggling in her arms. Amelia dreamed of having an adorable baby just like that woman and gently touched her belly.

“No, I can’t kill my baby. I just can’t… I’ll have to find a way,” Amelia whispered.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

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A decade went by. Amelia and Margot’s paths had diverged, leading them on different journeys, and they lost touch.

One day, Amelia heard a familiar voice while walking down the street with a stroller and her 9-year-old son nearby.

“Amy…Amelia! Is that you?” she heard the voice again and turned around, only to get the shock of her life.

“Margot??” she gasped.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay

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“Oh, look at you! I missed you so much,” her friend Margot hugged her. “It’s been a long time. Let’s grab some coffee…There’s a lot to talk about.”

The two then headed to the café nearby. Amelia’s heart raced as she took a sip of her latte and stared at Margot.

She couldn’t believe that after all these years, she was sitting across from her old friend who looked no different than she was ten years ago.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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“It’s been so long,” she said, taking a deep breath. “No calls. No texts. Girl, where were you even? When did you return from Italy?”

Margot shrugged. “I left Italy long back. Not interested in going back to those dark memories and some really ‘bad’ people, you know! Gustavo and I broke up just a year after I left. I dated several men. Just traveling, mostly. I’ve been to different countries…seen so many different things. Life’s been an adventure!”

“But now I’m back home,” Margot continued. “My dad’s sick, and I wanted to be here for him. And who knows! Maybe I’ll settle down here for a while. Are these kids yours? They are adorable! Where’s their father?”

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Amelia’s eyes widened with excitement. “Yeah! He’s my son Willy, and this is my newborn daughter, Macy. I want to show you something. Let’s go!” she said, leading Margot down the street.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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“Here we are!” exclaimed Amelia as she stood in front of a bridal shop with a huge neon signboard reading: Couture by Amelia.

“Wow, Amy, this is amazing. You’re really living your dream, girl! Look at these beautiful dresses and stunning interiors,” gasped Margot as she looked around the bridal boutique in awe. “You got yourself a rich Italian, huh?”

“Not really! I did this all on my own. But I did find someone who supports me and my dreams,” said Amelia. And just as the two friends were busy chatting, Margot’s eyes were fixed on a handsome man who walked into the store.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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Margot couldn’t help but notice his charm and, in a flirtatious tone, said, “Hello, handsome! How may I help you?”

“Margot, I’d like you to meet my husband, Shawn,” Amelia giggled. “We actually met eight years ago at the pub where we both worked…He was a bartender there. And we hit it off pretty quickly! Shawn has been my biggest support through all my ups and downs.”

Margot blushed and couldn’t believe her eyes. “Oh, that’s lovely. It’s like fate brought you two together. This bridal shop has been your dream. I’m glad you found Shawn!” she chuckled.

“Yeah. And after you went to Italy, I was struggling a lot…Was swamped in debt. Had to pay the bank a lot of money…raise my son…”

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“Wait a sec…What kind of debt?” Margot curiously interrupted.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Amelia knew there was no point in hiding the truth from her friend and decided to reveal about the missing necklace and her lie.

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“Margot, remember the diamond necklace I borrowed from you all those years ago…for that party? I’m sorry. But I lost it. The one I gave you…It’s an expensive replica. But it’s no less than $36,000! It cost me $35,760!”

“What?!” Margot rose from her chair. “$35,760? Oh my God…Amelia, What have you done? Don’t tell me you borrowed the money to get that necklace.”

“Yes, I did! I took a loan to buy that diamond necklace,” replied Amelia.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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“Oh, God! Amelia, the necklace I gave you…It’s imitation. It’s not real! It costs nothing more than $100!”

“WHAT?? Oh, my God! An imitation?” Amelia gasped as her past and struggles to make it up for the lost ‘diamond’ necklace flashed before her eyes.

“Yeah…You were so excited to wear it, thinking it was real diamond jewelry. I didn’t tell you about the necklace because I didn’t want to ruin your happiness at that party.”

Amelia couldn’t help but laugh at herself.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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“I’m so sorry, Amy. I’ll return that necklace to you. It’s rightfully yours…You worked hard for it. And paid the debts,” Margot looked up at Amelia, feeling sorry and guilty.

“No, our friendship is stronger than that necklace. I’m just happy to see you again after all these years, Margot. Let that necklace be with you,” Amelia hugged her friend. “I think you need it more now.”

The two friends laughed their hearts out, surprised at how things unfolded, and walked out of the boutique, chatting their way to the café.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

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What can we learn from this story?

  • You will attract the right people into your life when you are being yourself instead of pretending to be someone you are not. In her desire to look rich, Amelia borrowed a necklace from her friend. She lost it and took a loan from the bank to buy a replica of the missing jewelry. Amelia worked hard to pay off the debt, knowing little that the necklace she had lost was actually a fake imitation piece.
  • It is better to tell the truth and face the consequences than to tell small lies that can snowball into bigger problems. When Margot demanded her necklace back, Amelia lied to her, saying the clasp had broken and she would fix it. Had Amelia confessed to losing the necklace, she would have learned that the piece was actually imitation jewelry. But she lied and ended up taking out a loan to replace the missing piece.

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Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

A bereaved dad is fueled by hope when he sees his dead daughter alive in his dream. He runs to the cemetery, only to find her grave dug open, exposing something disturbing. Click here to read the full story.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.

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