Chapter 36
Claire always knew how to strike at the most vulnerable corners of his heart, leaving him in pain. It was an art she had mastered.
Without pausing,
Claire walked out of the Linwood estate in no time. At the gate, she ran into Victor
Victor had that laid–back, privileged air about him, his eyes brazenly scanning Claire from head to toe.!!
“Well, well, look at you. Face all bruised, limping like that. You look pathetic,” he sneered.
No matter how pitiful she appeared, no one showed her any pity.
Ignoring him, Claire brushed past Victor with an icy indifference.
Victor frowned. As Ethan’s friend, he was used to Claire bustling around whenever he visited the Linwoods, offering tea and hospitality with eager enthusiasm. This stark change was unsettling.
“Hey, where are you going? I can give you a ride.”
Claire continued to ignore him.
Her disregard only spurred Victor’s competitive spirit. Catching up to her, he grabbed her wrist, “I’m talking to you, are you deaf?”
“Mr. Lewis, if it pleases you, you can think of me as deaf or even mute. Whatever makes you happy. I have just one request: from now on, treat me like I’m invisible, alright?”
What… I haven’t done anything to you, why are you acting crazy?”
“Just consider me a lunatic.” Claire yanked her hand back and walked away without looking back.!!
“You’re insane!“}
Victor stood there, stunned, watching her limping figure disappear. The thought of her injured leg made him feel uneasy.
At Cresthaven General Hospital.
Claire pushed open the door to Irene’s VIP room and stood by her bed.
The woman lying there was a far cry from the girl she remembered. As the heiress of Cole Corporation, Irene had been sweet–faced and fashionably dressed, as beautiful as a porcelain doll
But now, she resembled a leaf withering in the autumn wind. Her once vibrant muscles had atrophied, leaving her skin stretched tightly over her bones.
Her cheeks were sunken, cheekbones pronounced, and her limbs were as thin as brittle twigs, the muscles all but gone.
Seeing her like this, Claire couldn’t help but feel a pang of empathy, a shared sense of suffering.!!
In truth, Claire and Irene had never gotten along well; it was Irene who harbored a unilateral dislike for her, always targeting her.
The reason was simple: Irene and Vanessa had been best friends since childhood, Irene’s perception of Claire was entirely shaped by Vanessa’s words!
Claire didn’t know what Vanessa had said to Irene, but it was certainly nothing good, otherwise, Irene wouldn’t be so convinced that Claire was bullying Vanessa.
To this day, Claire couldn’t understand why, despite being friends, Vanessa would push Irene down the stairs.X
Nor could she comprehend why Nathan, who was right there with Vanessa, would allow her to commit such an act and then frame her for
It was Claire’s misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, witnessing their attempted murder, only to be caught by Adah, who arrived just in time.
Because Irene and Vanessa were friends, Ethan and Brian refused to believe Vanessa would harm Irene.!!
They were convinced that Claire had framed Vanessa.
