Chapter 25
Although Claire had long known they didn’t care about her, Nathan’s words still pierced her heart.⠀⠀
He didn’t even bother to pretend to love her.
Fortunately, she hid her emotions well. From her stubborn exterior, no one could tell how deeply she was hurt inside.
“Fine,” she said coolly.
Nathan’s eyebrows fumowed. “What did you say?E
Looking up with determination at the family of four standing on the second floor, Claire replied calmly, “Fine. I’ll leave the Linwood family now. From today, I sever all ties with the Linwoods. Mr. and Mrs. Linwood, rest assured, I will never bother you again.” In her heart, she added a silent vow that even if she died outside, she would never return.
With those words, she felt no regret for leaving this family behind
After three years of being hurt to the core, she had leamed her lesson well; she would never again yearn for a familial love that was never
hers.
This time, she walked quickly despite the pain in her injured leg. The light in her once–dull eyes began to shine with the promise of freedom as she shook off her chains.
In no time, she opened the door to the living room and stepped out.
She felt no attachment, nor did she look back. Her departure was resolute.!!
Ethan’s eyes widened in shock, and he wanted to chase after Claire, but the stomach pain left him too weak to stand. All he could do was shout desperately at the slowly closing door “Claire, come back!”
His shout echoed through the vast living room, draining him of all his strength.
But Claire didn’t tum back; she barely registered the sound of someone yelling something.
Whatever it was, it no longer concemed her!!
As she stepped out of the Linwood family mansion, the tension in her nerves began to
Her steps were light, and after walking for about five minutes, she saw a figure approaching.
In the dead of night, spotting a man suddenly made Claire’s heart skip a beat!
Instinctively, she stepped away from the streetlight and into the dark shadows.”
ease.
As the man drew closer, she recognized him immediately.
Victor
Ethan’s f
friend.
Her strongest impression of Victor was his sharp tongue.
She recalled their first meeting vividly when he had looked her up a Id never guess you belonged to the Linwoods.””
and down and remarked, “So shabby. If you didn’t resemble Ethan a bit
Ethan had been right there, yet he hadn’t stopped Victor’s malicious words–he only let out a noncommittal snort!!
Back then, what hurt most was
is not Victor’s deliberate provocation but her brother’s indifference.
She was only fifteen then, supposedly with a family, yet when bullied, not a single family member stood up for her.
She felt like a stray dog then.!!
How tragic!!!
Victor walked past her without noticing her in the shadowy cornerk
Her eyes followed him until he entered the Linwood mansion, and only then did she realize he must be there to see Ethan.
Stopping out of the shadows, Claire quickened her pace.)
Her original plan was to find a hotel for the night and look for a job the next day
Now, she had changed her mind. She decided to leave Cresthaven.
She had overheard the Linwoods in the study. Nathan clearly intended to follow Brian’s wishes and make her kneel by Irene’s hospital bed to beg for forgiveness
But why should she??!!
Nathan and Adah knew full well that Irene had been pushed down the s
stairs by Vanessa, yet they insisted Claire take the blame for Vanessal
