Chapter 3
She knew there was no escaping her fate now
Vincent had once been the person she trusted and relied on the most, but now he was the one she loathed and wanted to avoid more than anyone else &
Faced with the choice of confronting Vincent or leaving with Ethan, she opted for the latter. At least Ethan had always been upfront about
his dislike for her
From the very first day she entered the Linwood family, Ethan had made it clear, “Even if we share the same bloodline, to me, Vanessa is my only sister. You’d better behave yourself. If I catch you mistealing Vanessa, I won’t let it slide.“%
With Ethan, there was no false hope, and therefore, no excessive disappointment. The psychological wounds inflicted in his presence were minimal compared to those left by someone she once held dear
The prison taught her a valuable lesson.X
When you’re powerless and alone, the only way to survive is by minimizing harm however you can
So, when her cellmates mocked her, forcing her to choose between a disfigured face and a slap, she chose the slap. When faced with the choice between a beating and humiliation, she chose the latter. Between drinking toilet water and barking like a dog, she opted for the
She had fought back fiercely at first, but the more she resisted, the worse the beatings become. For the sake of her life, she swallowed her pride and submitted to their whims.
See, even when thrown into a den of ruthless criminals, she managed to scrape by with her knack for avoiding greater harm.
Claire made her way to Ethan’s black Bentley.
As she brushed past Vincent, her expression remained neutral, not even sparing him a glance. The oversized T-shirt barely touched Vincent’s fingertips, feeling as empty as if it were draped over a hanger mother than a person.
Vincent’s hand froze in mid–air, and in that moment, the world around him seemed to come to a standstill, leaving only the cold, hollow sensation at his fingertips.
His eyes flickered with pain and loneliness, his heart constricted by an invisible force, each beat accompanied by a dull ache.
Once upon a time, her gaze would follow him everywhere, filled with trust and dependence.X
They had grown up together in the orphanage, supporting each other through thick and thin. Whenever he called out to Claire, she would respond with a bright smile, “Vincent, I’m here.“3
But now, times had changed. She treated him like he didn’t exist, not even sparing him a glance.
Vincent’s lips quivered, wanting to speak, but he found his throat constricted, unable to utter a single word.
Claire settled into the back seat of the car, her eyes taking in the traces of another woman’s presence. The passenger seat was adomed with a fluffy pink cushion, and a row of adorable strawberry bears lined the dashboard. The woman in the rearview mirror was more mature and alluring than the last time Claire had seen her.X
Her radiant smile revealed a life of privilege and care, like a cherished daughter of a wealthy family.
That image of happiness seemed to mock Claire, reminding her that she was the impostor
She had thought she could face it all with indifference, but seeing it with her own eyes still made her heart ache at the injustice.
Claire averted her gaze, only to find her eyes landing on the handbag beside her.
Inside was a pristine white dress, adomed with feathers so exquisite that even without seeing the whole thing, she could tell it was beautiful.
Her fingers instinctively brushed over her rough denim jeans.
Every detail inside the car screamed that she didn’t belong.
From head to toe, she wasn’t worth as much as the dress in that bog.
She looked out the window, watching the scenery blur past.
Ethan, still driving, didn’t miss the chance to warn her, “Mom and Dad have missed you terribly these past five years. Their hair’s tumed gray from worry. When you get back, drop the attitude. I don’t want to see you playing games with Vanessa or causing any trouble for them. If you behave, the Linwood family will treat you well.”
