Chapter 54
“Claire, listen to your mother, it’s not what you think. If there’s anything you’re troubled about, please talk to me. I promise I listen, Adah pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.
Claire let out a bitter laugh. It’s too late,
“Mrs. Linwood, I have nothing left to say. Out of respect for you as the woman who gave birth to me, I won’t harm you. But Nathan and Vanessa, they must pay today. Once I’ve dealt with them, I’ll turn myself in ”
Adah’s face tumed ghostly pale, her eyes wide with terror.
“Claire, don’t do this. Killing is irreversible. You’re so young: you’ll regret it. I’m begging you, put the knife down,” Adah cried out, her voice hoarse with fear and urgency.
See? This is human nature.
When she threatened to drag them down with her, they were ready to compromise. But now, it was too late for that!!
“Regret? My only regret is coming back to this house.”
“Mrs. Linwood, tell me, have you ever felt a hint of remorse for what you’ve done to me? When I was locked up and tortured in that prison, where were you? When I was bullied and left with a broken leg, where were you? Your heart was only ever with Vanessa, the outsider. never with me, wasn’t it?′′E
“You kept calling me a disgrace, a criminal. But who is the real criminal? It’s Vanessa. She framed me, and you turned a blind eye, even became her accomplice, pinning all the blame on me. Now that I’m out, you still want to torment me.”
“Why am I the one to blame when I’ve done nothing wrong?”
“Tell me, tell me now-” Claire’s shout made Adah tremble helplessly. “Claire, it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it?
“No answer? Then I must be right. Let’s all go down together.”
Claire raised the knife high, its blade gleaming coldly in the light, aiming straight at Vanessa behind Adah.
Adah was shocked, her eyes wide as saucers. Instinctively, she threw her arms around Claire, shouting, “Vanessa, run! Go find your brother!”
Claire struggled like a trapped, wild animal, “Mrs. Linwood, let me go!“”
Tears streamed down Adah’s face. “Claire, I’m not Mrs. Linwood, I’m your mother!”
“No, you’re not!“)
“I am, I gave birth to you. Claire, please listen to your mother, stop this madness!”
Claire’s struggles suddenly ceased, lighting a flicker of hope in Adah’s heart, thinking her words had finally reached her daughter.
But then, a mocking laugh erupted from Claire’s throat.
“You gave birth to me? And you’re using that as leverage? Then I’ll repay you for the gift of life.“}
Claire’s voice was cold, her eyes filled with a chilling indifference.
Adah froze, a dreadful premonition washing over her, sensing something even more terrible was about to happen.
Her arms tightened instinctively, holding Claire close, as if it could prevent the impending disaster.
Summoning strength from who knows where, Claire broke free from Adah’s grasp. She placed her hand on the table, staring at Adah.
“A life given without nurture is repaid with a finger; a life given and nurtured is repaid with a head, a life neither given nor nurtured is never repaid.”
“Mrs. Linwood, your gift of life is worth no more than a finger.” As she spoke, she raised the knife, alming it at her own finger.
