Chapter 176: Have You Fallen in Love With Claire?

Claire heard the door close behind her and rushed back, frantically twisting the doorknob, but it was too late.

“Claire, I know about your plan to announce your engagement to Frederick at Grandma’s birthday banquet. I don’t know what tricks you pulled with the Hawthornes while I was gone to get them to agree, but I won’t let you succeed. Four years ago, you caused Anna’s death over this same thing. You were so cruel! You hired those thugs to rape and kill her. You won’t get your way this time!”

Harrison was much sharper than Diana, always knowing what excuses to make. After locking the door, he pulled out the key, planning to give it to Diana. Once that was done, he’d wash his hands of the whole situation. He couldn’t help but smile, imagining Claire and Gregory together at the banquet, their reputations in tatters. That would destroy any chance she had with Frederick.

“Anna, don’t worry! I won’t let your murderer have a happy life.”

Harrison grinned, key in hand, ready to leave. But as he turned around, he froze—Frederick was standing there.

“Frederick? What are you doing here?”

Harrison had no idea how long Frederick had been there or how much he’d overheard. But Harrison didn’t care if Frederick had heard everything. Every word he’d said was the truth—and precisely what Claire deserved.

“You’ve locked Claire up,” Frederick said, hearing Claire’s shouts from inside the room.

“Yeah, I did. Got a problem with that?” Harrison replied brazenly.

“Let her out!” Frederick demanded, ignoring Harrison’s question.

“And what if I don’t? Frederick, are you that desperate to get engaged to this woman? Remember four years ago, how much you fought against this engagement? Remember what you swore to Anna?”

“You said you’d never be with Claire, no matter what. All your compromises were just for show, temporary. You claimed Anna was your only love. But now…”

“For God’s sake, don’t you remember how Anna died? Claire hired thugs to rape her to death!”

“It’s barely been four years, and Claire’s only been out of prison for a few months. Yet here you are, shacking up with her. If I hadn’t come back from abroad and investigated all this, would you have ever told me? That you not only wiped her prison record clean but have been sleeping with her every night and now plan to get engaged? Jesus, Frederick, I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

Harrison felt his blood boil thinking about how Claire had masqueraded as Anna for over twenty years, playing the beloved princess of the Prescott family. It made him sick knowing that all the love and luxury the Prescott family had showered on her should have belonged to his real sister, Anna. And now, to top it all off, the man his sister had loved most in the world was planning to marry the woman who killed her.

“Harrison, it’s not what you think. You know my situation in the Hawthorne family. I have no choice in this matter, I…”

Frederick’s explanation was cut short by Harrison.

“Oh please,” Harrison scoffed. “Of course, I know your situation in the Hawthorne family. That’s why I kept my mouth shut about the slum video incident and when you brought Claire to Halfmoon Manor. You kept saying Claire would be Caroline’s shield, that she owed Anna her life, that this was her burden to bear. But now? Seriously, Frederick? You’re getting engaged to Claire?!”

Harrison’s eyes blazed with murderous intent. Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, he took a deep breath to compose himself. With his eyes closed, he asked, “Frederick, have you fallen in love with Claire?”

“Absolutely not,” Frederick answered without hesitation.

Harrison nodded. “Good. Then stay out of my way and keep Claire locked up.”