Chapter 379: She Was Wrong
Arthur rushed over and grabbed Claire’s arm. “Claire, I’ve told you, as long as you don’t want to leave, no one can take you away.”
“Arthur! I’ll say it again—Claire is my fiancée!” Frederick’s gun was once again pointed at Arthur’s head.
“Claire, don’t feel any pressure or burden. Don’t worry about me. Just listen to what your heart truly wants. I’m here, and I’ll take care of everything.”
Arthur still wouldn’t release his grip on Claire’s hand, as if, in that moment, he wasn’t the least bit afraid of the gun Frederick had aimed at him.
“I…”
Honestly, seeing Arthur act this way, Claire found herself hesitating. She could tell that Arthur had the power to make her stay.
“Claire!”
Just then, a voice, unmistakably familiar, rang from the doorway. Claire turned her head and saw Elizabeth standing at the entrance.
“Grandma!”
Claire was stunned, never expecting Elizabeth from the Prescott family to show up. She immediately pulled her hand away from Arthur’s and rushed to Elizabeth’s side. Seeing her, Frederick stopped blocking Claire.
“Would you do me a favor, just this once, and let your people lower their weapons?”
Elizabeth squeezed Claire’s hand gently, her sharp gaze sweeping over the wounded servant on the floor, and then shifting to Frederick and Arthur. With Elizabeth herself stepping in and asking so directly, neither Frederick nor Arthur, as younger generations, could refuse. Elizabeth’s intervention gave everyone a way out, especially from the tense standoff between Frederick and Arthur.
“Madam Prescott, please, take a seat.”
Arthur nodded politely after signaling for Shawn to lower his weapon. He stepped toward Elizabeth to offer her a seat, his duty as the host of his villa.
But Elizabeth waved him off, her eyes fixed on Arthur. “No need. I didn’t come here for a chat. There’s something I need to ask of you, Arthur. May I borrow your space for a while to have a proper conversation with my granddaughter?”
“Of course, Madam Prescott. You’re welcome here anytime.”
Arthur bowed slightly, respectful as always.
“Grandma, let’s go upstairs to my room.”
Claire helped Elizabeth up the stairs and into her room. Once inside, Elizabeth pulled Claire’s supporting hand away, then ordered, “Kneel.”
Claire’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately dropped to her knees with a soft thud.
“Do you know what you’ve done wrong?”
Elizabeth stood tall, her gaze cold and piercing as she looked down at Claire, who was kneeling before her.
“I know, I’m sorry, Grandma. I’ve caused you so much trouble.”
Claire bowed her head, overwhelmed with guilt and self-blame. Elizabeth, who had not been in the best of health and had recently undergone stomach surgery, now had to deal with this turmoil on Claire’s behalf. The weight of it all made Claire feel like she could hardly breathe.
“Trouble? Oh yes, Claire, you’ve certainly caused me a great deal of trouble! You’ve really outdone yourself this time. Hawthorne… What kind of family are they? One wasn’t enough, you had to provoke both of them?”
“Do you think it’s fun, watching these two brothers fight over you like this? Are you happy seeing them go so far? Don’t you know what Nathan is like?”
She let out a bitter laugh. “I’m probably asking the wrong person, huh? You wouldn’t know. Nathan was a legend in Kingstown long before you were born.
“Claire, I’ll tell you this—you’re lucky to be part of the Prescott family, but that doesn’t mean we’re untouchable. You’re rich because others have allowed you to be. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s all because of your own doing.
“If they decide they no longer want you, just like that, they’ll replace you with another family. Four years ago, the Titan family rose to the top and became the richest in Kingstown overnight—don’t you remember that?
“Never forget, you still bear the Prescott name. Whether you’re really the Prescott family’s true heir or not, as long as you carry that name, you’ll always be tied to them.”
Elizabeth laid everything out, the harsh realities of the world Claire had been too naive to fully understand.
“Grandma, I’m so sorry. I was… thoughtless. You’re right. I made a huge mistake.”
Claire was now fully aware of the consequences of her actions, how much she had endangered herself and everyone around her. Her self-loathing consumed her as she knelt, ashamed.
Elizabeth remained silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on Claire, who remained kneeling on the floor. After what seemed like an eternity of inner struggle, Elizabeth finally moved. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small dagger, tossing it in front of Claire with a sharp clink.