Chapter 3: As Expected

“Why is Caroline here?” Claire thought. “Caroline is Anna’s sister. I’d only met her once, but I could never forget her face… It was the day after Anna died. After the truth about our identities was revealed, in Caroline’s eyes, I was her blood-related older sister. But after Anna died, Caroline almost strangled me.”

“Ms. Prescott… It’s so good to see you free. I owe you an apology. I believed only a single piece of information—your vague whereabouts—and accused you of killing my sister. I apologize,” Caroline said earnestly and guiltily.

Claire unconsciously tightened her grip at the mention of the past. Her insides twisted, and she felt a pang in her gut. If it had been four years ago, Caroline would have vehemently blamed her, but now…

She rubbed her hands, already stiff from the cold.

“No, it’s my fault. Anna was…” But before she could finish, Frederick grabbed her throat.

“Claire, don’t let me hear Anna’s name leave your mouth. You don’t deserve to say it!” he groaned. His grip nearly choked her, her eyes rolling back.

Caroline pleaded from the side, anxiety spreading across her face, until he finally let go. He glared at Claire, sternly warning:

“Claire, if I hear you say Anna’s name again, I’ll personally make sure your life in the free world is worse than your life in prison.”

“Frederick, please… Ms. Prescott didn’t mean to upset you,” Caroline pleaded, trying to change the subject. “Aren’t we going out to eat? I’m starving. Please, let’s just go.”

Finally, they got into the car, thanks to Caroline. Watching the Cayenne speed away, Claire clutched at her chest, unable to stand. She collapsed to the ground, her bony legs barely cushioning her fall.

“The man I loved wholeheartedly… my entire life… was ready to strangle me over a name,” she thought.

She didn’t know how long she had been kneeling, but seeing the snow piling up, she realized she’d fallen into another daze. She was no longer the present, vivacious young woman. The snow had frozen her to the bone. Only then, out of sheer survival, did she manage to return to Prescott Manor.

In the living room, Harrison was laughing on the phone. It was strange to see him smiling, and a small part of her felt relieved. But when he saw Claire enter, his expression immediately turned glum.

Her stomach dropped.

Chapter 3: As Expected

“Are you actually that heartless? Why aren’t you at the hospital with Grandma? You know she has surgery tomorrow, right?!” he scolded.

“I… Grandma asked me to come back tomorrow. Don’t worry. I’ll be there first thing in the morning,” she calmly explained, not daring to step further into the living room.

“Claire, you’d better not pretend to be all filial, or you’ll regret it,” Harrison clenched his teeth. Seeing her reminded him of his sister’s death, and he picked up the marble ashtray from the coffee table. His white knuckles gripped it, preparing to hurl it at her.

“I didn’t… I- I won’t. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Grandma. I’ll follow her orders.”

The ashtray slammed into her forehead, and she fought back a yelp. Tears welled up in Claire’s eyes, but she forced them down as the stinging surged through her face.

Harrison froze, staring at her. The hand that had thrown the ashtray hung in mid-air. For a moment, she thought it trembled.

“What’s going on here?” a voice boomed. Robert and Margaret Prescott heard the commotion and hurried downstairs.

“It’s nothing. I accidentally bumped my head….” Claire quickly spoke before Harrison could.

“If you’re really coming back, you need to get your act together,” Robert demanded.

“Alright, it’s late,” Margaret added. “Go upstairs and rest. You need to accompany Elizabeth for her surgery tomorrow.”

Each of them clearly saw the ashtray on the floor but tacitly ignored it, exchanging a quick glance before heading back upstairs.

“Okay,” Claire nodded, looking down, and followed them upstairs.

Harrison stood there, disbelief on his face as he watched Claire walk away. When they were kids, even if he merely raised his voice, she would cry and scream. She’d always refuse to let it go and would cause a scene. But now, he had thrown a weighty ashtray at her, her head was bleeding, she was in excruciating pain… and she said nothing.

A pang of guilt rose in his heart, but remembering his sister Anna’s death, the guilt quickly vanished.