NovelGoldChapter 260 "Please. Don't flatter yourself. I could've hired any half-decent lawyer and still won that case. Anyone in my shoes would've becan overnight sensation in Cresthaven because of it. You really think you're something special? Even a pig could've soared if it caught the right tailwind. You just happened to ride the Linwood family's coattails. Don't kid yourself about your own abilities." She clicked her tongue, shaking her head in mock pity. "Honestly, sometimes I almost feel sorry for Claire. Can you imagine being that unlucky? A hopelessly lovesick mother, a greedy father who'd take everything for himself, a useless brother, and you the childhood friend who bites the hand that fed her." "If Claire got bullied and ended up behind bars, that's not on me. It was you people-her so-called loved ones who pushed her straight into the fire, step by step." Vanessa had never believed she was in the wrong. In her world, survival was for the strongest, and she was simply fighting tooth and nail for her own share.
If those people had been clear-headed, if they'd really trusted Claire, would my words have swayed them so easily? She and Claire weren't even related by blood. Why should she have to hand everything over just because Claire showed up one day? If she was able to grind the real Linwood heiress into the dirt, that was her own skill.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIf Claire had the guts, she was welcto try doing the sto her.
Vanessa folded her arms, a spark of amusement in her eyes as she watched Vincent's face contort with emotion. Hatred burned there-hatred for her, regret for Claire-but not a trace of self-reflection for his own part in what had happened. "Shut up! Just shut up!" Vincent was shouting now, wild-eyed, veins bulging. "Vanessa, you're a monster! You used me. All of this is your fault!" "A monster?" Vanessa let out a cold laugh. "This world eats the weak alive. I was only looking out for myself. And don't pretend you weren't after my looks and the Linwood fortune. You wanted something out ofotherwise, why turn a blind eye to Claire's feelings?" "I did use you. But I never forced you to spend Claire's money on designer brands, or to play the rich kid at school." She scoffed, her gaze sharp as a blade. "You knew what was happening to Claire in prison, didn't you? You knew she was slapped, forced to kneel, stabbed with needles, had her leg broken-and you did nothing to stop it." Her words hit Vincent with the force of a sledgehammer.
He couldn't deny it: back then, he'd been blinded by vanity, and made choices he could never take back. Claire had always been brilliant in high school-too brilliant. Her light eclipsed everyone around her, especially him.
A part of him had grown jealous; he just wanted to dim her shine a little, remind her she was only a girl. So what if she had top grades? In the end, wouldn't she just get married and beca housewife? He could make money; he'd take care of her after graduation. Why should she always aim so high? He'd buried those thoughts deep, knowing they'd sound ugly if he ever voiced them.
So he watched Claire get bullied, did nothing as others tormented her. He thought that, once they'd worn her down enough, he could swoop in, offer her comfort, and she'd have no choice but to cling to him-give up her dreams of being a scholar or a professor.
He'd break her wings, not to hurt her, but to save her from hardship. He'd be her safe harbor, providing for her, loving her. Wasn't that enough?
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut he never imagined the hell Claire would go through in prison Even after everything, she was still stubborn. She didn't lean on him-she despised him.
They'd grown up together in the orphanage, shared over a decade of memories,
but when Claire decided to cut him off, it was like he meant nothing to her. Vincent thought she was being E) heartless.
And now she'd gone and found swild man-one with trouble written all with over him and was pregnant, too. How shameless could she be? He hated how Claire refused to see sense. Hated even more that Vanessa had manipulated him all along.
If it hadn't been for Vanessa's scheming, he and Claire would never have ended up like this.
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