NovelGoldChapter 269 The sound echoed softly through the quiet kitchen, lingering in the air but stirring nothing like a pebble sinking into a still lake.
Mandy paused, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. Had Claire heard her at all? She furrowed her brow and spoke again, her tone warmer and more insistent. "Claire?" But the only answer was the gentle bubbling of the soup simmering on the stove. Claire remained focused, stirring the thick, fragrant broth with slow, deliberate movements. The soup had been cooking for over an hour, filling the kitchen with its comforting aroma and rolling clouds of steam.
Mandy's gaze locked on Claire's slender back, unease gnawing at her. She called out again, louder this time. "Claire!" Her voice rang out, bouncing off the kitchen walls. Still, Claire seemed sealed in her own world, oblivious, lost in the rhythm of stirring.
A chill shot up Mandy's spine; her eyes narrowed in alarm. It was then she realized Claire couldn't hear her.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtLast tshe'd seen Claire in the hospital, she'd seemed fine. How long had it been? And now, she'd lost her hearing? Mandy clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
What the hell did the Linwoods, Brian, and Vincent do to her? Fury boiled inside Mandy, her eyes blazing with a cold, murderous resolve. She could almost see herself tearing those monsters apart, limb by limb.
Suddenly, Claire turned around.
The moment she saw Mandy, a spark of surprise lit up her previously calm eyes. Her lips curved into a gentle smile. "Mandy! What are you doing here?" In an instant, Mandy smoothed away her anger, her face brightening with a pure, sunlit smile-warm and dazzling. "I missed you. So I came." But her eyes never left Claire's face, searching for any sign of hidden pain, any trace of what she'd endured. Claire stepped close, affectionately taking Mandy's hand in her own-soft and warm. "Con, sit down. The soup's almost ready." She led Mandy toward the living room.
Mandy lingered, still studying Claire, her doubts unresolved. "Lethelp you in the kitchen." Claire's smile deepened with fond amusement. "No need. I can handle it-there's too much grease in here anyway." Mandy hesitated, thrown off by the reply. Had she been wrong? Could Claire actually hear her? She tried to sound casual. "It's fine, really." Seeing she wouldn't be swayed, Claire turned back to the stove, still stirring. "Alright, then-could you fry a couple of eggs?" Mandy stepped back, standing behind Claire. "I don't like fried eggs." Normally, Claire would have paused to ask what she'd prefer. But this time, she simply said, "The eggs are in the fridge." The simple reply hit Mandy like a punch to the gut. That clinched it-Claire really couldn't hear her.
Any earlier answers must have been lip-reading, not listening.
Claire must have suffered terribly in that prison.
A sharp ache twisted in Mandy's chest; the fire of rage flared up inside her, hotter than ever.
Everyone who hurt Claire deserved to pay.
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Mandy watched Claire's every move, noticing for the first thow she limped slightly with each step. Every uneven footfall felt like a stab to Mandy's heart, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.
She forced herself to stay calm, inhaling deeply. She opened the fridge, grabbed a carton of eggs, and a stepped to the stove. She heated the pan, poured in oil, and cracked the eggs sizzle. The eggs hit the pan, filling the kitchen with their savory scent. A little while later, the soup was done.
Claire ladled the thick, steaming broth into a large bowl, her om movements careful and steady. She carried the bowl toward the dining table, walking with a pronounced limp. But before she even reached the table, a shrill scream ripped through the air. "What the hell are you doing here, you bitch?" There was a loud crash-the bowl slipped from Claire's hands, shattering on the tile. Soup splattered everywhere, porcelain shards flying.
Claire let out a startled cry.
Mandy, carrying the plate of eggs from the kitchen, saw only a wild-eyed woman with smeared makeup, hand raised, ready to strike Claire.
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