NovelGoldChapter 275 Brian slumped in the cold metal chair, his arms hanging limply at his sides, eyes clouded with confusion.
He didn't even know how things had spiraled this far.
All along, he'd tried to keep the peace, smoothing over Claire's resentment toward Vanessa. Yet his efforts had backfired spectacularly-now, not only did Claire despise him, but Sean, that lunatic, had singled him out as a target.
He was supposed to be the rightful heir to the Cole Corporation empire, and yet here he was, sitting in a police holding cell like a common criminal.
Brian's frown deepened. If Claire hadn't insisted on making a scene at Mrs. Aberdeen's birthday dinner, neither he nor Vanessa would be in this mess.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHow had Claire changed so much after five years behind bars? The gentle, considerate woman he once knew had vanished, replaced by someone reckless and impossible to reason with.
But no matter how hard he tried, Brian couldn't begin to imagine the shhe would feel when Irene returned from abroad and the truth finally cto light. One day, he'd look back at the way he'd so blindly defended Vanessa and realize each word, each action, was like a razor-sharp blade, cutting straight into his own heart- leaving him bleeding, wracked with regret.
That guilt would haunt him for the rest of his life, a chain he'd never be able to break. And by then, even if he fell to his knees and begged for Claire's forgiveness, she wouldn't spare him a single glance.
Just imagining that cold indifference, that sense of being despised, made him feel worse than death itself.
Yet here he was, stubbornly clinging to his own sense of righteousness, unable— or unwilling to see the fault in anything he'd done.
The Foster household.
Every pair of eyes was fixed on Claire, their concern and affection plain for all to see.
Even a minor burn on her wrist had everyone's hearts aching with worry.
Mrs. Aberdeen gently lifted Claire's reddened wrist, her expression anxious and full of care. "Sean, take Claire to the hospital. Now." For Claire, being fussed over like this was both unfamiliar and unexpectedly comforting. The warmth wrapped around her, making her wish she could stay in this moment forever, surrounded by her grandmother and Mr. Foster's quiet presence.
But reason doused those hopes as quickly as they'd flared up.
She knew her grandmother was eager to see her and Mr. Foster together, but her own body was broken, fragile-a house on the verge of collapse. How could she, out of selfishness, drag Mr. Foster into a lifetentangled with someone so damaged? Claire straightened, her tone earnest. "Grandma, I've already put ointment on it. I promise, I'm fine. Please, don't worry about me." Still, Mrs. Aberdeen's brow furrowed deeper. "Burns aren't a small matter, Claire. If it scars, you'll regret it. Besides, you've been unwell-this is a good chance for a full check-up, so we can all stop worrying." Ever since learning of the abuse Claire suffered in prison-and the kidney she lost Mrs. Aberdeen had been anxious about her granddaughter's health, always meaning to take her for a thorough exam. But the family had been overwhelmed with other concerns, and the right thad never come.
Now, with Sean hfor once, she wasn't about to let the opportunity slip away again.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmA complicated look flickered across Claire's face.
She knew her grandmother's concern was genuine. But she also knew that if the family insisted on a full m check-up, all the scars from prison, and the truth about her hearing loss, would cout. She didn't want to burden the Fosters with her pain or disrupt this fragile, hard-won sense of peace. "Grandma, I really am okay," Claire said firmly.
Seeing how determined she was, Mrs. Aberdeen sighed, finally relenting. She reached out and gently stroked Claire's hand, her voice tender. "If you ever feel unwell, you must tellright away. Don't try to handle it alone, do you understand?" "I promise." Claire nodded, dropping her gaze to hide the tears welling in her eyes.
She didn't want her grandmother to see her vulnerability, didn't want to turn this care into a weight anyone else had to carry.
When she looked up again, the tears were gone, replaced by a brave, grateful smile.
She glanced around the room, meeting the sincere, worried gazes of everyone present.
In that moment, a surge of warmth flooded Claire's heart. Maybe fate hadn't been so cruel after all. Even if she'd been estranged from her own parents and endured more than her share of hardship, there were still people in this world who truly cared for her. And that warmth was enough to keep out all the cold.
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