NovelGoldChapter 383 Claire was running on empty-her strength had long since left her.
Yet she refused to slip away quietly, to die without a ripple.
Looking back, her short life had been filled with regrets, so many missed chances, so many things that weren't worth it. Now, if she had to face the end, she at least wanted her death to mean something.
Images of Mandy flashed through her mind-Mandy, avenging her by killing four people. It was all her fault, Claire thought bitterly. The darkness in her own past had shaped Mandy in ways she never intended. She was a curse.
She'd gotten May fired from the Linwood family, pushed Mandy down a path of violence, and now Sean-because of her-was lying in a hospital bed with both legs shattered by falling rocks.
If none of them had ever met her, their lives would have been so much brighter, so much fuller than they were now. At the very least, she could try to do something meaningful with whatever tshe had left.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe doctor finished explaining her condition and left the room.
Jeffry, Victor, and Normand all turned toward her at once. When they saw she was awake, their eyes filled with worry.
Claire managed a faint smile. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." She turned her gaze to Jeffry. "Jeffry, please don't tell Sean what's happened to me. I don't want him to worry." Jeffry pressed his lips together, hesitated, but finally nodded in agreement.
Relieved, Claire's smile deepened. Then she looked to Victor. "Victor, you're a doctor. Could you prescribesomething for the pain? I... I'm scared it'll get worse." Victor hesitated, a flicker of guilt passing through his eyes. He knew everything Claire had been through. Because he understood so well, her request cut even deeper-she almost never complained, never asked for relief. This was the first time.
It was clear her pain was unbearable, and only then would she ask for help.
His voice was rough as he replied, "Of course. I'll get you something right away." Claire nodded. Once Victor left, she turned to Jeffry and Normand. "I'm a little tired. I think I'll try to rest for a while." She looked so pale, almost translucent, her exhaustion drowning out any trace of liveliness.
Jeffry and Normand urged her to get srest, then followed Victor out, leaving Claire alone in the hospital room.
She turned her head toward the window.
The weather was beautiful, sunlight pouring through the glass and warming her bed.
Claire reached out, stretching her hand toward the window.
The sunlight felt warm on her arm, but it couldn't chase away the cold that had settled deep inside her.
The world was so beautiful, the sun so bright, and there were still so many people who cared about her. It was hard to accept that soon she'd have to leave it all behind.
She wasn't ready to say goodbye.
She didn't know how much thad passed before Victor returned.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Claire, take this medicine. It'll help with the pain." She smiled at him gratefully and obediently swallowed the painkillers.
Victor didn't linger, just offered a few words of encouragement and reminded her to rest before heading out again.
Once again, Claire was alone.
After the painkillers began to work and the worst of her agony fadedh Claire summoned the last of her strength and eased herself off the bed. Her steps were unsteady as she left her room and made her way down the hall to Sean's door.
Through the small window in the door, she could see him lyingo M motionless on the hospital bed, both legs encased in plaster.
He looked nothing like the confident, vibrant man she remembered-now, vel he seemed so lost, so defeated. Jeffry was in the room, talking quietly with Sean about something Claire couldn't hear. Seeing Sean like this, so broken, Claire felt hot tears spill down her cheeks, unstoppable.
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