Clara’s mother slowly rose and walked over to Hailey.
Her voice was calm but piercing.
“You weren’t the villains,” she said, her voice dangerously soft. “You were just the clowns in the final act.”
She then announced that, on Clara’s behalf, she would be suing Hailey for fraud and filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital where Zane worked.
The room erupted into a storm of grief and rage, and it took considerable effort to restrain the family.
1/3
But what good were tears and shouting now?
Clara was gone, and she had died with her heart broken.
Clara’s mother watched the whole farce play out. After a long time, she regained her composure, wiped the tears from her
face, and stood tall.
She looked down at Hailey.
“As of today, in my capacity as Clara’s sole legal guardian, I am revoking any and all relationships between you and this
family.”
“Furthermore, I will see you prosecuted for fraud, for every last cent you stole.”
“It was my
y mistak
I should have taken my daughter with me all those years ago, and not left her here to be framed by you.
will see that you are held responsible.”
Hailey lost it. “No! Don’t do this to me! Mom!”
“Mom, you took care years?”
of me for so long! Even if I wasn’t your daughter by blood, we had a bond, didn’t we? After all these
“I never meant to hurt Clara! She had everything, and I just wanted her to spare a little for me, that’s all!”
“Mom, I know I was wrong, I’m begging you, don’t abandon me! If I lose your protection, I’ll die! My creditors will hunt me
down and kill me!”
Clara’s brother slapped Hailey hard across the face, his expression glacial.
“You deceived us, and now my sister is gone forever. We want nothing to do with you. Get out of our lives.”
“Since you’re in contact with your creditors, go and solve your own damn mess. It’s better for everyone.”
With that, he pulled his father from the room. Zane followed.
Hailey lunged, grabbing onto Zane. “Zane! Zane, don’t go!”
“You said you wanted to get engaged to me, right? Let’s get married now, okay?”
“Olivia loves me! Even though Clara’s dead, Olivia will still love me! And I love you, Zane!”
“I’ve loved you since the first moment I saw you! You’re the one who
me!”
gave me that clinical trial spot! You can’t pin this all on
Zane turned and looked at the tear–streaked face of the woman before him.
“I first noticed you because of Clara. But I never had a single genuine feeling for you.‘
”
“And who do you think you are, to even compare yourself to Olivia’s mother?”
“As for the clinical trial… giving you that spot will be the single greatest shame of my life.’
Zane coldly pushed her hand away and left, leaving Hailey standing alone.
”
It’s easy for you all to wash your hands of this now,” Hailey screamed in desperation, “but you can’t just walk you all had a hand in killing her!”
But no one answered.
Hailey sat on the floor, shivering.
Clara’s mother watched it all, her own eyes quietly turning red.
away clean-
2/3
Even though she had exposed the truth, the thought of her daughter brought a pain that spread relentlessly through her
heart.
Clara, now they are finally facing their reckoning.
Can you see it from where you are?
ཁ ད ད ད པ ག ག ལ
