Chapter 10
“Diane, we agreed that Claire’s custody was mine. What gives you the right to run off with my daughter without a word?”
My father stormed into the house, his voice booming with anger. Behind him, Logan followed, a disapproving scowl on his face.
“Mom, seriously. You hid her from us? We’ve been searching everywhere.”
Mom slapped Logan across the face.
“Logan Evans, do you
you remember what I told you? I asked you to protect your sister. Is this what that looks like?”
Her sharp gaze shifted to Harper, who trailed in behind them.
“Just because I moved overseas doesn’t mean I didn’t know what you were doing to Claire Playing favorites. Letting her get bullied. I’m taking her with me.”
Owen and Charles stood protectively beside me.
“Damn right,” Owen snapped. “You didn’t want her? We’ll take her. Happily.”
“We practically won the lottery,” Charles added. “A daughter and a sister like Claire? We couldn’t ask for more.”
My dad’s face turned crimson. His rage now had a new target.
“Charles Carter, first you steal my wife, and now my daughter? Who do you
do you think you are?”
Charles smiled calmly. “Someone who treats her right. That enough for you?
He turned to me. “Claire’s my daughter now. No one lays a hand on her. Not anymore.”‘
“Face it,” “Owen said, “Claire doesn’t need a biological father who never stood up for her.
Dad’s expression flickered. He turned back to me, desperate now.
“Claire, sweetheart. You don’t actually believe all that, do you?”
He didn’t even wait for me to speak. Instead, he grabbed Harper and shoved her in front of me.
“She lied to us,” he said, voice shaking. “That allergy attack? It wasn’t from the seafood you made. We found pollen in her drawer. She smeared it on herself. It was all a setup.”
“She’s been framing you all along. I swear, I didn’t know. I was wrong. Just come home, and we’ll send her away, okay?”
He and Logan looked at me, pleading.
And yet, I shook my head.
They were finally willing to get rid of Harper.
Words I’d waited so long to hear.
But now, they didn’t matter anymore
“Don’t bother.”
“I have a good life here. Charles and Owen treat me better than you ever did. I’m not going back”
Logan’s voice broke. “They’re not your real family, Claire. We are. Please, come home. We made a mistake, but it’s different now. We even kicked Harper out of your room. You’ll never be replaced again.”
I looked at him, calm and steady.
“It doesn’t matter, I have my own room here now. Bigger. Better. And no one can take it from me.”
Owen may not share my blood, but he’s more of a brother than you ever were.”
Chapter 10
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“Remember when you told me blood didn’t mean much, that time and love were what really e
counted? You
You were right!
Logan looked stunned. Hurt
He remembered.
He’d said those exact words the day Harper dumped trash all over herself, then ran crying into his arms
And without asking, without listening, he’d slapped me,
It was the first time I’d cried in front of him.
“Lopan,” I’d said, clutching my check, “I’m your real sister. How could you not believe me?
And he’d said..
He’d said he wished I’d never been born.
Now, panie spread across his face.
He was losing me. For good.
“No, Claire, please. I didn’t mean it, I was tricked.
Owen scoffed. “Then you’re either gullible or heartless. Either way, you don’t deserve to be her brother. You never protected her.” Whatever they were about to say next didn’t matter. The security team stepped in, removing them from the property.
