Chapter 8
On the drive back, Logan and Richard called Claire over and over.
That no matter how many times they tried, the message was the same: the number you have dialed is no longer in service.
How could it be? It had only been a few days how had they already lost her?
As soon as they reached the house, both of them instinctively ran upstairs. But when they threw open the door, the truth hit them,
The room wasn’t Claire’s anymore.
They had given it to Harper.
Their eyes met.
And in that shared silence, panic set in.
They had really lost her.
Julian woke up to Harper’s call.
He hadn’t been sleeping well lately. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Claire–soaking wet in the rain, walking away with nothing but pain in her eyes.
He used to promise he’d protect her forever. When did forever stop meaning anything?
Harper’s crying came through the phone.
He didn’t even think. Just like always, he began to soothe her out of habit.
“Don’t cry, Harper. You know it breaks my heart.”
“Tell me who upset you this time?”
Between dramatic sobs, Harper whined, “It’s Logan and Dad. They’ve been so mean to me just because they can’t find Claire.
“It’s not my fault she’s missing! Why are they taking it out on me?”
“They haven’t said a single nice thing to me since we got off the plane. I’m miserable, Julian. Can I come over? Please?”
Claire’s missing?
That was the only thing that registered.
Julian didn’t hear another word.
Claire. The girl who used to chase after him, promising to stay by his side for life–she was gone.
Meanwhile, across the ocean in Westbridge, I was wandering through a cozy, upscale department store with my mom and her husband, Charles Carter.
“Mom, seriously,” I laughed, trying to slow her down. “You’re picking out half the store. My closet can’t take it.”
She waved me off with a grin. “Then I’ll have Charles clear out the quest room next to yours. We’ll make it your own walk–in closet.”
Charles my stepdad smiled warmly and nodded. “Whatever you want, sweetheart. I’ll get it done.”
Watching the two of them, so in sync and full of love, I felt something stir quietly in my chest.
Warmth. Belonging
Something I hadn’t felt in a long, long time.
I hadn’t expected life in Westbridge to feel so… right.
R
ReelShort
Their secret romancai
10:811
Mom was genuinely happy, Charles was thoughtful, and even Owen- my stepbrother was kind to me.
When we finished shopping, Owen pulled up to the curb in his brand–new Bugatti.
“Hop in, family! There’s a new steakhouse that just opened–I made a reservation. Let’s check it out.”
I sat up front while Owen chatted non–stop about the restaurant.
Eventually, I laughed and cut him off. “Okay, okay–I get it. Their tuna is amazing. I promise I’ll order it.”
Charles chuckled from the back. “Funny–Owen’s not usually this talkative. Must really like having a little sister.
Owen scratched his nose sheepishly. “Can you blame me? I begged you two for a sister when I was a kid and you wouldn’t give me one. Now that she’s finally here, let me make up for lost time.”
“I’m spoiling her and I don’t care. Sue me.”
The whole car erupted in laughter.
But on the way home, I kept frowning–Owen’s affection… felt overwhelming
After dinner, he took me to a private auction house.
He bought me several sets of high–end jewelry, totaling in the millions.
My arms were full.
“Isn’t this a bit much?” I asked, wide–eyed.
He shrugged like it was nothing. “Not at all. Look at you–all plain and modest. You’re twenty–something, not eighty. You should be glowing”
“You’re my sister, Claire. You deserve to shine.”
When we got home, the guest room next to mine had already been remodeled.
It now connected directly to my bedroom- my very own walk–in closet.
The racks were lined with the clothes and handbags we’d just bought. Owen had even installed a secure jewelry safe.
“You can keep everything in here,” he said. “That way, every morning, you can pick whatever you feel like wearing.”
For some reason, my nose stimg.
I looked down and whispered, “Thanks… really.”
Warm hands ruffled my hair.
“You don’t have to thank me. We’re family. That’s what family does.”
I blinked.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, someone else had once said those words to me,
But that person… had gone on to call someone else their sister.
Maybe life really was fair, in its own twisted way.
I lost a father and a brother.
And somehow, I gained a new dad and brother who cared.
Maybe they lost me, too.
But now, they had someone sweet and lovable to replace me.
ReelShort
10 81%
In the end, maybe none of us were really missing anything at all.
D
