Building Her Throne Burying My Heart (Claire) novel Chapter 102

Halley slapped me hard, her palm landing on the other side of my face.

“You ungrateful child. If I’d known you’d end up like this, I never would have brought you into the world.”

I stared back, my voice cold. “You didn’t give birth to me, and you sure as hell didn’t raise me. What gives you the right to talk to me like that? I wonder if everyone here would like to know what you did back then. There are plenty of people listening. Should I tell them?”

Halley’s whole body shook with anger. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she was too afraid to push me any further.

Garrison was already on his feet, with Alice and Claire helping him brush glass from his clothes. He looked a mess, blood all over his hands, his shirt soaked with a mix of wine and blood. He looked almost pitiful.

“Garrison, are you okay? I’ll take you to the hospital,” someone offered.

He winced and glanced between me and Halley, his expression full of pain and confusion.

“I’m fine,” he said, forcing a weak smile. “Let me talk to Dad and Lambert first. I don’t want them to fight.”

Claire cut him off. “Forget it. I’m taking you to the hospital. Stop worrying about them.”

But Garrison, in a show fit for an Oscar, gently pulled his hands away and stepped in front of me, looking so hurt and sincere that I almost laughed.

“Lambert, it’s okay if you can’t wish me well. I get it. We’re still family, no matter what.”

He looked around at everyone, his voice trembling just enough to sound believable.

“I know you’re upset, but love isn’t something you can force. What Claire and I have is real. I know it’s hard for you to accept, and I respect your feelings, but can’t we stop fighting and hurting each other?”

He sounded so genuine, so broken up, that everyone in the room looked at me like I was the villain.

Honestly, he should have been an actor. Next time, I really needed to bring a hidden camera or at least a voice recorder, otherwise I’d just keep getting blamed for things I didn’t do.

I looked straight at Garrison. “Congratulations. You finally got what you wanted.”

He put on his best innocent face. “I really don’t know what you mean.”

Then he doubled over, groaning in pain. Alice shrieked.

“Stop talking to him. Garrison needs help now. Those glass shards need to come out or the wounds will get worse.”

Suddenly everyone was in a panic, crowding around Garrison and hurrying him out. Claire turned and pointed at me. “You’re driving. You started all this, so you’re taking him to the hospital. Right now.”

I pulled out my keys and tossed them to her. “Sorry. That’s not happening.”

Claire’s eyes flashed with fury. “What did you say? If you even think about walking out that door, just try it.”