Building Her Throne Burying My Heart (Claire) novel Chapter 27

Claire stopped when I grabbed her arm. She turned around and looked at me. “You want me to let you go?”

I looked up at her. “What happened before was my fault. But if we keep going like this, neither of us will ever feel happy. Let’s just let it go. Maybe then we can both actually find some peace.”

She let out this cold little laugh, like I had just told her a joke. “You really think it’s that easy? That you can just put everything down and walk away? I don’t want peace. And I’m not going to let you have it either.”

I knew it wouldn’t be easy for her to let things go. Wounds like that never really disappear. Even if they heal, they always leave scars.

“So, forget the past for a second. What about work? How can I get out of this?”

She looked at me, her eyes hard. “You can’t. It’s all in the contract. Either you show up to work, or you can try your luck in court.”

She pulled her arm free and walked off without even looking back.

The recruiter, who had been standing off to the side, jumped in. “Hey, aren’t you the one who needs money for treatment? This job pays more than most people see in a year. It’s practically falling from the sky, and you’re turning your nose up at it. You’re being ridiculous.”

He wasn’t wrong about the money. I really was desperate. And Claire wasn’t going to let this go. Right now, I didn’t have a better option.

If this was the only way to save Darleen, then fine. I’d just have to grit my teeth, sign the contract, and become Claire’s driver. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. After everything that’s already happened between us, the thought alone made me nervous.

Did we really have to end up like this? If doing this made things a little easier for her, I’d take it as my own way of making up for the past.

As Claire walked away, the recruiter pulled out his phone to check the payment. He must’ve gotten a nice bonus for roping me into this job. I walked over, picked up a glass of water, and tossed it right in his face. Before he could say anything, I was already out the door.

His voice was icy, as if I was a stranger who had no business being there. I looked around. If it weren’t for the fact that I shared his blood, I wouldn’t have anything to do with this place. Honestly, I didn’t even want to come back.

“This is still my home, isn’t it? Or am I not allowed to come back?”

He glared at me. “Did you forget what you said three years ago?”

Of course I hadn’t forgotten. But isn’t there a saying that fathers and sons can’t hold grudges overnight? Was he really still angry just because I asked for money before agreeing to the kidney transplant? Was that reason enough to cut me out completely?

I looked him in the eye. “Did you forget your own words? Part of me is keeping you alive. Back then, you said our bond as family could never be broken. Are you taking that back now?”