His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 74

**TITLE: Betrayal Births**

**Chapter 74**

**Claire’s POV**

It had been two long weeks.

Two weeks since that fateful night when Elijah had confronted me, his voice dripping with accusation and disappointment. The memory of his words echoed in my mind, sharp and unforgiving. He had called me a gold digger, a label that struck deeper than any physical blow I had ever received. It felt as if he had stripped away my dignity, leaving me bare and exposed, and then ordered me to leave his life as though I were nothing more than a stain he wished to erase.

And leave I did.

In the wake of his rejection, I had wandered through my days like a ghost, a mere shadow of the vibrant person I once was. The upcoming gala loomed over me like a dark cloud, twisting my stomach into tight knots of anxiety. How was I supposed to face him again, to train alongside someone who had so thoroughly rejected me?

As I walked into the classroom, the familiar scent of chalk mixed with a hint of floral perfume wafting through the air. The room was unusually bright for a dreary Monday morning, yet I felt like an outsider in this vibrant environment. I sank into my seat, gripping the strap of my bag as if it were a lifeline, my heart racing as the teacher announced, “Today, we will begin our mid-term project. You will be working in groups of three to research, create, and present something innovative within two weeks.”

The phrase “two weeks” hit me like a punch to the gut. My entire existence felt reduced to these two-week intervals—two weeks since Elijah’s betrayal, two weeks until the gala, and two weeks until I would be forced to stand beside him once more.

Naomi had vanished from my life since that day, and honestly, I was starting to feel indifferent about it. If she couldn’t even muster the decency to speak to me after everything that had transpired, especially when I could easily confront Ethan about it, then she didn’t deserve a second thought from me.

“Claire.”

The teacher’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, pulling me back to reality.

I blinked, forcing my gaze upward.

“You’ll be grouped with Elijah and…” She flipped through her notepad, her eyes scanning the names. “Leo.”

The air seemed to evaporate from my lungs.

A few heads turned in my direction, curiosity flickering in their eyes like fireflies. I didn’t need to look across the room to know Elijah had heard the announcement; I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, a palpable tension that sent shivers down my spine.

The teacher smiled, blissfully unaware of the turmoil she had just unleashed. “You’ll have two weeks to complete this project. Be creative and choose your theme by the end of today.”

As soon as she dismissed us to brainstorm, I hastily shoved my notebook into my bag. My heart began its irritating skip-beat dance, the familiar warning sign that accompanied stress.

It was absurd to think I hadn’t felt this anxious in months.

Leo, a quiet boy with tousled blond hair and deep-set dark eyes, approached me, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “Guess we’re partners.”

“Guess so,” I replied, my voice flat as I fought to keep my emotions in check. I could sense Elijah’s presence drawing closer, that familiar heaviness in the air, the silent tension that once pulled me in but now only served to deepen the ache in my chest.

“Claire,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth, a simple acknowledgment that felt like a dagger piercing through the fragile barrier I had built around my heart.

I forced myself to meet his gaze, taking a slow, steadying breath. His expression was calm, meticulously composed, but the space between us had shifted. It was colder, more distant.

“Elijah,” I responded, matching his tone, though my heart raced beneath the surface, threatening to betray my composure.

Leo glanced between us, clearly aware of the tension but too polite to comment. “So, uh, should we meet after class to discuss the project?”

“Yeah,” I interjected quickly, eager to break the silence before Elijah could respond. “After school. The library.”

“Cool.” Leo nodded, visibly relieved to escape the palpable awkwardness.

When I glanced back, I found Elijah still watching me, but his gaze was no longer warm or teasing, not even the gentle softness I had once cherished. Instead, it was sharp, clinical, and distant, as if I were a specimen under a microscope.

He gave a curt nod and turned away.

I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until he was gone, leaving behind a hollow ache that settled in my chest.

By the time classes ended, the sky had turned a soft, overcast gray, casting a muted light over the courtyard. It was eerily quiet, save for the distant chatter of students heading home. I seated myself on one of the stone benches near the entrance, pulling out my small pillbox. Two little tablets for my heart—tiny, bitter reminders of my fragility in more ways than one.

I swallowed them dry, wincing at the bitterness that lingered on my tongue. The wind tousled my hair, and I closed my eyes, letting the cool air wash over me, attempting to soothe my frayed nerves. I despised this distance, this suffocating silence. I loathed how I kept replaying that night in Elijah’s room, like a broken record stuck on a loop.

He had chosen to believe the worst of me without a second thought.

And yet… a part of me still yearned to understand why. Why he had been so furious, so terrified. What kind of enemies could provoke someone like Elijah to lose control in such a way?

“Claire?”

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