His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 89

**TITLE: Betrayal Births**

**Chapter 89**

**Claire’s POV**

“I hope so too.”

The moment those words escape my lips, I feel a strange sense of disconnection, as if I’m voicing sentiments for someone I’m still getting to know. Yet, there’s an undeniable honesty woven into my response.

I can’t help but observe Elijah’s expression as he turns back to the stove. His attention shifts to the pan, and I can sense the weight of the words hanging between us, words that have been echoing in my mind since he first uttered them. He gives the bubbling food a gentle stir, then reaches for the array of seasonings laid out beside him.

“Want some?” he asks, his gaze fixed on the pan, not bothering to look up.

“Obviously,” I reply, a playful tone in my voice. “Who wouldn’t want to indulge in your incredible cooking?”

I notice the slight lift of his shoulder, a telltale sign that he’s suppressing a smile. “You say that now. Just wait until you actually try it.”

With a flourish, he plates the food, handing me my portion before we settle at the kitchen counter instead of the more formal dining table. The warmth of the kitchen wraps around me, steady and almost comforting, in a way that feels oddly familiar. I take my first bite, and I can feel his gaze on me, a raised eyebrow of expectation.

“Well?” he prompts, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

“It’s good,” I reply, my mouth full. “Better than good. Actually, it’s very good.”

He leans back, a smug expression plastered across his face. “I know.”

“Wow. Confidence much?”

“I didn’t hear any complaints,” he counters, a playful glint in his eyes.

I roll my eyes, taking another bite, and we fall into a comfortable silence that stretches between us. It’s a quiet that doesn’t demand words, a shared moment that feels effortless. Yet, my thoughts keep drifting back to the earlier encounter with Leo, how the answers had flooded back to me unexpectedly, as if a switch had been flipped inside my mind.

Before I can spiral into overthinking, Elijah breaks the silence. “How did you remember all that? The project stuff.”

“I honestly don’t know,” I confess, pushing my fork around my plate as if the food might yield more answers. “It felt like… muscle memory, but in my mind. I didn’t even have to think about it.”

“That’s good,” he says, a reassuring nod accompanying his words. “At least you didn’t forget everything. You’ve always been a smart girl.”

His compliment sends a warm flutter through my stomach, not in a bad way, but in a way that reminds me of the times he used to say such things, and I found joy in hearing them. I glance at him, and our eyes meet; there’s no teasing in his tone now. He genuinely means it.

“What do you even do in school again?” I inquire, eager to shift the focus away from myself. “I heard someone mention something about you coming back to the ice rink.”

He shrugs, attempting to downplay it. “I’m captain of the hockey team. Or… I was. I haven’t played in a while.”

“Why not?”

He shrugs again, but this time there’s a weight to it, a hint of something more serious. “Stuff happened.”

“Stuff like what?”

He shakes his head, a shadow passing over his features. “Stuff I don’t want to dump on you just yet.”

There’s a tone in his voice that urges me to drop the subject, so I oblige. “I’d love to see you train sometime,” I say instead, hoping to lighten the mood.

His eyes flick up to meet mine again, and this time they hold a warmth that makes my heart flutter. “Yeah? No problem.”

We finish our meal slowly, savoring each bite. He rinses the dishes while I dry them, and it feels oddly nostalgic, as if we’ve done this countless times before. There’s nothing awkward about it, even though everything else around us should be.

Once we’re done, I find myself lingering at the counter, my hands resting on its cool surface, uncertain of what to do next. Elijah notices my hesitation.

“You look tired,” he observes, his voice gentle. “Have you taken your meds yet?”

I blink in surprise, caught off guard. “How did you… um, I haven’t actually. Thanks for the reminder.”

“See, we can’t have that happening. They’re important, okay?”

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