Claire’s vacant eyes slowly came into focus, and the instant she recognized Brian, a look of undisguised disgust swept across her face.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how much I hate you,” she said coldly.
All the color drained from Brian’s face. His lips trembled as he whispered, “Do you really hate me that much?”
“Yes! I hate you! I wish you were dead!” Claire suddenly screamed, her voice raw with pain.
If it hadn’t been for them, she would never have ended up like this—broken, ruined, barely a shadow of her former self.
Her heart felt as if it were being torn apart, left bleeding and exposed.
If she hadn’t been sent to prison all those years ago, she would’ve gone to the best university—had a future, a real life.
Five years later, she should’ve graduated, landed a respectable job, and when she eventually met Mr. Foster, she wouldn’t have felt so unworthy, so small.
She’d finally fallen for someone, but she didn’t measure up. She could never hope for a happy ending, not with him.
Hot tears spilled down Claire’s cheeks, one after another.
Why was her life so bitter? Sometimes she wished she’d never met Mr. Foster at all—then at least she wouldn’t be suffering this heartbreak, mourning something she could never have.
What did revenge even matter? Her life was still a mess, still beyond repair.
“Brian, don’t show your face to me again. I truly can’t stand you.”
Brian looked as if he’d been stabbed.
Those three words—I hate you—echoed in his mind like a curse, relentless and unyielding.
Suddenly, Brian lunged forward, wrapping Claire in a desperate embrace, as if he could fuse her into himself and undo everything.
“Claire, please don’t treat me like this. Please,” he pleaded. “I really love you. Hit me, scream at me, whatever you want—just give me one more chance.”
Claire pushed hard against him, but the more she struggled, the tighter he held her.
“You got your revenge yesterday, Claire. I’ve paid for what I did. Let’s start over. I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please, believe me,” he choked out, his voice thick with emotion, as if he could tear his heart out and hand it to her.
But Claire couldn’t care less about his guilt.
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