Chapter 77
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AMELIA had just placed the phone gently on the table, her conversation with Dorian about flower deliveries still lingering in her thoughts. She exhaled, rubbing her lower back, when the sound of footsteps in the hallway drew
her attention.
Her eyes brightened instantly as the door opened.
“Hey, Claire! You came!” she exclaimed, a smile splitting her face. She struggled to get up, heavy with the pregnancy, but her joy pushed her to her feet.
“Ye… yes, sis,” Claire replied, her voice wavering slightly as though nerves had taken root in her chest. She stepped into the room, leaving the doorway behind, and Amelia folded her into a warm embrace.
“Yes, I did,” Claire said softly.
Amelia inhaled deeply and chuckled.
“Mmm, your perfume smells so nice p>
Claire laughed, though it was thin.
“Thank you. I got it from Retinol. Katrina recommended it p>
“Oh, I see.” Amelia motioned toward the couch beside her. “Welcome, sit please p>
They both settled into the cushions. Amelia tilted her head, studying her younger sister carefully.
“It has been ages since you last stepped foot in here, Claire. What is wrong? You look worried p>
Claire quickly dismissed it with a small shake of her head.
“It is nothing p>
“Well, you look good though,” she said, changing the subject. “Pregnancy looks so beautiful on you, sis p>
Amelia smiled warmly, her hand instinctively resting on her bump. She lowered her eyes to it with reverence.
“The Lord Himself did it,” she whispered.
“Mom told me you are carrying two babies in there. Is that true p>
Amelia laughed, nodding her head.
“Yeah, two. The doctor confirmed it p>
“Oh my lightly.
God! Sis,
I’m so happy for you!” Claire leapt up, spreading her arms wide before embracing her sister
“Thank you, dear p>
She sat down again, but Claire’s eyes lingered on Amelia, filled with something more than admiration.
“So,” she began cautiously, “are you going to let Adrian know p>
Amelia’s smile faltered, her countenance dimming at the mention of his name. She turned her face away slightly.
“Oh, please, not again. I’m not letting him know p>
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“Okay, fine, fine. It is your choice. I’m not disputing it,” Claire replied quickly, raising her palms in surrender.
“Thank you.” Amelia sighed, then shifted her gaze to her sister again. “So come on, I didn’t forget. How are you? You look… like a shadow of yourself. Are you alright p>
Claire’s lips pressed together, her eyes flickering with hesitation.
“Besides,” Amelia continued gently, “I heard Harrison broke up with you. Mom told me. I’m so sorry. But is that why you are looking like this p>
Claire sighed, her shoulders slumping.
“Come on, Claire. This isn’t how I have known you to be. I have always known you to be stronger than this. Don’t let a mere man do this to you p>
Her face fell further.
“It is part of the reason… but not fully the reason p>
Amelia leaned forward, curiosity and concern etched on her face.
“Okay, then what is the reason? You look a mess p>
Claire clasped her palms together, her eyes wide and pleading, tears threatening to spill.
“Big sis… I have a confession to make. I can’t hold it in any longer. I… I have a confession p>
Amelia froze, staring at her.
“Confession? What exactly are you confessing about?” she asked slowly.
Just then, the door creaked open and Mrs. Harlow entered, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room.
“Greetings,” she said coolly, before her eyes landed on Claire. “Ahh, Claire. You finally decided to visit, huh? I thought you would be spending your whole life watching over the house for me. Your miserable kinda life,” she chuckled.
Amelia sighed, weariness in her tone.
“Mommy, please, don’t start p>
Claire’s voice trembled.
“This… this is the exact reason why I have to made this confession p>
Mrs. Harlow narrowed her eyes, realizing her daughters had been in the middle of something serious. She sat down heavily beside Amelia.
“Confession? What confession?” She asked, her eyes darting between her daughters.
Claire sniffed, then she began.
“For many years, I grew up always being compared to my elder sister. Every little thing I did wrong, Amelia always got it right and Mom never hesitated, never, to smear it on my face p>
Claire’s voice cracked as she spoke, her eyes glistening under the weight of the truth she had carried for too long. Amelia shifted uneasily where she sat, her gaze darting toward their mother, who sat frozen in shock, watching in
silence.
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Claire continued, her words trembling yet sharp, cutting through the silence of the room.
“Every stage of my life, every damn thing I did, was always compared to my big sister by my own mother. My growth stages, my schooling, even handling the family business, down to getting a man. There was nothing Mom did not call me. Late child. Misfortune child. Mischief child p>
Her lips quivered as her voice lowered.
“She even called me a murderer… said I killed her husband; my father, and made her a widow p>
By now, both Mrs. Harlow and Claire had tears trailing down their faces. Amelia stayed quiet, her heart pounding. She stole glances at her mother, her eyes flashing with a silent rebuke, ‘I told you to stop, but you didn’t listen p>
Claire sniffed and went on, almost breathless now.
“She always said I was late, late to learn how to walk, late to eat proper meals, late to learn how to write and read, late finishing high school and college, late in getting a man. Amelia…” She laughed bitterly through her tears. You had the universe working in your favour. Everything just went smoothly for you. But me? Everything was delayed, twisted, broken p>
Her shoulders shook as she confessed further.
“Throughout college, I couldn’t get myself a man. Not until two years in, and even then… worse of all, to add to Mom’s ridicule, I couldn’t’ keep one longer than five months. They all ended in disaster. Either I caught them cheating, or they just sent me a break-up text. I never knew why p>
She wiped her tears angrily.
“Mom used it to sing like a canary bird, ‘see how useless you are, Claire?’ But for you, Amelia,” Claire’s voice faltered, her gaze dropping. “The minute you finished college, Adrian walked straight into your arms. Rich, handsome Adrian… the CEO of Cole Holdings. Someone every girl wanted, but only found you worthy to call his wife. And immediately, things escalated. It was like the whole world conspired against me. Mom threw more shades at me, called me more names, made more snide remarks about me”
Mrs. Harlow shifted uncomfortably, her tears flowing freely now. Claire pressed on with a sad, broken laugh.
O
“To her and everyone else who cared to listen, Adrian was that perfect, faithful husband. The dream man. Mom loved him so much she sang his praises like hymns. Bufall those years, she didn’t notice, she never noticed that all her comparisons brought me nothing but hatred and jealousy for my only sister p>
Amelia gasped, sitting up straight.
“What p>
“Yes!” Claire’s voice rang louder, trembling with pain. “It made me hate you, Amelia. I became jealous of you, and all I ever wanted was for Mom to see that… it wasn’t all that perfect for you, just as she thought it was for me p>
She paused, breathing hard.
“So I… so I p>
Both Amelia and Mrs. Harlow leaned forward, suspicion flashing across their faces.
“So yes, you did what?” Amelia pressed, her voice firm, urging her to continue.
Claire trembled, her tears falling uncontrollably.
“So, I… I fueled the affair Adrian had p>
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The silence that followed was deafening.
“You did what?” Amelia sat up, leaned forward as though she wanted to spring to her feet, as her hands balled
into fists.
“Claire!” Mrs. Harlow gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in disbelief. “Don’t tell me p>
“Please, please!” Claire cried out, holding her hands up. “Hear me out first! Like I said, I fueled it. I didn’t start it! Adrian and Vivian had already started something before I stepped in p>
Amelia’s lips trembled, her face a mask of shock.
“Oh my God… Claire. You p>
“Please!” Claire’s sobs shook the room. “Just let me explain. Let me tell you how it all began…” She took in a
shaky breath, her eyes clouding with the weight of memory. “It all began two years ago p>
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.