Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11 Arson, She Would Rather Destroy It Than Give It to Lydia

Back when the Lancaster family adopted Lydia, everyone believed Claudia’s mischief and running away from home had forced Zoey to rush out in search of her, leading to the car accident. Because of that, people pitied Lydia, who was left motherless at just two years old, and showered her with special care.

But the two girls seemed destined to clash. Whenever they were together, trouble followed.

Most of the time, it was Claudia bullying Lydia.

Once, both of them fell down the stairs. Lydia, who was more seriously injured, woke up first. Her first words were to beg her parents not to blame her younger sister. Only after they asked further did the truth come out–Claudia had pushed her because she wanted the doll Lydia was holding.

That doll had been a gift Wilson brought back from an overseas business trip. It was meant for Claudia. Lydia’s gift had been a diamond hair clip.

But when the adults saw Lydia looking longingly at the doll, too timid to speak, their hearts softened. They decided to let her have it as well.

Claudia already had plenty of toys, while Lydia, following her gambler father, had barely two decent dresses to her name.

Claudia had cried fiercely, but after being coaxed, she had agreed–only to turn jealous and regret it later.

Wilson was so angered that he locked Claudia up without a word.

Since Lydia was unwell, the whole family stayed at the hospital with her.

If Jasper hadn’t noticed Claudia missing and secretly called Grandma Wen, no one would have realized she had been left locked up, starving for two days, burning with fever.

Grandma was furious. She scolded Lottie and her husband harshly.

Seeing how her once lively granddaughter had grown silent and gloomy over the years, she took Claudia to live with her for three years, despite opposition. Only when she realized Liberty City had better schools did she reluctantly let her return.

But she hadn’t expected that the girl she had managed to coax back into some liveliness would, upon returning to Liberty City, wither away like a flower deprived of sunlight.

Her age left her powerless to protect Claudia for long. All she could do was bring her back to

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Chapter 11 Arson, She Would Rather Destroy It Than Give It to Lydia

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the old estate for summers and winters, while constantly reminding the Lancaster couple that Lydia might have a pitiful past, but Claudia–born into a wealthy family–should not be treated. like an orphan.

Yet Grandma never imagined that her attention toward Claudia, seen through Lydia’s eyes, would bring terrible consequences.

It was just an ordinary summer afternoon.

The young girls had grown into graceful maidens, like blossoming peach trees in the courtyard, in the prime of youth.

During the break, Lydia suggested she and Claudia go to Altrix City to keep Grandma

company.

Seeing both girls together warmed Grandma’s heart.

But soon she noticed something unsettling. Claudia was far too obedient toward Lydia, almost never showing a temper, letting her sister push her around at will.

It dawned on her that the peace of recent years had been nothing but the family’s self- deception.

Her chest ached with sorrow.

That night, after Claudia fell asleep, Grandma spoke with Lydia for a long time. Their talk ended in a small quarrel.

The next afternoon, Claudia went into the hills to pick wild fruit. Before leaving, she carefully sorted out Grandma’s heart medicine and slipped it into her pocket, reminding her to take it on time.

Lydia, feeling unwell, stayed at home to rest.

Even with her adoptive sister pressing down on her like a mountain, for Claudia–always the one blamed–it was still a rare, lighthearted summer.

But the moment she returned to the courtyard, everything ended.

When she left, Grandma had been okay. How could she suddenly collapse?

The medicine had clearly been in her pocket–how had it spilled onto the ground a meter away?

Wasn’t Lydia at home? What had she been doing then? And that taunting, sinister smile of hers…

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Chapter 11 Arson, She Would Rather Destroy It Than Give It to Lydia

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That day, for the first time since Zoey’s death, Claudia completely lost control. She nearly beat Lydia to death.

If Lottie hadn’t suddenly decided to visit her mother, she might have walked into a scene of two

corpses.

Claudia insisted Lydia had killed Grandma, and even went to the police despite her family’s protests.

But the autopsy showed Grandma had died of a sudden heart attack.

There was no evidence linking it to Lydia.

Lydia claimed she had been asleep, and by the time she came out, Grandma was already gone.

The incident ended with Lydia hospitalized for a month and Claudia committed to a psychiatric facility for the same time.

When she got out, she still wanted to attack Lydia.

Lottie slapped her hard across the face.

Tears in her eyes, she told her, “You killed Aunt Zoey, and now you want to kill your sister? Claudia, I would rather never have given birth to you!”

Claudia no longer tried to put Lydia in jail, but she was never the same again.

She transformed from a silent shadow into a spiky, rebellious hedgehog.

Wherever Lydia was, Claudia opposed her head–on.

From then on, the Lancaster family’s second daughter’s reputation for cruelty began to spread.

The Lancasters had never hidden Lydia’s past. Back then, Lydia herself had volunteered to move out, keeping only the family name.

To outsiders who didn’t know the truth, Lydia appeared to be their real daughter who simply took her mother’s surname. But to those who knew, that single “word” constantly reopened old

wounds.

They didn’t know the details, only that Claudia had caused Lydia’s mother’s death and was now bullying an orphan. To them, she was ungrateful and vicious.

Neighbors, classmates, relatives–all despised her. Claudia became a lonely island.

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Chapter 11 Arson, She Would Rather Destroy It Than Give It to Lydia

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Few knew that Julie had once been her friend. When Julie was bullied, Claudia had driven her tormentors away and looked after her, even when she could barely bring herself to eat.

But later, it was from Julie’s mouth that rumors spread of how Claudia supposedly hated and plotted against Lydia.

Even so, Claudia never thought of reconciling.

She crashed forward like a hedgehog, spines out, no matter how many wounds she gathered.

She should have known better–anything that belonged to her, Lydia would find a way to snatch. From the moment Grandma said she would leave the house to Claudia, Lydia must have set her sights on it.

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