Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15 Customer Service Hotline

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While a crowd of people ran themselves ragged with worry for Lydia, she lay in her hospital bed with eyes red from rage.

Her dance troupe had just called. Because of her injury, she would have to give up her long- coveted role to an understudy.

The lead in Black Swan had already been set in stone for her.

She had spent half a year preparing for this world tour. If she performed well, she might even be chosen as the female lead in a new production by an international master choreographer. That was why, even when she staged a car accident, she had never dared hurt herself seriously -her career came first.

But Claudia had destroyed everything with a single strike, crippling her leg.

How could she?

The Claudia who once kept silent, even after her own dance future was ruined–when had she learned to fight back, to strike first in revenge?

Lydia would never allow it.

She didn’t yet know that the house about to be transferred to her name was already a heap of ashes. If she did, no fracture could keep her calm.

She hung up the phone, eyes brimming, her face arranged into a look of sorrowful endurance.

Jasper, who never let his attention stray from her, immediately noticed. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Does it hurt? I’ll call the doctor.”

“No!” Lydia grabbed his hand. “It’s not that. The troupe just told me… they’ve chosen someone else for Black Swan. I’m just a little sad.”

She swallowed her tears and forced a smile, the very picture of fragile determination.

Jasper fell silent. He knew how much this role had meant to her.

“I’m sorry. Claudia was too impulsive. I’ll make it up to you on her behalf.”

Lydia caught the shift in his tone–the way he spoke as Claudia’s closest person, apologizing in her place. A shadow flickered in her eyes.

“It’s fine. I understand. Claudia was always Grandma’s favorite. It’s normal for her to think everything Grandma left should be hers. Honestly, if she truly can’t let go of it, I could give the

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Chapter 15 Customer Service Hotline

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house to her. I have memories there too, but I don’t want to see you fight with her because of

me.”

Jasper propped up her pillow and helped her sit. “Don’t blame yourself. Grandma’s house should have been partly yours anyway. And right now, you need it more.”

He hesitated, then added for reassurance, “It’s what she owes you.”

After all, what was a house compared to the sister who had cost Lydia her mother?

To him, Claudia had always been domineering, unwilling to share what she liked. Years of being lectured to yield to Lydia hadn’t changed that. The toys Lydia once snatched from her and later tossed back, Claudia never touched again.

Now it was the same–Claudia couldn’t stand to see the house pass through Lydia’s hands.

Jasper didn’t quite understand. It was just an object. Why did it matter whose name was on it? Even if it were given to Lydia, would she really bar Claudia from visiting?

But then he thought of Claudia–who hadn’t so much as looked him in the eye since rejecting his proposal, who wouldn’t even take his calls. His head ached.

She had always been stubborn, but persuadable. This time, she was unyielding.

His gaze slid to his phone, still unanswered, and irritation gnawed at him.

“She hasn’t picked up your calls yet? Try again. I’ll explain for you–that night, you didn’t leave the proposal on purpose.”

Zane had just walked in with lunch. At Jasper’s words, he scoffed. “Seriously? She’s still sulking over that? She beat our sister into the hospital and hasn’t even shown her face to apologize. Why should you be the one to make peace?”

“Zane.” Lydia’s reproach was gentle, sweet.

He zipped his lips shut.

Jasper watched their sibling closeness, his lips pressed thin. As children, Zane had clung to Claudia too. The little girl would boast, “I have a little brother! Do you want him? I’ll lend him to you for five minutes. No, one is enough. He’s a crybaby–he can’t live without me.”

Shaking off the memory, Jasper dialed again, the number engraved in him.

Several days without contact–he was starting to worry. Once she calmed down, he wanted to talk to her, to promise another proposal, but she would still have to apologize to Lydia.

Unexpectedly, this time the call connected.

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All eyes in the hospital room locked onto Jasper’s phone.

“Claudia-”

“Hello.”

Two voices overlapped.

“Who are you? How are you answering Claudia’s phone?” Jasper’s guard shot up at the sound of a man’s husky, just–awakened voice.

The other ignored his question. “Looking for Claudia? She’s still asleep.”

“Why do you have her phone? Where are you?” Jasper pressed, voice sharp.

Sterling’s brows twitched in annoyance. Without another word, he hung up and switched the phone off.

He glanced at the still–closed bedroom door, let out a silent sigh, then dropped back onto the sofa, covering his eyes with one hand to block both the light and his irritation.

Claudia had left her phone on the coffee table when she’d gone to bed.

She slept peacefully. Sterling, however, suffered.

From “Dad,” “Mom,” “Brother,” to “Debt–collecting slut,” “Blue–haired simp,” “Ex”—the phone had rung nonstop. A barrage of relentless calls, each more furious than the last, all circling back to one woman: Lydia.

At first, Sterling had been ready to slaughter them all for disturbing his rest. By the tenth call, he was more amused than annoyed, trying to piece together just how hated Claudia must be.

It was almost uncanny–like him. A perfect match.

The golden boy himself was laughing at the irony.

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