Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21 The Birthday Trap

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The plan hadn’t even been set in motion when news broke that Lydia had been beaten into the hospital.

Whitney laughed into her pillow for half an hour.

When she heard Lydia had also lost her coveted lead role, she struck while the iron was hot, funneling money into the troupe to back Lydia’s rival instead.

While Lydia recuperated, Whitney meant to snatch every resource she could.

And she still made time to swing by the hospital, twisting the knife until Lydia coughed up blood.

So while Claudia and Sterling enjoyed their quiet days together, Lydia’s life had become a living hell.

What stung most was Clarence. He had left swearing he’d hold Claudia accountable. But when he returned, distracted and heavy–hearted, he spoke to Wilson and Lottie in low tones–and afterward, not a word of punishment.

For three days, the family lived in hiding, forced into a phone detox.

If it had ended there, Lydia might have stomached it. But what terrified her was seeing the Lancaster family’s softening toward Claudia.

After their initial fury, Wilson and Lottie began to realize their daughter’s reaction had been harsher than ever before. If they pushed harder, Claudia really might leave them for good.

And Claudia was of age. As a Lancaster daughter, and as the future Mrs. Fenton in everyone’s eyes, it was past time she was properly presented to society.

She had spent years avoiding the spotlight. Most people only knew of her in whispers–unruly, difficult, little more. Many didn’t even know the Lancasters had another daughter besides Lydia.

That, Wilson and Lottie now agreed, was unacceptable.

Lydia overheard them discussing plans to make it right: a birthday banquet for Claudia this year, a chance to officially introduce her to the world.

Her birthday, though, fell on Zoey’s death anniversary. She hadn’t celebrated since she was six.

Her birthday parties had always been Lydia’s.

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Chapter 21 The Birthday Trap

This year’s banquet would be scheduled three days after Zoey’s memorial.

Lydia’s hands tightened on her blanket.

Claudia’s rose–like face, her unbending spine–even after all these years of suppression- flashed in her mind, stoking the flames of resentment.

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Lydia’s entire life had been built on her mother’s death. Why should Claudia, the supposed culprit, get to live happily?

She looked at her family, smiling as they planned Claudia’s banquet, and her own lips curved into something twisted.

“Blood can’t be severed, can it? Then let me do it for you. Claudia, I’ll give you a birthday you’ll never forget.”

Elsewhere, Whitney’s tone was full of worry as she spoke with Claudia.

“Claudia, are you really going back this year?”

With things so strained, Lydia would never miss a chance to smear her again.

“Yes. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“No need. I can handle it. If something happens, I’ll call you.”

Whitney was fiery by nature. If trouble flared, she would be the first to charge in. Claudia could live with being called ungrateful, rebellious, a disgrace–but she wouldn’t let Whitney be branded the same. Not when her stepmother and stepbrother in the Sawyer family were always watching for weaknesses.

Claudia’s insistence left Whitney no choice but to relent, repeating her warnings again and again.

It was as if Claudia were marching into a dragon’s lair.

Claudia smiled faintly, warmth spreading in her chest.

After hanging up, she stepped into the empty living room.

Sterling was gone again.

His recovery was nearly complete. Though he hadn’t resurfaced publicly, his absences grew

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Chapter 21 The Birthday Trap

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