Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Stubborn Pest

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Though the stream of complaints and impatient messages kept coming, Sterling’s mood was light.

He’d approved the dinner menu but vetoed the snacks with one decisive vote.

After leaving the supermarket, he even detoured to a private patisserie nearby to buy a small

cake.

Henry’s curses–that no one would ever love him–didn’t matter. Sterling never needed love, that fragile thing. What he liked, he would seize with his own hands.

Of course, calling it love would be an exaggeration when it came to Claudia. But the faint spark of interest she had ignited was enough to claim her as part of his territory.

His fragile Rosebud. He didn’t mind tending her carefully.

But the gardener’s good mood soured the moment he spotted the clingy, unwelcome shadow waiting outside the apartment building.

Jasper.

Because of Lydia and Zane’s urging, he had resolved to wait for Claudia to apologize before forgiving her.

Yet staring at the silent phone day after day, it dawned on him–weeks had already passed.

They had never gone this long without speaking.

Regret gnawed at him. Why had he insisted on matching her stubbornness when he knew her so well?

And then there was Grandma’s burned house.

The Lancasters had tried to keep it quiet, fearing for Lydia’s fragile health. But when she brought up the transfer of ownership, Lottie had been forced to admit the truth.

Without that emotional weight, the old property was just an isolated, worthless lot. The priest’s claims about it bolstering fate carried no meaning now.

Lydia had been heartbroken.

“That was Grandma’s most cherished place. How could Claudia be so cruel?”

Lottie had comforted her endlessly, promising to find some other relic of equal value.

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“I’m not worried about myself. I just feel crushed knowing I’ve lost Grandma, and now even Grandma’s home.”

Watching Lydia weep in Lottie’s arms, Jasper had drifted away in thought.

He had grown up alongside them. He knew perfectly well Claudia’s bond with Grandma had run deeper than Lydia’s ever could.

If Lydia was devastated… then what about Claudia? What had she felt in that moment, striking the match? How desperate must she have been?

For the first time, he regretted not being at her side when she needed him most.

But when he tried to call, he found his number blocked. When he rang her doorbell, no one answered. Panic had clawed at him until Whitney had cursed him out on the phone–yet at least she had assured him Claudia was safe.

If not for that, he might have called the police.

Once every dark thought had been ruled out, only one possibility remained: Claudia truly meant to cut him off.

The realization plunged Jasper into deep anxiety.

He haunted her building like a stray dog. He saw the lights upstairs, but she never opened the door. When he kept knocking, she called security on him.

In just days, he had grown gaunt.

Jasper’s mother was furious.

She had watched them grow up. As a little girl, Claudia had been charming, adored–the Lancasters‘ treasure. Naturally, she had spoiled her.

But as Lydia joined the family and Claudia grew estranged, even she had grown dissatisfied.

When her son returned defeated yet again, she had blurted out in frustration, “Maybe the engagement should be switched to Lydia instead.”

The look on his face had silenced her with fear.

“There’s nothing between me and Lydia. I’ll only ever marry Claudia.”

“Then why do you always choose Lydia over Claudia?” his mother sneered.

She hadn’t meant it seriously–just voicing what everyone already knew. His father valued

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Chapter 23 Stubborn Pest

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Lydia as much as an adopted sister, sometimes more than his own girlfriend. His mother–in- law–to–be favored the daughter who could bring the Lancasters more advantage.

She had only torn open the boil, and now she looked like the villain for saying aloud what they all thought.

Jasper’s heart twisted painfully.

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