Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 39

Shattered Rose Hr Maid On Taht

Chapter 39 The Torn Painting

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On her birthday, even though there was no celebration, Clarence secretly gave her a Swiss knife as a gift.

Claudia was thrilled. She treasured it and never let anyone touch it.

Now the Swiss knife lay on the floor. Across from her, Lydia clutched a torn painting, crying with red, swollen eyes.

Without thinking. Clarence rushed over. He stepped across the Swiss knife and helped Lydia hold up the fragile canvas before it fell.

“Claudia! What had you done?!”

The rest of the family came running. They were confused by the scene.

Lydia, who was usually calm and gentle, lost her temper. She shouted through her tears, her voice breaking.

“Claudia! I know you hate that Mom and Dad gave me Grandma’s house. If you want it, I can give it to you. But you said nothing and burned it down! If you’re angry, take it out on me. Why destroy my mom’s painting? She was so good to you! Can’t you show her a little respect after her death?”

The evidence was right in front of them–the torn painting, Lydia sobbing. To everyone, it looked like Claudia had done it on purpose.

Defacing the portrait of the dead was too much. Even Lottie, who usually held back, couldn’t stay silent. She slapped Claudia across the face.

Her eyes were red as she snapped, “Apologize to Lydia!”

Claudia lowered her lashes. “It wasn’t me.”

Zane stood behind Claudia to block any chance of escape. He sneered, “If not you, then who? You two were the only ones in this room.”

He went on, anger sharpening his words. “Do you know how much effort Lydia put into this? She had no background in art, but she learned step by step. She wasted stacks of paper. I would get up late at night to grab a drink and still see her light on as she worked on the painting. Aunt Zoey loved portraits. Lydia planned to burn this one today as a gift for her. You drove her to her death, and now you bully her daughter too.”

Lottie clutched her chest and shouted, “Apologize!”

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20:06 Wed, Uct &

Chapter 39 The Tom Painting

Zoey had loved Claudia even more than Lydia when she was alive.

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Now, faced with the ruined gift, how could Lottie explain to Zocy when she met her in the afterlife? The guilt weighed heavy.

Wilson and Clarence also stared at Claudia, their meaning clear.

There were no cameras in the house. Naturally, they trusted the sweet, obedient Lydia more than Claudia.

Claudia pressed her lips tight.

No matter how they argued, Lydia had always been careful when it came to her mom. Claudia had never imagined she’d accuse her of ruining Zoey’s portrait.

When Lydia asked her to come upstairs to get a gift for Zoey, Claudia never thought much of it and didn’t record the whole thing.

She had no proof.

Even with proof, it probably wouldn’t matter.

The whole family surrounded her, just like the day she woke up and they coldly told her they would adopt Lydia. From that day on, Lydia was her sister.

She had to yield. She had to respect her.

Because she owed her.

Zoey’s death had become Claudia’s curse, the burden chained to her life.

Claudia didn’t actually feel heartache, but her eyes still filled with a faint mist of tears–so subtle no one would notice unless they looked closely.

She stood stiff, her back straight, silent and proud.

Because of this incident, the trip to the cemetery felt heavier than ever.

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