Shattered Rose : He Held On Tight " I heard both families wanted to skip straight to the engagement party , but he insisted on doing it right . Said he needed to hear your ' yes ' with his own cars , or it wouldn't mean a thing . Tsk . How sweet of him . " " So what ? " Claudia looked up , cool as ever . Lydia's smile twisted . " So what ? Claudia , what makes a sinner like you think you deserve happiness ? " She leaned in , voice sticky - sweet and poisonous . " Wanna bet ? I say in three days , that proposal never happens ." Claudia just stared . To everyone else , Lydia was the perfect angel - graceful , gentle , kind . No one would ever believe she could spit venom like this . The proposal could've been called off with a single word from Lydia . Instead , she'd waited for the final act , set on shoving Claudia from the highest peak into the deepest pit - like she always did . After the proposal went up in flames , Whitney's phone lit up with an emergency call from home . Her face went dark , and she bolted . She'd planned to drop Claudia off first - Claudia had arrived in Jasper's car - but Claudia had heard enough to know something was wrong with Whitney's mom , so she pushed her to go . When everyone was gone , Claudia lowered her gaze , standing alone in a storm of trampled flowers , staring for a long time . A bitter smile hooked at her mouth as she replayed the night . It was late now . The streets outside were dead quiet . She left the club with no desire to go home , drifting along the river , letting the night air cool her face . Then the hairs on her neck prickled . Someone was following her . She pretended to take a selfie , tilting her phone just enough to catch a pack of men closing in from behind . She quickened her pace . They did too . Her thumb brushed over her emergency contact - the number Jasper had forced her to set up a 1/4 9:33 Tue , Oct 7 M ... 83 year ago . Back then , she'd broken a creep's arm for harassing a girl and landed at the police station . Jasper bailed her out and lectured her all the way home about being reckless . He'd put himself as her emergency contact and made her promise : if she was ever in danger , call him . No heroics . He swore that no matter when or where , he'd come for her . She never imagined the first time she'd dial it would be like this . " Claudia ? " Jasper's voice came through , tired . He was at the hospital . The car accident hadn't been serious , but Lydia - born premature and delicate - was rattled . Only he could calm her down . The Lancaster family was gathered outside ; he'd just soothed Lydia into a half - sleep when the call jolted her awake . " Jasper , someone's following me . " Silence stretched on the line . " Claudia , I really can't leave tonight . Don't make a scene . " He thought she was lying , trying to drag him away from Lydia's bedside . Just then , Lydia's mother , Lottie Wallace , came in with a glass of water . Her gentle face hardened . She snatched the phone . " Claudia ! Lydia's been in an accident and you can't even bother to visit . Now you're out God- knows - where in the middle of the night , lying through your teeth . When will you grow up ? Listen to me - no one is leaving tonight . We're staying with Lydia . Put away your petty tricks . " She hung up without a blink . On the bed , Lydia lay pale , voice soft and tremulous . " Mom , don't be mad . What if Claudia really is in trouble ? " Lottie handed the phone back to Jasper , disappointment etched deep . " What trouble could she possibly be in ? This isn't the first time she's tried luring us away when you're sick . " Back in eighth grade , Claudia had called late at night claiming she'd been kidnapped and demanded the family bring cash to rescue her . That same night , Lydia fell ill . The family was already frantic when the so - called ransom call came . Lottie nearly fainted from the double blow . They rushed to the construction site Claudia named... only to watch her stroll out , not a hair out of place . No kidnappers . No bruises . Not even a scratch . When they got home , Lydia was collapsed on the floor , alone . It had all been a prank . Claudia had even bribed a maid to ignore Lydia during her attack , so no one gave her medicine . By the time they got Lydia to the hospital , the doctor said another delay and she wouldn't have made it . That night , Claudia's father beat her bloody with a whip . She spent a month in the hospital . Even then , she never admitted guilt or apologized . Lottie sighed . When had her sweet little girl turned so wild ? 2/4 9:33 Tue , Oct 7 M Jasper knew every detail of that incident . The Lancasters were furious , and after that , all their care went to Lydia . While Claudia was hospitalized , no one visited - except the nurse the family paid for . Jasper was the only one who slipped in after school with contraband snacks , telling stupid jokes to make her smile . But tonight ? Tonight was different . He told himself Claudia was just acting out after the ruined proposal . He didn't have the bandwidth for a tantrum . Tomorrow , when she'd cooled off , he'd coax her back around . Setting his phone down , he brushed Lydia's forehead . " Your fever's gone . Be good . Sleep ." Bundled under the blanket , only half her face showing , Lydia's eyes shone with worry and self- pity . " Jasper , about tonight ... I'm sorry . It's all my fault . If I were stronger , I wouldn't be such a burden ." " Don't be ridiculous . It was an accident . You're never a burden . " " Jasper ... " " Sleep ." Her lashes fluttered shut , a serene smile tipping her lips . No doubt she'd dream sweet tonight . Behind Claudia , the men closed in - unhurried , toying with her like predators who already owned the kill . She kept moving , Jasper's indifference and her mother's scolding still echoing in her ears . Maybe she'd been disappointed too many times ; there was no sadness left . Just a clean , hollow emptiness , like something had been scooped out of her chest . The April breeze felt warm , but it cut like knives . They were herding her into the shadows . She stopped under a tree , face unreadable , eyes dropping to the stones at her feet . Then she spun . Fifteen minutes later , bodies were scattered in a crooked ring - arms twisted , legs broken , heads bleeding , all of them groaning . Drained , Claudia sank down away from them and , with a blood- slick hand , dialed 911. She tipped her head back , staring at the empty sky . After that mess in middle school , she'd taken up kickboxing and self - defense . She learned early : the only person she could count on was herself . One of the men , his left arm mangled , tried to creep up on her . Claudia's gaze flicked over , muscles coiling- 9:33 Tue , Oct 7 M ... A ridiculously handsome face tipped into view above her , a guy leaning down , a lazy curve on his lips . He clicked his tongue . " Tsk . Where'd this poor thing come from ? " Send Gifts 10 1 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!