When Claudia opened the door , she found Clarence standing there with dark circles under his eyes . He was on the verge of collapse . From Jasper's failed proposal to Lydia's car accident , Claudia's police report , the family quarrels , Claudia beating Lydia , Claudia burning down the old house -disaster after disaster . He had trailed after each one , cleaning up the messes , but never fast enough . of the old house , his phone had started ringing nonstop . Every call brought a torrent of insults , vicious and inventive , until he could barely hold his head up . After rushing to Altrix City to settle the matter en Now , even the sound of a ringtone made hi flinch . At first he had thought it was a business rival , but once he realized the entire family was being At first he had thought it was a business rival , but on hounded , he knew at once this had Claudia's fingerprints all over it . Only she would lash out with such a petty , outrageous form of revenge . His usually polished features were dulled with exhaustion , the famed Lancaster good looks dimmed . " Claudia , can we call a truce ? " " You've made your point . The house is gone . Why keep pushing ? You may hate us , but our parents are old . They can't withstand your torment . " Even his plea carried the weight of accusation . Claudia lifted her chin , arms crossed . She didn't answer - she asked instead , " How does it feel ? Being scolded without anyone caring for the truth ? " Clarence's lips tightened . " ... Not good . " " Do you remember when I was in eighth grade ? Lydia's roses withered , she cried , and you blamed me . You made me stand in the sun and plant new ones . Or the New Year's Eve dance , when Lydia's shoes were ruined . I barely stepped backstage before you threw mine away too . Neither of us danced that night . Or that family trip in high school - when I got lost , you accused me of luring Lydia out so she'd faint ." Those were only the ones with clear evidence . Countless other times , blame had been hers by default . The roses had been ripped out by a relative's child . Lydia's shoes had been sabotaged by an 1/3 9:41 Tue , Oct 7 envious admirer . Lydia's fainting spell had come from Zane dragging her onto dangerous rides . One incident after another - cach time , Claudia punished without a chance to explain . " You never let me speak , " Claudia said flatly . " Just judgment , punishment , again and again . " " That was because you always clashed with Lydia ... " Clarence's words faltered . " Remember when I got into a fight in kindergarten ? You rushed over from your primary school and said your sister would never be wrong . If I disliked someone , then surely the problem was them . " Right and wrong had never mattered . Their hearts had tilted , and every excuse had bent toward Lydia . Claudia's gaze stayed steady , though her eyes shimmered . " When we were little , you used to protect me like that too . " Clarence , who had come to demand answers , left in defeat . He hadn't even managed to ask her to call off the phone harassment . Claudia's sad expression vanished as soon as his back turned , replaced by cold indifference . See ? She could cry and play the victim too . But love stolen at Lydia's expense was meaningless . What Lydia had taken from her was not toys , not houses , but the certainty of being unconditionally cherished . " You're not happy ? " A large hand covered her eyes . She didn't know how long Sterling had been standing there . Claudia caught his hand , holding it still . " I'm fine . They won't bother me for a few days now . " Clarence's guilt would buy her peace for a while . As for Sterling's little " curse - calling service ," she had no plans to stop it . Why refuse someone else's money and effort spent to avenge her ? Even if Sterling had his own . motives . With the Lancasters kept at bay , Claudia and Sterling slipped into a housebound rhythm . Claudia's current work was as a freelance illustrator . After her injury had ended her dancing , 2/3 0:41 Tue , Oct 7 Chapter 20 The Weight of Blame she had thrown herself into art instead . 48 Pegris She was grateful she had never told the Lancaster family . Otherwise , who knew if her hands might have been " accidentally " ruined too . Now , with a patient in her home , her nocturnal habits shifted . They went to bed earlier , rose with the sun . Claudia would step out for a short walk and return with breakfast . Mornings were spent with one of them working , the other drawing . At noon and in the evenings , Sterling cooked and dragged Claudia in to chop vegetables . Sometimes at night they watched a movie together . Sometimes they worked in companionable silence . Two strangers , living like an old married couple . It helped that one disliked going out , and the other couldn't . Strangely , neither felt bored . Though Claudia stayed in , Whitney made sure she was never out of the loop . After the proposal fiasco , Whitney had gone home seething . She had hesitated before , worried about Claudia's feelings for Jasper . But when Claudia had cut things off cleanly , Whitney had immediately begun plotting to drag Jasper and Lydia out for a good beating . Send Gifts 10 3/3 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!