Chapter 21 The Birthday Trap Finished 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 . 1/3 9:42 Tue , Oct 7 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 . རཱ ( 1 ) Finished 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 2/3 9:42 Tue , Oct 7 Chapter 21 The Birthday Trap longer . A 81 Finished He hadn't hidden his name . Claudia knew exactly which Romero he was . The golden boy had rarely appeared in public media . She had once thought it was modesty . Now she suspected it was survival . She was certain - beyond his public empire , Sterling's hands held darker businesses . And the Romero family was worse than hers . Even outsiders like Claudia had heard of the vicious infighting : kidnappings , staged accidents , tax scandals . Sterling's disappearance had emboldened them all . With his iron grip gone , every weed of ambition had sprouted . Donovan had been rushed to the ER several times from the stress . The heirs tore each other apart over his impending inheritance . But none of that concerned Claudia . She turned in her manuscript , then settled onto the sofa and messaged Sterling : " Coming home for dinner ? " In a blood - soaked basement , Henry - the most ambitious of late - lay crumpled in his own filth , barely conscious . Three meters away , his son Tyson sat bound and blindfolded , his wails echoing like a dying animal . Send Gifts 10 。 1 3/3 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!