+8 Pearls . Sterling strolled back to where Claudia lay watching from the ground . His voice had an edge of wicked amusement . " You're quick , but not nearly ruthless enough . If you don't finish the job , it'll come back to bite you . So , little stray - how are you going to pay me back tonight ? " Claudia , who could've finished it herself and now inexplicably owed this stranger , went silent . Flat on her back , face streaked with dust and blood , she somehow looked almost unreal in the dark . Sterling's brow creased . Filthy . He reached down to haul the quiet rosebud to her feet - when something shoved him hard . He stumbled , lost his footing , and went down on top of her . His weight crushed her injured arm ; his left hand landed on something softer . The unfamiliar give made his fingers tense and squeeze before his brain caught up . He and the girl beneath him froze , eyes wide , locked in shock . The culprit - a forgotten sheepish shepherd dog - sat a few feet away , blinking like , please don't notice me . Pinned under a stranger with everything hurting , Claudia sucked in a long breath . Handsome or not , copping a feel was still copping a feel . Her calm expression sharpened into something feral . Sterling heard the rosebud's first words to him that night . " No one ever told you ? " " Told me what ? " " Not to stick your nose in other people's business . " Before the last word died , her arms snapped around his neck and yanked him down . His forehead slammed into hers . Pain spiked . " Officer ! Over here ! " Her voice rang out clear , and seconds later , sirens split the night . Cops came running . Sterling , played , let out a low laugh . " That's how you treat your savior ?" He ended up sprawled exactly where she'd been , his tone dripping sarcasm . Claudia stood , turned half into the shadows , and gave him a thin smile . " Obviously . I'm the ungrateful villainess , remember ? " That night , Liberty City's golden boy - the heir of Romero Corporation - got hauled down to 2/4 9:33 Tue , Oct 7 M ... 83 Clint showed up fast with a lawyer , sneaking looks at the girl bold enough to spark the Reaper's rare mercy and then nail him for harassment . She was stunning - and clearly unafraid of anything . Once the thugs were processed , Clint braced himself , waiting for Sterling to give the order to " handle " her . Instead , Sterling said , " Find out who she is . " CER OF # PE 5 F " Who ? " The word slipped out before Clint could stop it . Sterling never showed interest in women . The idea alone was terrifying . Sterling's gaze cut his way ; Clint snapped to attention . " Yes , sir . " Watching the girl stride off after shooting Sterling one last , blazing look , Clint felt a stab of pity . That was it . She and her whole family were done . Unaware of the storm she'd kicked up , Claudia dragged herself back to the Lancaster house at dawn , chased by a barrage of phone calls . Her father , Wilson Lancaster , met her at the door with a ringing slap . " How did I raise a daughter like you ? " She didn't dodge fast enough . Her pale cheek bloomed red and swollen . The whole room froze . Jasper's brow pinched , pain flickering in his eyes . He made himself stay out of it . This time , Claudia really had crossed a line . If she didn't learn , who knew what kind of mess she'd make next ? Still ... Wilson had hit too hard . The sight twisted something in Jasper's chest . Lottie , Clarence , and Zane all wore the same angry , disappointed look . On the sofa , Lydia's eyes sparkled with barely hidden delight . She'd been furious last night that the hired creeps had bungled it and landed themselves at the station . Thankfully , she'd covered her tracks . They'd sworn it was a heat - of - the - moment grab and , since nothing " serious " happened , there was nothing to pin on her . She got discharged that morning and dropped the bait she'd prepped ages ago . The Lancasters swallowed it whole . After disappearing all night , no one asked where Claudia had been or noticed her injuries . They greeted her with a slap . That was her family . 3/4 9:33 Tue , Oct 7 M ... Claudia didn't argue . She walked straight to smug little Lydia and slapped her across the face , full force . She couldn't hit her father - but she could sure as hell hit his darling . It happened so fast that everyone just stared . Even Lottie , who'd felt a flash of pity , shot to her feet , shrieking , " Claudia ! What do you're- " The second slap landed before she finished . Lydia's face was beautifully symmetrical now . Send Gifts you think 10 B 4/4 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!