Chapter 40 Buried in the Rain When the ceremony ended , Wilson turned to Claudia and gave a cold command . " Bow ! " Zoey had died because of her . Staring at the rain - soaked photo on the gravestone , Claudia didn't resist this time . She slowly bent her back . The cold water fell from the sky and quickly soaked through her clothes . L hed " We didn't ask you to worship your savior's daughter , " Wilson said harshly , " but at least don't be ungrateful . Think about what you've done all these years . You don't even have the courage to admit your mistakes . Do you think you've honored your Aunt Zoey ? Today , you need to confess in front of her grave ." Every word of blame landed heavy on her shoulders . The rain grew stronger . The wind whipped it against her face , and even an umbrella couldn't keep her dry . It was so cold . Cold enough that Claudia felt she had never really left that stormy day when she was six years old . Lydia finally convinced the family to return to the car . Now it was just the two of them - one bowing , one standing - before Zoey's grave . After a long silence , Lydia was the first to speak . " You know , when I was little , I used to envy you . " Back then , she wasn't even called Lydia Wallace . She was Lydia Decker . Her father , Angus Decker , had every bad habit a man could have - drinking , gambling , cheating , violence , and favoring boys over girls . Yet he was also a hypocrite who knew how to hide it well , so for years no one realized what he really was . For the longest time , Lydia thought all fathers in the world were like him . Zoey had too much pride to ask her parents for help . She refused to let anyone know she had married the wrong man . So the two of them lived shut off from the world . At least in their poor neighborhood , everyone else's lives were just as hard . If she was miserable , she could remind herself that others weren't much happier . 1/3 20:07 Wed , Oct 8 Other kids called her dirty and poor . She snapped back by mocking them for being orphans . It was a daily back - and - forth , leaving both sides hurt . Then one day she met Claudia . Her cousin wore a flowery dress , with skin so fair and clean . looking like a doll . That was when she realized not everyone lived like her . Claudia's parents loved her . Her brothers spoiled her . She lived carefree , innocent in a way that felt almost insulting . The first time they met , Lydia didn't even dare to touch Claudia . She was afraid she'd dirty those fancy clothes . But Claudia didn't care . She cheerfully ran up with open arms and hugged her . Claudia even shared candies and toys Lydia had never seen before . Lydia hated her . Claudia was too bright , too perfect - shining a light on all the darkness and weakness Lydia tried to hide . Worse , ever since Claudia's family appeared , Zoey grew more and more unhappy . Her father started to abuse Zoey harder . Then one day , Zoey told her something shocking : Claudia's life was supposed to have been hers . Wilson had once been promised to Zoey , but he changed his mind and married Lottie instead . Furious , Zoey had been tricked by Angus . From then on , Zoey sank into misery . If not for that twist of fate , Zoey would have been Wilson's wife . Lydia would have grown up like Claudia - living like a princess . As a child , Lydia couldn't fully understand . She only knew she envied her cousin . Until another night , when Angus came home drunk and beat Zoey again . She tried to protect her but ended up bloodied herself . Zoey shielded her and told her to run . To go to the Lancasters and ask for help . She stumbled all the way there , bruised and broken , and when she finally arrived , she saw a scene she would never forget . Lottie and Wilson were smiling , calling their children inside for dinner . 2/3 20:07 Wed , Oct 8 Chapter 40 Buried in the Rail A Frushed Claudia was upset because her brother had picked her flower . Clarence and little Zane were circling her , trying to cheer her up . While she was beaten bloody by her own father and fighting to survive , Claudia was upset over a single flower . It was laughable . She felt like a rat hiding in a sewer , secretly jealous of Claudia's perfect life . Send Gifts 牁 10 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!