Shattered Rose : He Held On Tight " Yeah , yeah , of course . In a room full of people , she's the only delicate flower - and somehow she's glued to her sister's boyfriend . And Jasper - so noble , so kind - doesn't touch anyone ... except his soon - to - be sister - in - law . One day , when they end up in bed , I guess it'll be everyone else's eyes that are the problem . My heart's dirty ? Fine . I'll say it : those two look like a pair of overflowing trash cans - filthy and perfectly matched . " " Claudia , you've got it wrong . " Jasper had already let go of Lydia the second Claudia looked over . Hearing his name tied to Lydia's again , acid rose in his throat . " Wrong ? " Claudia's mouth lifted . " Jasper , do you have any idea how many times you've said that to me over the years ? " He stalled , then managed , " There are reasons . I can explain . " " I don't want to hear it . " Actions speak louder than excuses . Whatever reasons he had , the reality was the same : again and again , he'd left her to stand on the other side . " The engagement party- " Lottie started . " There isn't going to be one . How do you throw an engagement party when the proposal blew up ? " " What do you mean ? " Lottie blurted , stunned . Every Lancaster stared at Claudia . Only Lydia's eyes flickered with a little light . " Do I need to draw you a picture ? " Claudia turned to Jasper . " Yesterday , during the proposal , I told you - if you walked away , we were done . Want me to spell it out ? Jasper , we're over . I don't want you anymore . " " No ! I don't accept that ! " The words hit Jasper like a sledgehammer . His chest cinched tight and the protest ripped out . He'd been at her side since she was three - twenty years . How could all of that end over one failed proposal ? She'd said since they were kids she would marry him . They were fate . " Take it back . I'll pretend you never said it . " His jaw locked . Claudia ignored him and looked at Lottie . " Consider yourselves notified . If you don't want to throw a party with no bride , stop planning now . " 1/4 9:34 Tue , Oct 7 M ... " Ridiculous ! " Lottie's voice cracked the air . " This marriage between our families was agreed on long ago . You think this is some game ? You were the one begging for it , carrying on like you'd die without it . And now you want to back out ? You think you can change your mind whenever you please ? " Claudia's gaze went glacial . " Then you marry him . Or better yet- " Her eyes slid to Lydia . " Don't you still have another daughter ? " " Claudia ! You know I only love you ." Jasper's voice was raw . " Heh . " Once , that would've rocked her . Not anymore . " Enough . In this cozy little family of yours , there's no room left for me . Goodbye . Actually- let's never meet again . " She flicked a hand and walked out , easy and careless . " Claudia ! " Jasper moved to follow , but Lydia clutched his hand . " It's my fault , " she whispered , small and soft . " If I hadn't gotten hurt , none of this would've happened . Claudia's furious . Chasing her won't help . When she cools off , we'll go explain together . She'll understand you never meant to abandon her . She's loved you for so many years -she only said ' break it off in anger . " " She's right . Leave her be . She'll come back once she's calmed down . Doesn't she always ? " Lottie patted Lydia's hand . " Don't feel guilty . I'm the one who called last night . It was just a proposal . How could that matter more than your health ? " Three years ago , Claudia had wanted to go sailing , and the family had humored her . Lydia and her boyfriend went too . It turned tragic - Lydia's boyfriend drowned saving Jasper . Lydia nearly drowned herself , and afterward , her memory would blur . She confused Jasper with her late boyfriend sometimes . Last night , after the accident , she slipped again , crying out her boyfriend's name . That's why Lottie called Jasper over . Who could've guessed it was the exact moment he was proposing ? Still , Lottie felt no guilt . If she had to choose again , she'd make the same call . Claudia owed Lydia too much . A proposal was nothing by comparison . How could Claudia be so petty ? How could she not understand ? Zane snorted . " Claudia's been chasing Jasper for twenty years . Clings like gum on a shoe . Who's gonna buy that she suddenly doesn't want to marry him ? " Their voices tugged Jasper back from the door , but unease gnawed at him . They'd promised when they first started dating - never say " break up " lightly . 284 9:34 Tue , Oct 7 M. " Ridiculous ! " Lottie's voice cracked the air . " This marriage between our families was agreed on long ago . You think this is some game ? You were the one begging for it , carrying on like you'd die without it . And now you want to back out ? You think you can change your mind whenever you please ? " Claudia's gaze went glacial . " Then you marry him . Or better yet- " Her eyes slid to Lydia . " Don't you still have another daughter ? " " Claudia ! You know I only love you ." Jasper's voice was raw . " Heh ." Once , that would've rocked her . Not anymore . " Enough . In this cozy little family of yours , there's no room left for me . Goodbye . Actually- let's never meet again . " She flicked a hand and walked out , easy and careless . " Claudia ! " Jasper moved to follow , but Lydia clutched his hand . " It's my fault , " she whispered , small and soft . " If I hadn't gotten hurt , none of this would've happened . Claudia's furious . Chasing her won't help . When she cools off , we'll go explain together . She'll understand you never meant to abandon her . She's loved you for so many years -she only said ' break it off " in anger . " " She's right . Leave her be . She'll come back once she's calmed down . Doesn't she always ? " Lottie patted Lydia's hand . " Don't feel guilty . I'm the one who called last night . It was just a proposal . How could that matter more than your health ? " Three years ago , Claudia had wanted to go sailing , and the family had humored her . Lydia and her boyfriend went too . It turned tragic - Lydia's boyfriend drowned saving Jasper . Lydia nearly drowned herself , and afterward , her memory would blur . She confused Jasper with her late boyfriend sometimes . Last night , after the accident , she slipped again , crying out her boyfriend's name . That's why Lottie called Jasper over . Who could've guessed it was the exact moment he was proposing ? Still , Lottie felt no guilt . If she had to choose again , she'd make the same call . Claudia owed Lydia too much . A proposal was nothing by comparison . How could Claudia be so petty ? How could she not understand ? Zane snorted . " Claudia's been chasing Jasper for twenty years . Clings like gum on a shoe . Who's gonna buy that she suddenly doesn't want to marry him ? " Their voices tugged Jasper back from the door , but unease gnawed at him . They'd promised when they first started dating - never say " break up " lightly . 214 9:34 Tue , Oct 7 M Even through three years of fights , even when Lydia mistook him for her boyfriend , even that time he was forced to kiss her , Claudia never ended things . She just cried , red - eyed , for a month . This time - was it really just anger ? Maybe ... maybe it was finally time to keep real distance from Lydia . He hadn't checked in with the psychiatrist this month . He needed to . No matter what , he wanted Claudia as his wife . He'd wanted that for years . Everyone else brushed off Claudia's words as a tantrum . Only Lydia , watching her back disappear , fell into thought . If it was true , all the better . If it wasn't - she wouldn't mind pouring gasoline on it . With the station mess finally wrapped , the Lancasters were about to head out when a passing officer stopped short . " Claudia Lancaster ? She was just here last night . And back again already ? " He'd been on duty for the thug case . Back today for paperwork , he happened to spot Claudia leaving . His tone carried a bite of sarcasm . " You know Claudia ? She was here last night too ? " Jasper's voice sharpened . " That wretched girl ! What trouble did she cause now ? " Wilson ground out . Clarence scowled . " This place is practically her second home . Does she think she's still stuck in her rebellious phase ? " In a handful of words , they convicted her all over again . Only Lydia's eyes flickered , but she kept her voice soft , smoothing Wilson . " Dad , we don't know the details yet . Claudia's young . It's normal to act impulsive sometimes . " " Young ? She's twenty - three . If she had half your sense , I'd sleep at night ." " Hey , hey ! " the officer cut in , exasperated . " Who said she was in trouble ? The girl ran into a pack of thugs last night . She got hurt , scared half to death . If not for a passerby , who knows what would've happened ? You're her family ? And you didn't even know ? " He muttered , not bothering to hide his disgust , " I saw she still had a bandage on her arm . Her parents aren't half as attentive as the stranger who saved her . " 3/4 9:34 Tue , Oct 7 M Only then did they remember how pale Claudia looked . They'd been too busy raging to notice . Lottie's voice wavered . " She's hurt ? Badly ? " No matter the anger , she was still her daughter - flesh of her flesh . If Claudia weren't so defiant , how could Lottie not love her ? Send Gifts Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!