THE WOMAN HE COULDN’T BREAK

‎"Claire Bennett, no matter who adopts me, I'm taking you with me! We're never going to be apart!" ‎A six-year-old girl declared it with the utmost seriousness. ‎Across from her stood an adorable little girl with pigtails. She blinked her big eyes. "Really? Emily, you won't leave me behind?" ‎"Of course not!" Emily Carter took her hand. "Because we're best friends!" Claire Bennett nodded eagerly. "Emily, I want to be your best friend forever!" ‎Emily Carter tilted her head, thinking it over. "Then let's trade gifts!" She dashed off into the yard and came back with a wildflower she'd just picked. "Here, this is for you!" ‎Claire Bennett was delighted. "It's so pretty…" ‎"What about you? What are you going to give me?" ‎She froze for a moment. "Me…" ‎Emily Carter noticed the family pendant hanging around her neck and yanked it off in one motion. "Just give me this. That'll do." ‎‎Claire Bennett's small face crumpled. "But… my mother left that for me…" ‎"Wow, you're so stingy! We said we'd be best friends, and you can't even give me a gift!" ‎"No, that's not it," Claire Bennett tried to explain, flustered, but Emily Carter shoved the pendant back into her hands and turned away, sulking. "Forget it, I don't want it anymore!" ‎Seeing her upset, Claire Bennett bit her lip. After a long moment of hesitation, she stepped forward and tugged gently at her sleeve. "Then… here, it's yours." ‎Emily Carter finally smiled, hung the pendant around her own neck, and declared proudly, "Now it's mine! Mine alone!" ‎Claire Bennett forced a smile. "Yeah… it's yours." … In the director's office, Director Harris flipped through a stack of files and handed them across the desk. "These are the children who were admitted during that period. Please have a look." Sitting across from them was an elderly man in his sixties, hollow-cheeked and stern-looking. He barely glanced at the files before looking up. "No need for that. I want to see the children myself." Director Harris nodded at once. "Of course, I'll arrange it right away." In the small garden, five or six children stood in a row. Emily Carter whispered to Claire Bennett, "Someone must want to adopt us. Claire, be on your best behavior, okay?" ‎"Mm!" ‎Director Harris led the old man over to the children. He walked along the line, studying each of them carefully. He finally stopped in front of Claire Bennett, his sharp eyes narrowing slowly. Claire Bennett looked up at this grandfatherly stranger with curiosity, finding something a little unsettling in his gaze. ‎Noticing that he wouldn't stop staring at Claire Bennett, Emily Carter, standing beside her, furrowed her little brow. Her eyes darted, and she immediately stepped in front of Claire Bennett, smiling. "Hello, sir. My name is Emily. I'm six years old." ‎Richard Carter glanced at her — then suddenly his eyes went wide, his gaze locked on the family pendant hanging at her chest. He snatched it up and demanded urgently, "Whose family pendant is this?" ‎‎Claire Bennett opened her mouth to answer, but Emily Carter spoke louder first. "That family pendant is mine!" Then she shot Claire Bennett a sharp look. ‎Claire Bennett bit her lip and lowered her head again. Emily was the only one here who'd been willing to be her friend, the only one who'd ever been kind to her; she didn't want to be seen as the stingy girl who gives a gift and then wants it back, and even less did she want Emily to be angry with her. ‎Richard Carter gripped the pendant tightly, unwilling to let go. At last, he composed himself, turned, exchanged a few words with Director Harris, and walked out. ‎Director Harris came over, smiling. "Emily, come with me for a moment." ‎"Okay." ‎Claire Bennett sat in the garden, waiting and waiting. But no matter how long she waited, Emily didn't come back. Someone finally said, "Emily got adopted!" ‎Claire Bennett froze for a moment, then bolted for the gate. ‎"Claire Bennett, where are you going?" the teacher shouted after her. ‎By the time she reached the entrance, she just caught sight of Emily climbing into a sleek black car. The door slammed shut, and the car pulled away at once. ‎Without thinking, she ran after it, screaming with everything she had. "Emily! Emily!" ‎Richard Carter turned back and looked at the small figure chasing after them. "Is she your friend?" Emily Carter shrank down in her seat, eyes fixed on the window, her small face wearing a coldness that didn't match her age. "No." ‎"Ow!" Claire Bennett fell to the ground, scraping her palms and knees raw, but she didn't even feel the pain; she scrambled back up to keep running, but the car was already pulling farther and farther away. ‎She stood frozen in the middle of the road, staring at the spot where the car had long since vanished, wiping at her tears with both hands. "Emily… sniff… don't leave me behind, you said we'd never be apart… Emily…"