THE FISHMONGERS HEIRESS

HEARTBREAK

At that spot, Claire experienced her first heartbreak and watched helplessly as her heart froze and then sank like a stone dropped into a river.

Emily said something funny, and d**k laughed. His laughter, which was once like music to Claire's ears, now sounded strange, like a mocking symphony.

Emily kissed him lightly on the lips, threw her head backward in delight, and then laid it on his shoulder.

Emily is the school cheerleader. She is tall and beautiful, with two sparkling eyes, cascading soft waves of hair, and an infectious smile and energy that is difficult to ignore. She is a far way beyond Claire's league.

Since no one seemed to have noticed Claire, she gathered her whirling emotions and was about to leave as quietly as she arrived when she heard Janet's voice.

"Hey. See who we have here. C'mon dirty pig. Come close and join us. No need to sneak out of here."

Janet is Emily's friend and hates Claire with passion. Her loud speech made all eyes turn towards Claire.

Having no choice, Claire stopped, turned, and seized her breath.

"What is she doing here during the school hours?"

"To look for d**k, of course. Did you invite her here?"

Dick, who had now regained his posture, shook his head sideways. "No, I didn't. I'm also surprised to see her."

"I am not here to see d**k, but to deliver this ring to Mr-."

Claire suddenly halted her speech when the truth hit her. Abraham was d**k's surname. Janet had been malicious in sending her to deliver the ring d**k would be using to propose to another lady.

Janet picked up an empty glass of wine, tossed it at Claire, and then hissed when it missed her. "Get lost, b***h. Go back to the street where you belong."

The noise soon caught the attention of everyone. Guards raced closer to interfere, and students brought out their phones to record or go live on Chatterbox.

Even though Emily had no personal feud with Claire. She only hated her because Janet did, and was doing all this to satisfy her friend.

" Hey! What's going on?" One among the tense-looking guards asked.

"This lady is a thief and had no reason to be here. Throw her out of now."

Since Janet was the daughter of the hotel manager, the guard did not give Claire a chance to explain her mission but quickly grabbed her arms and began to pull her out of the VIP section.

"Wait, please. I am here to deliver this ring to that sucker over there, and I have already got paid for it."

Dick saw the ring in Claire's hand and immediately stepped towards Claire."I think Jane sent her here. I bought a golden ring from her mother's store, and she promised to send it via courier."

"A ring?"

Emily's mouth remained open. She had no feelings towards d**k and only pretended to love him to deprive Claire of her source of joy. It was all Janet's plan.

Dick stretched his hand at Claire, "Give me the ring before they hurl you out of here ."

"Why, d**k?"

"Why what? Did you think I could ever love someone like you? Someone so poor and plain? No, Claire. My grades were poor in my formal school, so I needed a bookworm to put me through and help with my tests and assignments. I wanted to keep this a secret from you until our final examination, but it was quite unfortunate that you have to find out now."

"You have been using me?"

"Isn't that glaring? How could you think I love you?"

"You heard him now, dirty pig. Now give him the ring and get lost, or I will tell the guards to drag you out of here like a dog ."

For three and half years, Claire had been receiving their taunts and ridicule, but not anymore. "Is okay, Emily. Someone like you deserves a toddler who urinates in his bed. You need this babysitting job, you know."

"Did you just call me a babysitter?" Emily leaped at Claire, pulled her by the collar of her gown, and slapped her on her right cheek. "For speaking back when I talk to you."

In anger, Claire wrung her hands from the guard's grip. She leaned towards Emily and then slapped her back. The blow was so heavy that Emily staggered and fell. This resulted in an uproar among the spectators.

"Oh goodness!"

"Did she just hit Emily?"

"She sure has some guts."

To avoid more fights, two guards grabbed Claire and began to drag her out of the hotel.

"You will regret ever raising your hand against me, b***h," Emily said as she turned and began to march out of the crowd.

"What about my proposal, Emily?"

"Get lost, d**k. This is all your fault."

Claire was hurled out of the hotel and then left at the gate. She was also warned never to step into the hotel again. With a sick smile on her face, she walked towards her school.

"Hey, Claire."

She turned and glared at the young man racing towards her. "What did you want?"

"I want to tell you that I admire your courage. I mean, who could ever believe the meek Claire could ever raise her hand against anyone? I was glad I recorded the moment you slapped her."

"Thank you. Now get off my sight."

"Can we be friends?"

"Friends?" Claire asked back, smiling sardonically, and said, "A poor girl like me can never be a friend to any of you. Please excuse me."

"No... Wait, Claire. I never knew you - ."

"Get lost, Demetrius," Claire cut into his speech, turned, and increased her stride. And she was aware of Demetrius' footsteps at her back.

Students looked hotly at her when she stepped onto the school premises, but Claire did not care. Let them do their worst. As for Demetrius, she wondered why he kept following her and causing more unnecessary attention.

Tall, with an athletic physique, and the school football and basketball team captain, Demetrius is the most popular student in Rotherham High School. Even though he never joined them to mock or bully Claire, neither did he ever interfere to save her.

What on earth would someone like him want with plain Claire?