Chapter 3
917 Words
Clara’s POV
They had beat me to it.
When I arrived, Evans Merl and Emily Cole were already sitting in the living room with tears in their eyes. Fake tears.
They must have brain-washed my dad already — but I refused to back down.
Once he heard my side, he would believe me.
He had to.
When Evans and Emily saw me, the color drained from their faces.
“Surprised to see me alive?” I said coldly.
They swallowed nervously.
“Clara! Is that what you say to your sister after she disappeared for so long?”
Andy Cole snapped angrily.
“Dad, she disappeared on purpose! She did all this to get Mom’s inheritance and stop the engagement. They drugged me—”
I was cut off by Emily’s soft sobbing.
“I was lost in the wilderness… no food… no water… no signal… I suffered so much, Dad…”
Her trembling voice echoed through the hall like a knife twisting inside my chest — and I watched my father’s eyes soften immediately.
Just like always.
“Why do you want to hurt your sister so much?”
Mavis Cole snapped sharply.
“She has always looked up to you!”
I lowered my gaze.
Yes… Emily had always acted sweet and innocent. Always clinging to me.
For a while, I truly believed I finally had a family.
But it had all been a lie.
Before I could speak, Evans stood up. Tears glistened in his eyes as he looked lovingly at Emily.
“Father-in-law… I always cared for Clara. But she never accepted me. She was distant… cold. I was drawn to Emily’s warmth. I didn’t realize how deep my feelings were until she disappeared.”
He took Emily’s hand.
“Please allow me to marry Emily. I will give 10% of Merl Group shares to the Cole family.”
The room froze.
Even Mavis and Andy widened their eyes in disbelief.
Emily buried her face in Evans’ chest.
“Oh, Brother Evans… you don’t have to do so much…”
“I would do anything for you,” he replied gently.
I watched their performance with bitter disgust.
“Dad. They only want Mom’s property. My inheritance.”
“What do you know?” Andy snapped. “I already plan to sell them to save the family business.”
My breath caught.
“Dad… how could you? Those were Mom’s memories!”
“Don’t mention that woman again!”
Andy roared.
“She was nothing but a selfish hag!”
Something cracked inside my chest.
My mother… the only person who ever loved me.
And this was how he remembered her.
“She wasted her life on you,” I whispered.
“Enough!” Andy shouted. “Break off the engagement. Sign your mother’s assets to me!”
I laughed bitterly.
So this was it.
They wanted me gone — so the people who destroyed me could live happily ever after.
“Never.”
“You foolish girl,” Mavis hissed.
“We already control everything. We just need you out of the way.”
The dizziness struck again. The drug pulsed through my head like fire — but I forced myself to stand tall.
“I will fight for what is mine.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Andy said coldly.
“From today onward, you are no longer part of the Cole family.”
My world shattered.
From the corner of my eye I saw it — the satisfied smiles.
My fiancé.
My sister.
My stepmother.
Not one of them hesitated.
In that moment I finally understood.
I had never been loved.
Not by my father.
Not by Emily.
Not by Evans.
I had only ever been a tool.
My heart broke — long before the drug did.
Without another word, I walked out of the Cole mansion forever.
I didn’t go to the hospital. My mother had taught me medicine — and the small shed we once built together held rare herbs that might still save me.
It was the only place left that still felt like home.
I prepared the medicine and eventually fell asleep.
When I woke, ropes cut into my wrists.
My heart raced.
Two bulky men stepped inside.
“Her family said we can do anything with her,” one sneered.
The other grabbed my chin.
“I like that fiery look. It turns me on.”
I spat in his face.
Rage flashed in their eyes. They beat me until blood ran down my skin and my vision blurred.
“That’s enough,” a cold voice snapped.
Mavis walked in.
I knew that voice anywhere.
“What do you want?” I forced out.
“Your life.”
Mavis’ eyes burned with hatred.
“I want every trace of your mother erased — so Andy can finally love me.”
I gave a broken laugh.
“You’re more pitiful than I am… competing with a dead woman.”
The slap rang out across the room.
Evans and Emily entered.
“Don’t bother, Mom,” Emily said sweetly.
“She’ll be gone soon.”
The smell of petrol filled the air.
My blood turned cold.
They were going to burn me alive.
Fire crawled across the floor as the match dropped.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t scream.
My eyes filled with tears — not from fear…
…but from the pain of loving people who never loved me back.
This…
was how they repaid my love.
- Writer
