---
As Claire returned to the mansion, her phone buzzed incessantly. Irritated, she fished it out of her purse and checked the caller ID—it was her cousin Laila.
Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she debated ignoring it, but the persistent ringing made her swipe to answer.
"Oh, Claire! Finally! I've been calling you forever!" Laila's voice rang with exaggerated relief.
"I was busy," Claire replied curtly, her tone void of enthusiasm.
"But Claire, you were supposed to come today. We've all been waiting for you," Laila whined.
Claire had intended to see what schemes her family was concocting, but her sudden engagement plans had left her drained and distracted. Now, exhausted and in no mood to entertain anyone, she had little patience for their pretenses.
"Laila, I told you yesterday that I'm busy. I won't be able to make it," she said, walking into her room and tossing her purse on the bed.
"Where are you, Claire? I'll come pick you up. Everyone's here just to see you—you wouldn't want to disappoint us, right?" Laila pressed.
Sinking into her bed, Claire rolled her eyes. Her cousins were like venomous snakes; hypocrisy and deceit ran in their veins. Their sudden kindness was suspicious at best.
"Laila," she said with a sharp edge to her voice, "don't bother me. Yes, I mentioned I might visit, but I'm busy. Don't push me."
"Oh, Claire, we were really looking forward to seeing you," Laila said, her tone shifting to fake sweetness. "Anyway, I won't trouble you anymore. I'll call you later. But remember—we're amazing sisters, okay?" She laughed lightly, pretending everything was fine.
Claire ended the call with a mocking scoff. "Tsk... amazing sisters, my foot!"
Her mind drifted to memories she wished she could erase. She vividly remembered how cruelly they treated her as a child—taunts, jabs, and the sting of being called an orphan.
When she was just ten, she lived with her Nana, cherishing the moments when her cousins visited. Back then, she eagerly sought their company, naive to their true nature.
"Laila, Tia! Let's play in the garden!" Claire had exclaimed excitedly.
Both girls looked at her with disdain.
"No, Claire, we won't. We'll get our shoes and clothes dirty," Laila said haughtily.
"And our mommy will scold us," added Tia, smoothing her dress.
"There's plenty of dry ground beside the garden. Come on, let's play there," Claire suggested hopefully.
"Claire, don't you understand? Our parents will get mad," Tia snapped, her frustration evident.
"Oh, Tia, she doesn't get it. Claire doesn't have a mommy to scold her, so she's turned wild," Laila sneered, folding her arms.
"Yeah," Tia agreed. "She's unruly and stubborn because she doesn't have parents."
The words pierced Claire's young heart. Fighting back tears, she stepped closer. "Why would you say that? I'm your sister. Why would you bully me?"
"Bully you?" Laila chuckled darkly. "I'll show you what bullying means."
Before Claire could react, Tia yanked her hair, and Laila pinched her cheeks hard.
"Ouch! Stop it! You're hurting me!" Claire screamed, tears streaming down her face.
Hearing the commotion, her aunt rushed in. Seeing the girls' footsteps, Laila quickly fell to the ground while Tia crouched beside her, feigning distress.
"What's going on?" her aunt demanded, her eyes narrowing.
"Mom, Claire pulled Tia's hair and pushed me to the ground when I told her to stop," Laila sobbed theatrically.
Her aunt turned to Claire, her face twisting with anger. Without waiting for an explanation, she slapped Claire hard across the cheek.
Gripping Claire's arm, her aunt dragged her to the dining room, where the rest of the family was gathered. Shoving her forward, she announced loudly, "This girl needs to learn some manners! She attacked Laila and Tia!"
Claire's uncle frowned. "Such behavior at her age. She's turning into a bully."
"Nonsense," Nana's sharp voice cut through the accusations. "Let go of her hand."
Her aunt reluctantly released her grip, and Claire immediately ran to her Nana, who noticed the red imprint of fingers on her cheek.
"This is enough," Nana said, her voice laced with fury. "Not a single one of you will set foot in my house again. Don't let me see your despicable faces."
The family erupted in protests, but Nana held firm, taking Claire by the hand and leading her away.
Later, Claire overheard her aunt's furious rant. "That little bitch! How dare she ruin everything?" A vase shattered against the wall in her rage.
"Calm down, Amber," her uncle said coolly. "If we upset Mom too much, we'll lose our inheritance. We need to be careful."
The memory still burned fresh in Claire's mind. "How can monsters like them pretend to be angels?" she muttered bitterly, pulling a blanket over herself and closing her eyes for a nap.
---
It was nearly dinner when Cain returned from the office. He asked the maids about Claire and learned she was resting.
Entering her room quietly, he found her fast asleep. A soft smile curved his lips as he approached her. Sitting beside her, he gently caressed her cheek and leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead.
Claire stirred, her eyes fluttering open to find him sitting far too close. She jolted upright. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, glaring at him.
"What am I doing here?" Cain echoed, loosening his tie with a smirk.
Unbuttoning his shirt, he leaned closer. "I'm here to fulfill my fiancée's wish."
Her eyes widened in shock. "You—you're joking, right?"
His hand snaked around her waist, pulling her closer. "What do you think?"
"B-but we're not married yet!" she stammered, her lips trembling.
"Oh? But you were ready to go for it this morning right after our engagement," he teased, his voice a low rumble as he leaned closer, their faces barely inches apart.
Claire gulped, her pulse racing. Just as Cain was about to kiss her, a knock on the door broke the tension.
"Dinner is ready, Mr. Wilson," the maid announced from the other side.
Seizing the opportunity, Claire scrambled out of bed and dashed toward the dining hall.
Cain chuckled, running a hand through his hair as he watched her flee. Rising from the bed, he followed her with a mischievous grin.
---