The next day Claire and her father, Mr. Beckett, sat down at the dining table, a rare occurrence in Mr Beckett's busy schedule.
The table was set with fine china and crystal glasses, and the aroma of roasted chicken filled the air.
Claire tried to make conversation, asking her father about his day. But just as he began to respond, his phone buzzed. He apologized and took the call, his voice hushed but urgent.
Claire sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of disappointment. She had been looking forward to spending quality time with her father all day.
As Mr. Beckett continued his call, his laptop suddenly beeped. A servant appeared out of nowhere, laptop in hand, and Mr. Beckett excused himself from the table.
"I'm sorry, Clara," he said, not even looking up. "I have to take care of this."
Claire watched as her father walked away, laptop and servant in tow. She felt a lump form in her throat as she realized that even in this rare moment of togetherness, her father's work came first.
The once-tasty meal now seemed bland and unappetizing. Claire pushed her food around her plate, feeling a mix of emotions: disappointment, frustration, and sadness.
After a few minutes of playing with her food, Claire got up from the table, her appetite gone. She left the dining room, feeling like she was losing her father to his work, bit by bit.
Claire decided to invest her time and energy in some other place , She spent the rest of the week visiting her father's hospital, Beckett's Hospital, every day after school.
She would spend hours there, chatting with Charlotte and her mother, Mrs. Ryder, who was awaiting surgery.
As Claire spent more time with Charlotte, she got to know her better. She learned about Charlotte's nature ,
Claire was fascinated by Charlotte's creativity and enthusiasm, and she found herself looking forward to their daily conversations.
Mrs. Ryder, too, was grateful for Claire's visits. She was touched by Claire's kindness and compassion, and she felt grateful to have her as a friend for Charlotte.
As the week went by, Claire found herself feeling more and more connected to Charlotte and her mother.
She realized that she had been so focused on her sour relationship with her father that she had forgotten the importance of building relationships with others.
On Saturday night, Mr. Beckett walked into Claire's room, the soft moonlight casting a gentle glow on his daughter's peaceful face.
He approached her bed, his eyes filled with a mix of love and regret. He reached out a hand, gently caressing Claire's hair, just as he used to when she was a little girl.
Claire sensed his touch and stirred, opening her eyes dizzily. She was surprised to see her father standing over her, a rare sight in her bedroom.
"You're home, Father?" she asked, sitting up and switching on her bedside lamp.
The soft glow of the lamp illuminated the room, revealing a cozy space filled with Claire's favorite things.
Her bed was adorned with plush pillows and a soft, white duvet. Her desk was cluttered with books and papers, and her walls were decorated with colorful artwork and photos of her friends.
Mr. Beckett smiled, taking a seat on the edge of Claire's bed.
"Yes, I'm home, Clara. I have some news to share with you. Mrs. Ryder's surgery has been scheduled for Tuesday."
Claire's eyes widened with interest. "Really? That's great news!"
Mr. Beckett nodded. "Yes, and I've arranged for Dr. Smith to fly in from abroad to perform the surgery himself. He's the best in his field, and I want to ensure that Mrs. Ryder receives the best care possible."
Claire's face lit up with excitement.
"That's amazing, Father!."
Mr. Beckett's expression softened, and he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind Claire's ear. "I'm doing it for you, Clara. I know how much courage you mustard in bringing her to our hospital,."
"Clara it won't be like your mother's case , I won't disappoint you'' , Mr Beckett muttered kissing Claire's forehead.
Claire felt a warmth in her heart, seeing a glimmer of the father she once knew.
"Thank you, Father. That means a lot to me."
As they finished their conversation, Claire's eyelids began to droop, and she couldn't help but yawn.
Her father smiled and gently pushed her head back onto the pillow.
"Sleep, Clara. You're tired from running around the hospital."
Claire nodded, feeling her eyes closing. Her father pulled up the duvet and switched off the light, plunging the room into darkness. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, Clara."
As he left her room, he slammed the door shut behind him. Nanny Carezza was waiting in the hallway, a knowing look on her face. Mr. Beckett approached her, a hint of gratitude in his voice.
"Thank you, Mrs. Carezza, you were right , that conversation was important."
Nanny Carezza smiled humbly.
"No, sir. It was my duty. I just wanted to see her happy again."
Mr. Beckett nodded, understanding. "You've always been a mother to her. I'm grateful for that."
Nanny Carezza's eyes shone with tears. "She's a special child, sir. She deserves all the love in the world."
Mr. Beckett's expression softened, and he nodded in agreement.
"Yes, she does. I'll try to do better, For her sake."
Nanny Carezza smiled, her face filled with hope. "I know you will, sir." .. she muttered was Mr Beckett left for his room .
As Mr. Beckett walked away, Nanny Carezza watched him go, a sense of hope in her heart. She had seen a glimmer of the father Claire once knew, and she prayed that it would stay.
She turned and headed back to her own quarters, her mind replaying the conversation she had just witnessed. She had been right to encourage Mr. Beckett to talk to Claire - it was a step in the right direction.
As she settled into bed, Nanny Carezza couldn't help but think of Claire's mother, and the happy family they once were.
She had been a part of their lives for so long, and it pained her to see them drift apart after Mrs Beckett's death.
But tonight, she had seen a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Mr. Beckett would finally prioritize his daughter's needs, and they could begin to heal as a family.
With a sense of determination, Nanny Carezza drifted off to sleep, her heart filled with love for the family she had devoted her life to.
Monday morning dawned bright and early at Springdale High. Ethan walked through the halls, his eyes scanning the crowds for a glimpse of Charlotte's familiar smile. But as he turned a corner, his heart sank. Charlotte wasn't in school again today.
He made his way to his locker, his mind racing with possibilities. Why was Charlotte absent on the day away from the big match against Jessica ?.
"What if in the absence of Charlotte tomorrow and Jessica gets announced as the winner , what will his fate be with the last girl he likes Jessica ?"
Avery, his sister, noticed his distress and approached him. "Hey, Ethan, what's wrong?" she asked, touching his arm.
Ethan sighed, shaking his head. "Nothing, Avery. Just... never mind."
Avery looked concerned. "Is something wrong, brother? You can tell me."
But Ethan couldn't bring himself to ask about Charlotte.
"I'm fine, Avery. Just stressed about science project, that's all."
Avery nodded, but her eyes lingered on his face, sensing that something was off.
"Okay, if you're sure... But if you need to talk, I'm here for you."
Ethan forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "Thanks, Avery. I'll be fine."
But as he walked to his first class, his mind was consumed by many thoughts of how he is going to handle Jessica if Charlotte doesn't show up .
Ethan's thoughts were interrupted by Jessica's voice, dripping with venom.
"Well, well, well. Looks like some people decided to back away from the match before the D-day."
He strained his neck to see Jessica standing in the center of the classroom, a smug smile spreading across her face. She was surrounded by a group of students, all listening intently to her words.
"Charlotte's absence is quite convenient, don't you think?" Jessica continued, her voice rising. "I mean, who needs to show up when you know you're going to lose?"
Ethan felt a surge of anger at Jessica's words, but as he looked around the classroom, he saw that some students were nodding in agreement with Jessica.
It seemed that Charlotte's absence had already sparked doubts about her commitment to the match.
Ethan's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with thoughts of how he's going to keep up with Jessica if she eventually becomes his assistant.
Just as Jessica was about to continue her tirade, Claire who has been playing cool the whole time spoke up,
"Ooh please shut it Jessica..", Claire reprimanded her with a determined look on her face and a firm voice.
Jessica turned to face Claire, a scowl on her face. "What are you talking about, Claire?"
"I think you're forgetting something important." Claire took a deep breath. "You're talking about Charlotte like she's some kind of coward. But you know what? Her mother is really sick. She's been in the hospital since last week."
The classroom fell silent, with all eyes on Claire. Jessica's face turned bright red with embarrassment.
"Therefore Jessica , let's try to be a little more understanding , you can be a self proclaimed winner because Charlotte won't be coming tomorrow which is eventually the match day".
"Why is that ?, Did her mother's sickness get worse ?" , Hazel asked with concern.
Claire shook her head . "No, is just that the surgery date has been fixed for tomorrow. Tuesday."
"Jessica..! next time, think before you speak", Hazel snickered throwing a tearing gaze at Jessica.
Ethan's eyes locked onto Jessica, his mind trying to picture the effect of Claire's words on her .
The students quieted down when a teacher walked in, but Ethan's mind was still reeling.
He couldn't believe Jessica's nerve, and the possibility of facing Jessica as the winner was daunting to him.
As the lesson began, Ethan found himself zoning out, his thoughts consumed by Clare saying that Charlotte's mother's surgery is tomorrow.
As he glanced around the classroom, he saw Jessica watching him, a triumphant smile on her face. Ethan's heart sank, knowing that he had to navigate this situation carefully.
He couldn't let Jessica get the best of him, not now, not ever. But as he looked away, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was in for a tough ride.
The timer beeped, signaling the end of the class, and Ethan gathered his things, still lost in thought. As he walked out of the classroom, he bumped into Jessica, who was beaming with confidence.
"Hey, Tan! Ready for the big match tomorrow?" she asked, her voice dripping with enthusiasm.
Ethan in his usual cold demeanor sized her from head to toe, "Is it going to add any glory to the Landon's name ?" he asked in a hoarse tone.
Jessica wasn't having it this time she just winked at him.
"I won't need luck. I'm going to win, and then... who knows?"
Ethan quickly excused himself and walked away, feeling more anxious than ever about the match tomorrow.
Claire walked into the hospital amidst greetings from the staffs, a bright smile on their faces.
She pushed open the door and met Andrew there before her.
"Buttercups..! , Claire has been defending your honor at school. She shut down Jessica's mean comments about your absence."
"Jessica mustn't have see that coming," Charlotte asked in a cracked tone.
Andrew nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Claire's got your back, Buttercups. She's a true friend."
Charlotte perceived Claire's perfume and turned , "Hey, Claire! Why are you standing at the door?"
Claire sighed and walked in , "I just wanted to come by and tell you about the surgery tomorrow. My dad said everything is set for Tuesday morning."
Charlotte nodded, a look of determination on her face. "Thanks, Claire"
Claire blushed, looking down at her hands. "It is nothing, really that's what friends are for."
On Tuesday morning, Charlotte's mom, Aunt Grace, was wheeled into the operating room at Beckett's Hospital. The surgical team, led by Dr. Smith, scrubbed in and prepared for the complex procedure.
Meanwhile, Charlotte waited anxiously in the waiting room, her friends Claire , Avery and Andrew by her side.
"Buttercups..!, I'm so nervous," Andrew said, biting his lip.
Charlotte put a reassuring hand on hid shoulder.
"Everything will be okay, Andrew. You guys should just go to school", Charlotte told them as they were already dressed up for school.
After much persuasion , Avery nodded in agreement.
"Yeah I think she is right , Beckett's Hospital has the best doctors and equipment. She'll get the best care possible, right Claire ?"
"Yeah sure , my Dad personally booked Doctor Smith".
Just then, Claire's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and smiled. "It's my dad. He's checking to see if Doctor Smith made it"
Charlotte smiled and texted her dad back.
"Avery , Andrew ..I think you guys should run along , I will stay with Charlotte untill after the surgery", Claire suggested.
Avery and Andrew left for school since Claire volunteered to stay, coupled that Charlotte doesn't want them to skip school because of her mother's surgery.
As the hours passed, the surgical team worked tirelessly as they repair Aunt Grace's damaged tissues.
Meanwhile at Springdale highschool, Jessica stood confidently in the school hallway, her friends Samantha and Zoey buzzing around her. She was dressed in her school uniform, her Jacket slung over her shoulder.
"Jess ..! ,Can you believe Charlotte didn't even show up?" Zoey sneered. "She's basically forfeiting the match."
"Zoey..!, she doesn't stand a chance against me", Jessica boasted.
Samantha nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's like she knows she's going to lose."
Zoey handed out party invitations to their classmates as they walked in .
"Hey, guys! Come celebrate Jessica's win with us! We're going to have the best party ever!"
Jessica grinned, her eyes gleaming with arrogance. "I'm going to crush it out there. Charlotte doesn't stand a chance even if she shows up."
Hazel rang the bell, signaling the start of the match, Jessica's smile faltered for a moment. Shrugging off the doubt, Jessica strode onto the open field, her friends cheering her on.
Ethan looked up as Avery & Andrew walked into the classroom , he had hoped that Charlotte would make an appearance at the last minute but there was no Charlotte .
He gave up the last glint of hope and leaned back in his seat putting on his headphone.
Meanwhile, Claire sat anxiously in the hospital waiting room, her phone glued to her hand as she and Charlotte waited for updates on Aunt Grace's surgery.
Charlotte on her own was quiet without exhibiting any emotions on the outwards but deep down she was worried.
"Hey Claire can you handle pressure ?", Charlotte asked in a composed voice fixing her gaze at Claire.
"What ?, why ..? , what do you mean by pressure ?", Claire stuttered in confusion.
"Wait right here , I will be back", Charlotte muttered and ran off to Claire's surprise.
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Note : like and comment,
"Can you handle pressure ?",what does Charlotte mean ,
That girl is definitely a a weird human being,
Ethan don finally accept his fate , Jessica is going to be his assistant, poor guy just kukuma carry headphone .