Chapter 9
After several days of silence, it was always Allen who broke first, writing an apology letter to end their fights. At the time, Claire had felt a pang of heartbreak each time, but now, the thought struck her–this could still work in her favor. If she could somehow coax him into signing another “apology letter,” it might just be her way out.
“I’ll earn my promotions on my own merits,” Claire said, her voice light but firm, “I won’t rely on you.”
Allen chuckled, mistaking her defiance for stubbornness.
“Good,” he said with a smirk, settling back on the bed and pulling the blanket over himself. “That’ll save me some trouble. But don’t
Chapter 9
+ 5 Points
come crying to me when no one recognizes your talent. You might end up begging for my help.”
His words were coated with disdain, his indifference cutting through her like a cold breeze.
Claire’s lips tightened, but her response was unwavering. “I won’t beg you. In fact, I want you to sign something for me.”
He lifted an eyebrow, curiosity flickering behind his guarded expression. “A consent letter? What kind of letter?”
Without a word, Claire stood up and retrieved a sheet of paper. She sat down at the desk, her movements deliberate as she wrote the following:
[From this point forward, Claire Taylor
and Allen Brown are to maintain… boundaries. Claire takes full responsibility for her actions and will not hold any person
or institution accoUnder no
circumstances will her matters implicate anyone else. All consequences shall be borne by Claire alone. Signed: Allen Brown.]
Claire placed the paper and a pen in front of him, her hands trembling ever so slightly. Sweat beaded on her palms, her heart racing as she watched him.
“Sign it,” she said, her voice a steady whisper.
Allen narrowed his eyes, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face. Something about her behavior was off, but not enough to make him pause.
“Allen,” Claire taunted, her voice sharp, “are you going back on your word? Or are you
Chapter 9
5 Points
too afraid to sign it? Afraid you’ll secretly interfere behind my back?”
Her words were laced with provocation, knowing exactly what buttons to press. Allen’s fragile ego couldn’t withstand such a challenge.
Predictably, his face hardened, his gaze turning cold.
“Did you forget who brought you into this hospital in the first place?” he sneered, his voice dripping with scorn. “With your mediocre skills, you’d still be stuck in some backwater clinic treating sick villagers if it weren’t for me.”
His words hit her like a shard of glass lodged deep in her chest, cutting through her composure, making it hard to swallow the bitterness that rose in her throat.
Chapter 9
+ 5 Points
Claire’s jaw tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Then sign it, Allen. Let’s see if I ever need your help.”
The challenge in her voice finally cracked through his lingering doubts. With a derisive scoff, he grabbed the pen and signed his name, his motion swift and dismissive.
As she watched him complete the signature, something inside Claire shifted. A heavy weight that had been pressing down on her for so long seemed to lift, replaced by a glimmer of hope–hope she hadn’t felt in
years.
She folded the letter carefully, as if it were a treasure, and tucked it into her pocket.
“Don’t worry, I won’t ask for your help,” she murmured quietly, almost to herself.
5/2
Chapter 9
+5 Points
This was it–the last tether binding her to Allen, the final step toward breaking free from the suffocating grip of their soured relationship.
The next morning, Claire woke up early. The weight of the consent letter in her pocket felt light, but in a way that made her feel more at ease than she had in months. She was free.
As Claire approached Allen’s car, ready for another day, she reached for the passenger door, expecting the usual routine.
But when the window rolled down, it wasn’t Allen’s face that appeared. Instead, Evelyn flashed a smug smile, her eyes glinting with a touch of mischief.
“Sorry, Claire,” Evelyn said, her voice dripping with false innocence. “I get carsick and can
617
Chapter 9
+5 Points
only sit in the front.”
Claire froze, a cold stir of realization washing over her.
She knew, without a doubt, that Evelyn didn’t get carsick. They’d shared rides countless times, and not once had Evelyn shown any signs of discomfort. In fact, it was Claire who had the motion sickness, which was why she always claimed the front seat.
But today, Evelyn had taken her place, as though staking a claim–marking her territory with a simple, passive act.
A flash of anger surged through Claire, but she masked it, keeping her expression neutral.
