NovelFinishChapter 79 Brian felt a sharp pang in his heart at Claire's words, as if she had struck the most fragile part of him.
For a fleeting moment, he wanted to believe there was a hint of genuine emotion hidden in her words. But when he met her indifferent gaze, he realized it was nothing more than sarcasm.
Yet, even knowing this, his heart betrayed him and stirred with emotion.
Coming to terms with the fact that she had never felt differently towards him, his eyes, filled with complex emotions, turned bloodshot.
This intense look made Claire uneasy, prompting her to push him away.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut Brian stood firm, his presence dark and menacing. "Do you think I'll let you marry another man?" The ambiguity in his words made Claire's heart race.
Facing his obsessive glare, she quickly averted her eyes. "Who I marry is none of your business." Brian's brow furrowed slightly, and he let out a cold laugh that echoed in the cramped storage room, carrying a chilling sense of oppression.
"None of my business? You say that so easily. As long as my sister remains unconscious, your life belongs to the Cole family. Now tell me, is it my business or not?" As he spoke, his grip on Claire's shoulders tightened, as if trying to infuse years of obsession into that single grasp.
The pain in her injured shoulder was excruciating, but Claire gritted her teeth and endured, her hands trembling slightly.
Brian's recently bandaged palm started to bleed again from the pressure, but he seemed oblivious to the pain, perhaps punishing both himself and Claire. Blood seeped out, staining Claire's clothes, making it unclear whose blood it was.
Brian loathed himself in that moment.
He had once loved her deeply and even dreamed of confessing his feelings at the suniversity they'd attend together.
Back then, his heart was full of hope for the future.
But Claire shattered all his expectations.
Five long years had passed, and he thought he could forget her.
Yet, hearing she would marry someone else ignited a jealousy he couldn't suppress, a feeling like countless insects gnawing at his heart.
How could he have feelings for her? She had harmed Irene; she was just a convict and unworthy. Brian stared at Claire, his swirling emotions gradually calming into a cold indifference.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHis once warm gaze turned icy, like the dead of winter, devoid of warmth. His grip on Claire finally loosened.
Claire retreated into the corner, recoiling until Brian left the room. Only then did her eyelids, as fragile as gossamer, flutter.
Meanwhile, Ethan stood in the study, facing his parents with fervor. "Dad, Mom, you know the reputation of the Foster family's heir is terrible. Why Would you arrange for Claire to marry him? She's your daughter, no matter how much you dislike her, you shouldn't ruin her life."
Nathan slammed his hand on the table, his voice booming with anger, "Nonsense! How is it ruining her life? Given her status, marrying into the Foster family is a blessing."
Ethan looked at Nathan with unfamiliar eyes, his lips trembling Ο slightly. "Dad, Claire health was wrecked during those five years in prison. Forcing her to marry a violent man is like sentencing her to death." The thought of Claire's frail, battered body facing the uncertainty of the Foster family filled Ethan with rage and worry.
Nathan's face turned an angry shade of blue, his eyes wide with fury, his voice rising, "If she doesn't marry him, do you expect Vanessa to?" Ethan froze, involuntarily glancing at Vanessa, meeting her sorrowful gaze, and felt his heart soften with sympathy.
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