Chapter 269

The sound echoed softly through the quiet kitchen, lingering in the air but stirring nothing like a pebble sinking into a still lake.

Mandy paused, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. Had Claire heard her at all?

She furrowed her brow and spoke again, her tone warmer and more insistent. "Claire?"

But the only answer was the gentle bubbling of the soup simmering on the stove. Claire remained focused, stirring the thick, fragrant broth with slow, deliberate movements. The soup had been cooking for over an hour, filling the kitchen with its comforting aroma and rolling clouds of steam.

Mandy's gaze locked on Claire's slender back, unease gnawing at her. She called out again, louder this time. "Claire!"

Her voice rang out, bouncing off the kitchen walls. Still, Claire seemed sealed in her own world, oblivious, lost in the rhythm of stirring.

A chill shot up Mandy's spine; her eyes narrowed in alarm. It was then she realized Claire couldn't hear her.

Last time she'd seen Claire in the hospital, she'd seemed fine. How long had it been? And now, she'd lost her hearing?

Mandy clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

What the hell did the Linwoods, Brian, and Vincent do to her?

inside Mandy, her eyes blazing with a cold, murderous resolve. She

Suddenly, Claire turned around.

her previously calm eyes. Her lips curved into a gentle

an instant, Mandy smoothed away her anger, her face brightening with a pure, sunlit smile-warm and dazzling. "I missed you.

left Claire's face, searching for any sign of hidden pain,

hand in her own-soft and warm. "Come on, sit

led Mandy toward the living

unresolved. "Let me

deepened with fond amusement. "No need. I can handle

hesitated, thrown off by the reply. Had she

sound casual. "It's

Claire turned back to the stove, still stirring. "Alright, then-could

stepped back, standing behind Claire. "I don't

she'd prefer. But this

like a punch to the gut. That

have

must have suffered

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