Chapter 494

When Claire opened her eyes, Adah was sitting at her bedside, her face shadowed with worry.

"Claire, are you alright?" Adah asked softly.

Claire pushed herself upright in the hospital bed. The anesthesia had worn off, and she felt perfectly fine now-no lingering pain, nothing to worry about. She glanced at Adah, her expression cool and detached. "Thank you for this, but consider any past grudges between us settled. It's done."

A flash of hope lit up Adah's face. "Claire, does that mean you've finally forgiven me? You're willing to come home? You won't leave me anymore?"

Claire's tone was icy. "Ms. Jones, I'm afraid you're misunderstanding. I said the old resentment is over, not that I'm coming home with you, or accepting you as my mother."

She fixed Adah with a steady gaze. "Have you forgotten? My last name is Sterling now-not Linwood. I have my own parents, my own brother. Why should I go back with you?"

Adah's expression collapsed, pain flickering in her eyes. "Claire, I'm your real mother. The Sterlings took you from me."

Claire let out a cold, humorless laugh. "They never 'took' me. The truth is, I stopped needing you a long time ago."

but firm. "Maybe you don't know this, but in my last life, the Sterlings visited the orphanage intending to adopt me. But back then, Vincent Lewis was my best friend—I refused to leave him and

have had a loving family, a brother who protected me, parents who cared. Instead, I

shoulders slumping as if the energy had

sorry. I know I was wrong." Her

cut her off, impatient. "I've heard that line so many times, I could recite it in my sleep. Every time, you say you regret it, but you never change. You have zero credibility with me. Please, don't waste your breath saying empty things anymore. It's

softness in Claire's words; she didn't

"Alright, I won't say it again." She fell silent, the room heavy with unspoken

no desire to share the same air any longer. She felt fine, so why stay in the hospital? After

home and see them. Eight years would they even recognize

bed, Claire

shot to her feet.

to Northcrest City. I want to see

mother, but Claire spoke of the Sterlings with such affection as if

in front of her, hesitation

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