NovelEnglishChapter 296 May had carried all these memories in her heart for years-every incident, every injustice—and now, finally, she had the chance to pour out everything she'd kept bottled up inside. As the words tumbled out, she felt a rush of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest.
Aberdeen and Grace had known Claire's life with the Linwood family was hard, but they'd never imagined her own mother could be so heartless. Disgust was written plainly on their faces as they turned to glare at Adah.
Jarrod and Karin listened in stunned disbelief. As parents themselves, with a daughter they doted on, they couldn't fathom such cruelty. It was this very love for their own child that had driven them to lash out at Claire, seeking revenge for Irene's tragedy. Now, learning what Claire had truly endured-the wrongful imprisonment, the pain they'd inflicted on her in ignorance-Jarrod and Karin were consumed with guilt and sorrow. When they looked at Adah, all they saw was a woman whose actions were beyond forgiveness.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBrian, collapsed on the floor, was overwhelmed with grief. He couldn't even bring himself to face Claire anymore.
Nathan, paralyzed and confined to his wheelchair, was crying too-tears of regret streaming down his face. For over twenty years, he'd been deceived. Vanessa wasn't even his daughter. And yet, for a child who was never truly his, he had beaten and berated his own flesh and blood.
They'd spoiled Vanessa, raising her like a princess, while their real daughter was abandoned to a foster home, left to survive alone. He'd let Claire take the fall for Vanessa's crimes, even gone so far as to steal her kidney for the girl he thought was his own. Had Vanessa been mocking him all along? Had Sophia and Garnett Brown-those conniving lovers-laughed behind his back at his blind devotion? The shand sorrow pressed down on Nathan like a mountain, suffocating him. He tried to speak, to beg for forgiveness, but when he opened his mouth, only garbled sounds cout, drool slipping down his chin. He was helpless, his remorse trapped inside.
Meanwhile, May's words had pulled Adah back through the years. Every sharp word, every act of cruelty toward Claire flashed before her eyes like a film she couldn't pause. Her gaze turned vacant as the memories stabbed at her heart, each one more painful than the last.
She saw little Claire in her threadbare school uniform, standing in the corner, watching Vanessa bask in everyone's affection-her face a mixture of envy and heartbreak. Adah had ignored it all, pouring every ounce of love and care into Vanessa, leaving Claire with nothing.
"No, no..." Adah whispered, clutching her head as her body shook violently. She wanted desperately to believe this was just a nightmare, that she could wake up, turn back time, and somehow make things right.
She remembered the way Claire had looked at her for help, desperate and pleading, as Nathan raged at her-how she had turned away, cold and indifferent. Now, that haunted gaze clung to her, refusing to let go.
Beating her fists against her chest, Adah wished with everything in her that she could go back, that she could hold Claire close, buy her beautiful clothes, throw her lavish birthday parties, make her the happiest girl in the world.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut tis merciless; it never rewinds. The damage she had done was carved into Claire's life and into her own soul-a scar that would never fade.
Sobbing uncontrollably, Adah cried out all the guilt and regret she'd buried for years. Her pride was gone; she was nothing more than a broken mother, utterly consumed by pain.
Suddenly, she turned and, losing all control, lunged at Nathan, pounding her fists against him.
"This is all your fault! If you hadn't sent my daughter away-if you hadn't abandoned her Claire would have grown up happy, cherished! You stole the life she deserved!"
Nathan couldn't fight back. He just sat there, taking blow efter blow until his face was bruised and battered.
When Adah finally stopped, exhausted, she happened to glance down and noticed the DNA test F report clutched tightly in Nathan's trembling hand.
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