Building Her Throne Burying My Heart (Claire) novel Chapter 3

I checked the time. If I didn't leave soon, my mom would be home alone and there’d be no one to look after her. My eyes drifted to the table stacked with ice-cold beers—at least ten bottles, all freshly chilled. I honestly doubted my stomach could handle that much beer, especially with how cold it was. The alcohol would tear me up inside.

But right now, it wasn’t really up to me anymore.-

As I hesitated, Claire’s voice cut through the room, colder than the beer. “What’s wrong? Are you not going to drink?”

She leaned forward, her eyes hard and unblinking. “If you’re not willing to drink, that’s fine. Just get on your knees and beg me. Beg for my forgiveness.”

Her voice was so sharp, I barely recognized her. The Claire I used to know was sweet, with a gentle voice and a smile that made people want to protect her. Now, she was nothing but fierce, every word laced with frost.

Someone chimed in, ready to take her side. “Lambert, just get on your knees and apologize to Claire. You know what you did was messed up. She’s giving you a way out. Don’t be an idiot.”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t be so nice,” another person muttered.

Everyone kept pressuring me, their voices blurring together. Claire stood up, her patience gone. “If you’re not willing to do either, then at least tell me the truth. Was that really the reason you left me back then?”

Does the truth even matter anymore?

I looked up at her. I wasn’t going to tell her. Not now. Not ever.

I grabbed a beer from the table, the glass so cold it burned my fingers. “I’ll drink.”

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