Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 331

Chapter 331 Clarence’s Mask

Chapter 331 Clarence’s Mask

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Still fuming. Lydia shoved the door open–only to be hit by the stench of sweat and cheap cologne. The same pig of a man stood half–dressed inside. That did it. She nearly lost her mind.

And honestly, Clarence was innocent this time.

As much as he couldn’t stand Lydia, he’d never stoop low enough to deliberately mess with her over something so petty.

Meanwhile, Gabriel, blissfully unaware that he’d just taken the blame, grinned at his phone after getting a random thumbs–up emoji from his cousin Mandy. He leaned back, pleased with himself.

“Happy now?”

Clarence dropped the towel he’d been using to wipe his face and glared across the table–at Claudia, who’d been sitting there quietly for who–knows–how long.

Claudia walked over and sat in the seat Mandy had left.

“You think I put them up to it?” She smiled faintly. “Even after everything Lydia’s done, in your mind, I’m still the vicious one, huh?”

She tilted her head. “Then again, maybe it makes sense. We haven’t actually spent time together in years. These days, we only know each other through other people’s stories.”

Her eyes locked on his. “Maybe I never really knew you either.”

Clarence looked away. “Sorry. I’m just … not in a great headspace.”

He pressed his lips together, then hesitated before turning back to her. “Claudia, Mom’s sick. Could you

go see her? At the birthday banquet…”

…

He paused. “She stabbed Lydia. You probably heard.”

Claudia nodded. “I did. But no, I can’t.”

Her answer was so quick and firm that Clarence froze.

Claudia rested her chin in one hand, gazing out the window before circling back. “But I think I

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18:30 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 331 Clarence’s Mask

finally understand you now.”

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She smiled lightly–a quiet, knowing smile, the kind that comes when the puzzle pieces finally click. “You never really liked me, did you?”

She’d never quite understood it before. Sure, her parents were biased, and her younger brother was reckless and easy to manipulate–but Clarence?

He was five years older than her. When she was six, he was eleven–old enough to know better.

He could tell right from wrong, closeness from distance.

He wasn’t clouded by adult politics; he just followed his feelings. So logically, he should’ve cared more about the little sister he’d watched grow up than about Lydia.

But he didn’t.

He’d chosen to let Lydia take her place instead.

Maybe, like their brother Zane, it was part wanting to please the adults–but there was something deeper too.

Back then, Claudia hadn’t understood. But when she’d seen his expression at the police station -the way he looked at Zane–everything clicked.

Clarence didn’t like Zane. He didn’t like her either.

Everyone assumed brothers naturally loved their sisters. But they underestimated how deep a child’s jealousy could run.

Clarence had been the family’s golden boy, the one all their hopes rested on. Until he turned five, he had his parents‘ love all to himself.

Then, Claudia was born–and shattered that monopoly.

To their parents, Claudia was never meant to inherit the family business. She was a pretty little pet–just something to raise gently, dress up, and someday marry off with a hefty dowry, maybe even to a powerful family that would help the Lancasters climb higher.

No one ever said this out loud. They probably didn’t even realize it themselves.

And of course, no one would ever explain it to a child.

So, to young Clarence, Claudia wasn’t a sister–she was an intruder.

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Chapter 331 Clarence’s Mask

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His parents told him to be patient, kind, and protective, but they never soothed the fear underneath.

The more pressure they put on him, the more he envied the carefree sister who got love without earning it.

But he was supposed to be mature–the perfect big brother everyone admired. So, he buried it deep, hiding behind that smile everyone praised.