Chapter 20
Though her heart and lips constantly whispered my name, Gabrielle tucked away her sorrow upon returning to the living room filled with celebrities and socialites. For her, her son’s future trumped all else.
She dreamed of her son becoming the most formidable lawyer in Crestview Metropolis, perhaps even the nation. To pave the way for her son, Claude, especially considering their ties to the influential Hilton family, was paramount.
My spirit lingered by the edge of the balcony door, gazing at the roses and various perennials I had planted with my hands in splendid bloom. Sadly, I could never see them flower in my lifetime.
Claude brought the seeds for these roses and perennials from an international business trip.
When I found them while unpacking his luggage, I suggested planting them in the ancestral home’s backyard garden, envisioning evening strolls under the moonlight and admiring the flowers.
At that moment, I thought he had brought them back for me, never suspecting that his trip wasn’t for business but to meet Kate. And those seeds? A gift from Kate to him. I learned the truth when Claude brought Kate to his ancestral home one day.
I had treated Kate kindly, thinking she was an old childhood friend, much like Richard and me, nothing more. I even showed her the freshly sprouted seeds, to which she exclaimed, “Claire, you have such a gifted touch. When I bought these seeds, many said they were dead and impossible to grow. Yet, you’ve succeeded p>
Holding the watering can, my hand froze mid-air.
So, the seeds weren’t a thoughtful gift from Claude but from Kate to him. And he hadn’t bothered to clarify. That left me feeling somewhat abandoned.
It wasn’t until Kate playfully said to Claude in the hallway after dinner, “Claude, you promised if those dead seeds grew, you’d be with me,” that I felt a stronger sense of loss. Hiding around the corner, I waited breathlessly for Claude’s response.
His simple acknowledgment shattered my heart.
Despondently, I returned to the garden and uprooted the tender sprouts I had nurtured, an uncharacteristically drastic action for someone balanced and moderate in the Hart family. Kate rushed to stop me, but my mind was blank. I focused solely on eradicating every trace of them, fearing I was losing Claude.
I didn’t notice Kate behind me until a splash and her cries for help snapped me out of my frenzy.
Seeing her struggling in the nearby
pond, I couldn’t move to help. A gust passed, and Claude was already diving in to save Kate. When he lifted her to safety, Kate clung to him, shivering.
Only then did I realize my actions had pushed away everyone trying to intercede.
Claude looked at me with disdain for the first time, seeking an explanation.
“I didn’t mean to,” was all I could muster.
The incident marked a turning point. Whenever Kate got hurt, Claude’s thoughts immediately accused me of madness.
“Let there be no next time,” he said coldly, cradling Kate as they stood amidst the upturned soil and flower sprouts, If you enjoy gardening that much ‘ll have someone deliver more roses and perennials tomorrow p>
ove
His words got me mixed up. Who was he saying enjoyed gardening? Me or Kate?
Yet, the next day, new plants arrived for me.
A servant explained, “Ms. Claire, Mr. Hart said since you love gardening, you should plant these yourself p>
Recalling the seeds marked Kate and Claude’s affection, I felt disgusted and shook my head, “I don’t want them p>
Caught in an awkward position, the servant relayed, “Mr. Hart mentioned if you wouldn’t plant them, we were to dispose of them all p>
My hands trembled slightly, hidden in my sleeves. Was Claude punishing me for my unintended push that led Kate into the water? Was I to plant the flowers of their love myself?
Gabrielle intervened before I could
voice my thoughts, smoothing
things over Claire, don’t take it the wrong way. Claude knows you like gardening but was too shy to say it outright. As for Kate, she was traumatized by a childhood kidnapping and drowning incident, so she’s always been afraid of
water. Don’t take it to heart p>
She took my hand. “Let’s garden together p>
And so, the garden flourished once more alongside the empty pond.
Soon afterward, Claude drained the pond and released the fish, and my descent into despair and reckless behavior began.