why are they here

Claire's pov

I'd noticed my dad trying to initiate a conversation with me, but I'd refused to give him the opportunity. Later that evening, the doctor came to check on me and delivered some welcome news: I'd be discharged tomorrow. It felt like my prayers had finally been answered. The thought of leaving the hospital and getting away from my dad's guilt-ridden gaze was a huge relief.

The next morning, I was discharged from the hospital. My dad packed my belongings into his car and then helped me walk to the vehicle. I wanted to refuse his assistance, but I was still weak and needed support. Reluctantly, I accepted his help, feeling a mix of gratitude and resentment.

As we drove home, an uncomfortable silence filled the car. My dad would occasionally glance over at me, but I avoided eye contact, keeping my gaze fixed on the road ahead. The tension between us was palpable.

As we entered the house, my dad helped me to the living room, but what I saw left me stunned. A young woman, roughly a year older than me, was sitting in my mom's favorite spot, casually scrolling through her phone. I felt a surge of anger and betrayal. What was my step-sister doing here?

I turned to my dad, my voice shaking with emotion. "Dad, why are they here? It's not even been two weeks since Mom passed away, and you've already brought them into our home. Did you ever truly love Mom?"

I couldn't bear to look at him anymore. I rushed upstairs to my room, locking the door behind me. My dad knocked repeatedly, pleading with me to listen. "Claire, please, you have to hear me out!" But I refused to respond, the sound of his voice only fueling my anger and hurt.

The knocking stopped, and an eerie silence fell over the room. Suddenly, my phone rang, shrill and insistent. I'd forgotten I even had it. I glanced at the caller ID – it was Amanda, my best friend. I answered, and her voice, laced with concern and tears, flooded the line.

"Claire, are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I heard the genuine worry in her tone. "I...I'm fine," I stammered, trying to hold back tears.

Amanda reassured me that everything would be alright, and we spent the next 30 minutes on the phone, with her consoling me and trying to lift my spirits. She even passed on greetings from her mom. Before we hung up, Amanda promised to check in on me every day. Her kindness and support brought me a measure of comfort, and I felt grateful for her presence in my life.

I cried until exhaustion consumed me, and I fell into a deep sleep. The sound of knocking at the door, followed by my dad's voice, roused me.

"Claire, you need to eat something," he said gently. "Remember what the doctor said? As a doctor myself, I know you need to keep your strength up. Even if you don't want to see me, I'll leave the food in front of your door."

After a few minutes, I got up to retrieve the food. I placed it on the table and then headed to the bathroom, seeking solace in a warm bath. The soothing water seemed to work its magic, and I felt a slight improvement.

Once dressed, I returned to the table, where my favorite food awaited me. However, my appetite was nonexistent. I decided to leave the food for later and retreated to my bed, feeling emotionally drained.

All I craved now was solitude. The thought of facing my dad, my step-sister, or her mom was too overwhelming to bear. I just wanted to be left alone, to process my emotions and gather my thoughts without any distractions or painful reminders. The silence and isolation of my room were my only sanctuary.

Mr Clifford's pov

I desperately needed Claire to believe me, to see things from my perspective. But she wouldn't even look at me. As a doctor, I knew that going without sleep for an extended period was risky to my health, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I'd already asked Agatha and her daughter to leave, telling them I'd take responsibility for our daughter, but Agatha had refused.

Everything was falling apart, and I felt helpless. I was willing to risk my own well-being, even my health, if it meant making Claire understand the truth. But no matter what I did, she seemed determined to shut me out.

Claire had locked herself in her room, and although I had the keys, I decided to respect her boundaries. Instead, I found myself standing outside her door, leaving plates of food on the threshold, hoping she'd find some comfort in the gesture. Some days, the food would remain untouched; on others, she'd take a little, leaving me with a glimmer of hope.

It had been a week now, and Claire still hadn't uttered a word to me. Her routine was predictable: she'd venture out for a walk, only to return to the solitude of her room. The silence was suffocating me, eating away at my emotions. I felt like I was dying a slow, agonizing death, with each passing day piercing my heart like a dagger.

I was finding it impossible to start my work. My mind was preoccupied with Claire and the strained silence between us. I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate, that my thoughts would be consumed by worries about my daughter and our fractured relationship.

Since my conversation with Agatha, I'd been deliberately avoiding her. Her presence now grated on me, and I found myself growing increasingly irritated by her every move. The tension between us had become unbearable, and I couldn't help but feel that she was a constant reminder of the rift between Claire and me.

Agatha's pov

No matter how he feels, I'm not backing down. I've come too far to let go now. I don't care if he hates me; I want him to feel the pain I endured years ago when I saw him with another woman. At least Claire's mom is no longer between us. I won't hesitate to take everything he's worked for and make it my daughter's inheritance, not that of the daughter of the woman who stole her husband.

Either way, I'll come out on top. If I can't win back his heart, then I'll claim his legacy instead. One way or another, I'll ensure that I take something of value from this situation.

The mere sight of Claire is unbearable to me. She irritates me immensely, and worse still, she reminds me of her mother and the pain I endured years ago. Her mother took away the one person I ever truly loved and cherished, leaving me with a wound that still feels raw.

For the past year, I'd found solace in my daughter's resemblance to him. Every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse of him in her, and it would bring back a flood of emotions. I'd often ask her for a hug, and for a moment, it would feel like he was the one embracing me. My daughter had always brought me love and hope, just like her father did when we were together. But recently, I'd made up my mind to use this connection to claim what I felt was rightfully mine.

My love for him has never wavered, and it never will. Regardless of his feelings towards me, I will continue to hold him in my heart, steadfast in my devotion.

I had a conversation with my daughter about taking over her father's legacy. I told her that if she wanted to follow in his footsteps, she would need to become a doctor. She agreed to pursue this path.

Claire's pov

Lately, I've been having recurring dreams where I see my brother crying. These dreams have been unsettling, especially given the rough patch I'm going through with my dad. We haven't been seeing eye-to-eye, and I've been avoiding him. Despite our differences, he occasionally leaves food at my doorstep, but I barely touch it.

To clear my head, I've taken to walking every day. Thankfully, Amanda has been checking in on me as promised, and her support means a lot. Reflecting on my situation, I realize that my mom would never have let me struggle like this if she were here. I owe it to her to be strong and resilient in the face of adversity.

To take my mind off things, I've started reading novels on my laptop and playing my favorite games. However, the tension at home is ever-present, especially with my stepmom and sister around. Sometimes, when I venture out of my room for fresh air, I catch my stepmom staring at me, which always unnerves me.

There's something about her that I just can't quite put my finger on. I've been wondering if she intentionally showed up to harm my mom. Was it her plan all along, starting with the picture she sent? Or was it just a coincidence, and all she ever wanted was for her daughter to be with her dad ? I'm struggling to make sense of it all.

I've also observed that she doesn't get along with my dad. I'm starting to wonder if it's because he's been dishonest about knowing her child. He claimed he was unaware of the child, but I'm skeptical. It's possible that he did know, and she showed up unexpectedly, defying his wishes to keep it a secret from my mom and me. To me, it's clear that he must have known about the child - there's no other explanation.

I'm convinced that the truth will eventually come to light. Yet, a part of me still wants to believe my dad and give him a chance to explain. Lately, he's been a shadow of his former self, which has me wondering what's going on. But I'm wary of being deceived, just like he deceived my mom. I don't want to be fooled again.

Amanda's been urging me to give my dad a chance to explain himself, reminding me that he's still my father. She thinks I shouldn't jump to conclusions about what I think is the truth. I'm torn, though - part of me wants to hear him out, while another part is hesitant. My dad's been pleading with me to listen to his side of the story. I'm starting to wonder if I'm being too stubborn. Should I take Amanda's advice and give my dad a chance to explain?

I need to think carefully about this. I don't want to make a decision that I'll regret forever. I keep wondering what my mom would want. Would she be happy to see me reconcile with my dad, or would she be sad? Her opinion matters to me, even though she's no longer here. I wish I could talk to her about it.