Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 150: Twenty-nine Years Ago

After Chris dropped her off, Claire sat in the dimly lit living room, the silence pressing down on her like a weight. Her hands trembled slightly as she held onto the arms of the chair, her breathing uneven.

It had happened. What she had feared all these years had finally come true. The truth she had thought she could hide had been revealed.

It was only a matter of time before the whole world knew especially since Nicole was claiming to be Mathew's girlfriend.

Although it's been years, she still felt suffocated being pulled back into that nightmare.

The same nightmare she had spent nearly three decades running running from and avoiding questions.

The same nightmare thar had made her start pushing people away. Staying hidden behind the walls she had carefully built.

She had spent years, hiding it all and yet, tonight—tonight, it had all come crashing down.

Nicole knew and even though she didn't know the whole incident, she had accused her of being a murderer.

Now that her presence had reopened those wounds in Nicole's heart, would she stay quiet? Wouldn't she go about telling everyone what she believed to be the truth?

What about Chris? Did he mean what he told her that he wouldn't believe anything until he heard from her? Would he fight against his aunt because of someone like her?

Or would he succumb to whatever his aunt would tell him especially since Nicole was his aunt? Was he also going to start seeing her as a murderer?

She had wanted to say something, to tell Nicole that wasn't the truth but she had been unable to. She had felt too suffocated and too scared to saying anything.

Her chest tightened painfully as she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against her palms.

I should have just stayed away from Chris. If only she had stayed away from him, all these wouldn't have happened abd she would've carried on with her life without being forced into facing her dark and traumatic past.

Why had he been insistent in pursuing her? She had been so careful for so long. Avoiding relationships, avoiding men, avoiding any situation where she could be vulnerable like she had felt moments ago.

She had learned to exist without attachments, without love after that incident that made her question love.

She had been doing so well until Chris came along.

He came along and slipped past the walls she had spent years building, making her feel things she had no right to feel. Making her believe, just for a moment, that maybe—just maybe—she deserved to be happy after what she went through.

But how could she? Who could love a murderer? Even if they did without knowing it, they'd eventually stop loving her once they found out she had killed someone whether in self defense or intentionally.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, but it sounded more like a choked sob. Even in death, Mathew was tormenting her.

She closed her eyes trying to keep the tears from falling but the past rushed back at her like a tidal wave, pulling her under.

Before she knew it, she was seventeen again. And the nightmare was just beginning.

Twenty-Nine Years Ago

Seventeen years old Claire sat in front of the mirror, excitement bubbling in her chest as she applied the finishing touches to her makeup.

The reflection staring back at her was unfamiliar—softer, and more delicate. The deep blue dress hugged her figure perfectly, and her dark curls cascaded down her shoulders, framing her oval face.

She felt beautiful. No, she was beautiful.

Margaret, sitting on the edge of the bed, grinned at her. "You look like a princess, sis."

Claire smiled, her cheeks warming. "You think so?" she asked although quite unsure.

Margaret nodded enthusiastically, then leaned forward. "So, Isaiah's picking you up, right?" she asked curiously.

Claire nodded. "Yeah, he should be here soon," she said glancing at the wall clock in her room which read 5:47 PM.

Margaret tilted her head, studying Claire through the mirror. "You really like him, huh?"

Claire hesitated for a second before nodding. "Yeah. I mean... he's the only guy that's really shown interest in me for a while, so how could I not?"

Margaret hummed, playing with a strand of her hair. "True. But, you know... I've been meaning to ask." She turned to face Claire fully, her expression turning curious. "Why does it feel like guys always show interest in you but then just... stop after a few tries? Haven't you noticed it? Like Caleb and Nathan?"

Claire frowned slightly, thinking. Though it was strange, she had noticed it too and it had been bothering her.

There had been boys before Isaiah. Both boys from her class and other classes who had seemed interested in her at first but had backed off after a while, without any explanation or any form of rejection from her.

She had even confronted one of them once wanting to know what happened abd why it seemed like he was trying to keep his distance from her but he had simply said it was because he was no longer interested in her.

"I've noticed it too. But I don't think there's anything triggering it...."

"Are you sure? To me, I feel like they're been scared off or something," Margaret said since she was in the same school as Claire and had seen how the guys usually snobbed her a few days just after showing interest.

"Im sure. I used to think so too but then I approached Caleb and tried getting him to tell me what the problem was. But he had told me no one scared him off," Claire muttered, remembering the conversation from months ago. "He said he just lost interest. So I'm sure that's what happened with the other guys. Perhaps they weren't fully ready before approaching me," Claire explained.And something told her that whatever was waiting downstairs... wasn't going to be good.

Margaret's brows furrowed. "That doesn't make sense," Margaret said, voicing her thoughts.

Claire shrugged, forcing a smile. "Maybe I'm just not as interesting as I thought besides they didn't act like they were scared off and even if they were, who must've scared them off? Why hasn't he approached me?"

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Margaret scoffed. "Yeah, right. You're Claire Sterling." She grinned. "They probably just couldn't handle you."

Margaret then frowned, looking at Claire. "But what if the person is Isaiah? What if he'd been scaring them off so he could get a chance with you?" Margaret asked and Claire laughed.

"I can't believe you're saying that. But if it was Isaiah, then I don't mind. After all, he's a good guy and is pleasant to the eyes too," Claire said with a wink and Margaret laughed.

Margaret leaned back. "Well, tonight should be fun. Just don't forget to say yes if Isaiah asks you out officially, that is if you're truly interested in him enough to want to date him."

Claire smiled softly. "I won't."

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Claire called.

The door opened, and standing there was her father, Eric Sterling, with her little brother Alex beside him.

Eric's face softened as he took in Claire's appearance. His usual stern expression melted into something Claire and the others saw whenever he looked at them.

Pride. He was always so proud of him.

"You look stunning, baby," Eric said with a smile.

She blushed. "Thank you, Dad."

"If your mother were alive, she'd be so proud of you right now," He said, his smile still in place, and his voice warm, though there was a tinge of sadness in it. Claire's chest tightened slightly, but she nodded.

Claire opened her mouth to say something but before shecould say anything, Eric's phone buzzed, and he frowned, pulling it out of his pocket.

She watched as his expression turned serious as he answered. "Yes? What—?" He listened for a moment before sighing.

From the look on his face, Claire already knew what was coming.

Her father was always busy. Always working, trying to balance work and family ever since their mother passed.

Eric ended the call and turned to her. "There's an emergency at one of the branches outside the city. I have to go, baby."

Claire tried not to let her disappointment show.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Eric said. "But you—" He pointed at her. "Be careful. Don't stay out too late, and come home right after prom."

Claire nodded. "I will."

Eric gave her a final look before hurrying out the door.

Margaret, who had been unusually silent, finally spoke. "Well, I guess that's my cue to leave too." She shot Alex a pointed look before turning to Claire. "Have fun."

Then, with a huff, she walked out, leaving just Claire and Alex.

Claire turned to her brother, who was staring up at her with his usual unreadable expression.

"Since you're waiting for Isaiah," Alex said, "I can keep you company."

Claire smiled. "I'd like that."

Alex sat down on the couch, and Claire joined him, smoothing out her dress as she tried to ignore the nervous excitement bubbling in her stomach.

Tonight was supposed to be magical.

Tonight, everything was supposed to change.

She just didn't know it would be in the worst way possible.