He Locked Me Out Now He’s Begging Me Back Chapter 26
Daniel’s mother pointed toward the kitchen doorway.
There was a backless bar stool there, the farthest seat from the dining table.
“Claire, you sit there. You’ll be close to the fridge, so you can grab drinks for everyone.”
A few people looked at me expectantly, as if that were the obvious arrangement.
I didn’t sit down.
“The drinks are in the fridge. Whoever wants one can get it themselves.”
Then I walked into the dining room, pulled out a real chair with a back, and wedged it directly beside Daniel.
His fingers tightened around his napkin, but he didn’t dare say anything.
When the cake came out, Tessa suddenly lifted her glass and gave me a smile that looked carefully rehearsed.
“Claire, I’m really glad you came today. We’ve had some misunderstandings, but I’ve always thought of you like a sister. I hope we can still be a family after this.”
The relatives all looked at me, waiting for me to play along.
I picked up my water glass and stood.
“Of course, I should offer a toast.”
Something in Tessa’s smile eased.
I looked right at her and said, one word at a time,
“To you, Tessa. I hope you get a home that is completely your own as soon as possible—just like the way you successfully turned this one into yours.”
The entire table went dead silent.
Daniel whipped around to look at me.
The smile froze on Tessa’s face.
A second later, Daniel’s mother slammed her hand on the table.
“Claire! Do you really have to destroy this family before you’ll be satisfied?”