Claire’s POV
"Are you out of your mind?!" Sissy shouted, gripping my shoulders tightly. "How could you possibly take Evander’s side after everything he has put you through? After all the pain and humiliation he caused you?"
I t her glare with a steady gaze and let out a heavy sigh. "Is that what you think?" I said softly.
Her eyes narrowed in confusion, but I didn’t elaborate. How could I bla her for thinking this way? It was my fault. I was the one who told her my version of the story, leaving out the parts I didn’t want to admit to myself and the things that are coming to light one by one.
Sissy’s hands dropped from my shoulders as the silence grew between us. It was thick and suffocating. I watched as her stance softened slightly, her gaze faltering.
"Claire..." she began, her tone quieter now, almost apologetic.
"No," I said firmly, cutting her off. "If you can’t respect the choices I have made, we have nothing else to discuss." My voice wavered slightly, not with doubt but with the strain of holding back the storm of emotions swirling inside .
I understood why she was angry and why she thought I was being irrational— but I couldn’t allow her to speak about Eliam like that. He didn’t deserve her judgnt or anyone else’s to talk about in such a rude way.
Sissy threw up her hands in frustration. "So, tell , Claire! Help understand because from where I am standing, you are acting like a fool. I might sound cruel to you, but I am being practical! You are thinking with your heart, not your head. Use your brain for once and ask yourself— What you are doing, is it even realistic?"
She was right. I still didn’t know if Eliam was really Brother Elijah’s son, as I knew his secret. At this thought, I felt my resolve waver. But I quickly steadied myself.
"I am thinking, Sissy," I said, my voice calm but laced with an edge. "And my answer is the sa. Eliam is my responsibility now. I know it’s not easy, and I know the odds aren’t in my favor. But I am not going to abandon him just because the world thinks I should."
Sissy shook her head. She was completely exasperated with my decision. "You are going to burn yourself out, Claire. You are setting yourself up for disappointnt."
"Maybe I am," I replied, my tone softening. "But if it ans giving Eliam the love and stability he deserves, then it’s worth it. You don’t have to understand it. You just have to respect it."
Her shoulders slumped, and for the first ti, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in her expression. "You are too stubborn for your own good," she muttered, shaking her head.
"Maybe," I said with a faint smile. "But it’s who I am."
"So, are you going to tell why you are doing all these things out of the blue?" Sissy asked as she sat back on the bed, as her earlier anger was replaced with curiosity. She crossed her arms, her posture now more relaxed, though her sharp tone lingered. "I know you are not soone who makes rash decisions. So, help understand what is going on. That way, I can align my words with yours... lest I accidentally disrespect your oh-so-wise decision," she added with a roll of her eyes as her tone was full of sarcasm.
I couldn’t help but smile faintly at her dramatic tone as I took a deep breath, preparing to say what I hadn’t shared with anyone else. "Eliam... He is the son of Brother Elijah and his wife, Lexi," I said softly as I had decided to tell her as much as I could.
For a mont, silence hung in the room as Sissy processed my words. Then, her expression shifted into one of understanding—or so I thought.
"Oh..." she said, nodding slowly. But what ca next nearly cracked up. "But, uh... who are they?"
Her clueless response broke through the tension, and despite myself, I let out a small laugh. "Sissy, sotis I wonder how you manage to be so smart yet so oblivious at the sa ti," I said, shaking my head as I sat down beside her.
She raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely puzzled. "Hey, don’t bla ! You have never ntioned these people before. Am I supposed to know everyone in your life by myself?"
I sighed, the smile lingering on my lips. "Elijah is Evander’s older brother," I explained, keeping my tone light to avoid overwhelming her. "Lexi was his wife. They passed away in a car accident a few years ago, and Eliam... well, he is their son."
Sissy’s face shifted and turned more serious as the weight of my words settled in. "Oh," she said again, this ti with genuine sympathy. "I didn’t know."
"No, you didn’t," I replied gently. "And that’s why I am trying to make things right. Eliam doesn’t have anyone else now. Evander... well, he is not exactly father-of-the-year material. Soone has to step up for him, and you know... Gloria almost killed him while he was with her!"
"Wh... What!?" Sissy’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hm," I nodded. "She had done the sa thing she did to Evander as a child and then to ... Now, she was after him!" I pronounced as I felt a pang in my heart.
Sissy stayed quiet for a mont before finally speaking. "Okay, I get it," she said, her voice softer. "But, Claire, this is a lot to take on. Are you sure you can handle it?"
I nodded, my resolve firm. "I don’t know if I can handle everything perfectly, but I know I have to try. For Eliam’s sake."
She sighed, shaking her head but offering a faint smile. "Well, you are braver than I thought. Just... don’t forget to take care of yourself too, okay?"
"Thanks, Sissy," I said and continued. "But this was not the only thing I wanted to share with you!"
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