Chapter 197

Chapter 197

"Nora, you always thought Frederick got involved with me because I seduced him."

"After all these years, you still don't know the truth."

"The only reason Frederick kept me by your side as your caregiver was for my blood."

"You and I share the same incredibly rare blood type!"

"Frederick was terrified you'd hemorrhage during childbirth. He kept me around as your personal blood bank in case you needed an emergency transfusion!"

Claire finally revealed the secret she'd buried for years.

She'd always known Nora was in the dark about this.

She'd never planned to tell her.

But now that everything was ending, she wanted no more secrets.

She wanted it all out in the open.

"Frederick's scum, but every time we were together, I drugged him first."

"Without those drugs, without my rare blood type, he never would've touched me!"

"You've hated him all this time. Now you suddenly discover his betrayal actually came from his love for you. How does that feel?"

Claire knew Frederick's feelings for Nora ran deep—that's precisely why she'd become obsessed with him.

She'd thought if she could steal Frederick away, he'd give her all the love he'd once given Nora.

She'd juggled multiple men, yet not one had truly loved her.

She craved love.

She longed to be loved by Frederick the way Nora had been.

But five years had passed. Despite every scheme, Frederick had still abandoned her in the end.

"Rare blood type?"

"No one ever told me!"

Nora knew nothing about her blood type.

Oliver had never mentioned it.

Neither had her parents.

She only knew that from childhood, her parents had been extraordinarily protective, terrified she might get hurt and bleed.

She'd always assumed it was simply parental love and concern. She'd never imagined there was more to it.

"Of course you didn't know—because everyone around you loves you."

"They were afraid if you knew about your rare blood type, you'd live in constant fear. They wanted you to live freely, so they kept it from you. All to keep you happy."

"Nora, look at you. Forever blessed. Forever surrounded by people who love you."

"Compared to you, I'm nothing but your control group."

"The happier you are, the more miserable I become!"

"I'm done with this life! Let it all burn. Let everything be destroyed!"

Claire stepped toward Nora.

Jasper immediately moved to shield her.

Claire aimed the camera at Nora, making sure Frederick could watch her die.

"Frederick, I'm giving you one last chance."

"Tell me you love me, and I'll make Nora's death quick."

"Otherwise, I'll make her suffer."

As Claire finished speaking, she gave her men a signal.

Instantly, three muscular men stepped forward.

Two restrained Jasper while the third forced Nora in front of Claire.

Nora struggled desperately.

Thinking of Elise still outside in the car, she knew she couldn't die—no matter what.

She lifted her head defiantly to face Claire.

"Is it really that no one in this world loves you? Or do you just reject everyone who does?"

"Claire, where's Aaron?"

"Isn't he the one person in this world who loves you most?"

At Nora's mention of Aaron, Claire suddenly remembered him.

After shoving him out of her office last time, she hadn't given him another thought.

Hearing Nora say his name now, Claire realized she had no idea where he was.

"Mommy, Nora's right. Why do you only ever see Frederick? Why never me?"

A child's voice sounded behind Claire.

She turned at the sound.

Aaron was already there, pressing a gun against her lower back.

"Aaron, how did you get here?"

Claire recognized the gun—it was Frederick's service weapon.

Frederick kept it locked in his safe. It should never have fallen into a stranger's hands.

How could Aaron possibly have gotten it?

"I've been hiding in your trunk this whole time. I thought you'd find me, but you never did. You opened the trunk several times and never even saw me there."

"Mommy, you want someone to love you. I want someone to love me too."

"If you won't have me as your son, then fine."

Aaron's face showed no fear.

As he finished speaking, he pulled the trigger.

The bullet tore through Claire's body.

Claire stared down in disbelief at the blood streaming from her wound.

She reached out toward Aaron.

Aaron dropped the gun and walked into Claire's arms.

She clutched at his throat, and he simply let her hold him.

"Mommy, don't waste your strength. Before I got out of the car, I found all those sleeping pills in your purse and swallowed them."

"When you die, I won't be far behind."

"I always wanted to lie in your arms like this. To be your real son."

Aaron smiled as he guided Claire's hand to rest on him.

He smiled again.

But in his mind, images flickered past—frame after frame of Claire punishing him.

Even though Claire had never loved him, Aaron still loved her.

"Aaron, I never imagined I'd die by your hand..."

Claire's body grew cold bit by bit.

Blood soaked through Aaron's clothes.

She didn't look at him. Her gaze remained fixed on the phone in her other hand.

There, Frederick was staring in their direction.

Claire felt the bitter sting of regret. She'd been so close—just one moment away from knowing whether Frederick would say he loved her.

"Aaron, are you okay?"

"I'm calling an ambulance. Hang on!"

Nora watched Claire's hand fall away and knew she was gone.

She pulled Aaron out, trying to get him to a hospital for a stomach pump.

But Aaron clung desperately to Claire's hand, refusing to leave.

"Ms. Hearst, I know where Grandma is."

"She's hidden in the basement at home."

"Can you save her for me?"

"Please tell her I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't disobey Mommy's orders to rescue her. I've felt guilty about it this whole time."

As Aaron finished speaking, his eyes drifted closed.

Nora looked at him, unable to tell if he'd simply fallen asleep or if the pills had taken effect.

Looking at the small child, she felt a tangle of emotions.

The three men had fled the moment Aaron produced the gun.

Now only Jasper and Nora remained in the yard.

"I already called for an ambulance. They're on their way."

"Nora, let's go find Henry!"

Jasper knew Nora's relationship with Sierra wasn't particularly close.

But knowing Nora as he did, he was certain that now that she knew Sierra's whereabouts, she wouldn't abandon her.

"Nora, wait!"

"Daisy must have taken my mother because of Brian. You nearly just died—please don't make me worry about you again!"

Just as Nora was about to leave with Jasper, Frederick's voice came from Claire's phone.

He'd witnessed everything.

Nora looked down at the phone on the ground.

On the screen, Frederick was at the funeral home handling Evelyn's arrangements.

Remembering what Claire had said—that Frederick's affair with Claire had been solely to secure her rare blood type, to save Nora—she couldn't quite process how she felt seeing him now.

She nodded slowly.

"Okay. We'll wait for you at Claire's place."

Nora agreed.

Frederick watched the gentleness on Nora's face, realizing this was the first time in five years she'd spoken to him so softly.

His throat tightened.

He ended the video call and raced toward the villa he'd given Claire years ago.