Claudia hadn't wanted to come home. But Wilson had called, saying they needed to talk about her grandmother's house. In her long, suffocating childhood, there had once been just one ray of light. Even when everyone insisted Zoey's death was her fault, when they said she owed Lydia everything, her grandmother had been the only one who never demanded that little Claudia bow her head. Grandma would always say, "Accidents aren't something people can control. She's just a kid. She shouldn't have to carry the burden of taking a life at such a young age." That tiny courtyard of her grandmother's had been the only place Claudia could breathe for more than a decade. And as the Lancasters' guilt slowly twisted into favoritism for Lydia, Grandma's heart ached even more for Claudia. Maybe Grandma had seen this day coming—that one day Claudia would finally rebel. Maybe that's why she'd made sure to leave her a way out when the time came. She'd even declared, in front of everyone, that the house would belong to Claudia. But Grandma passed away suddenly—before she could write a will. Now, the deed sat in Lottie's hands. The plan had been to transfer it to Claudia later, as part of her dowry—once she got married. ... "Miss Lancaster." The maid froze when she opened the door. She really was a rare sight in this house. The maid had joined the family after Claudia had already moved out. For the longest time, she'd thought Lydia was the Lancasters' only daughter—her surname just taking after her mother's. The first time Claudia came back, the maid had mistaken her for a distant relative freeloading for a meal—and the butler had ripped into her for it. The Lancasters almost never mentioned Claudia. What kind of parents never spoke about their own grown daughter? No wonder the maid had been confused. Now, she glanced again at the unwanted one. By looks alone, Claudia actually resembled the Lancasters far more than Lydia ever had. The whole family was beautiful, but Claudia had inherited the best of both parents. If not for her ruined reputation, her beauty would've been impossible to ignore. Lydia was lovely too, but next to Claudia, she dimmed like a firefly before the moon. Luckily for her, the two were rarely seen together. Still, one look at Claudia's stormy expression, and the maid could already tell— Tonight's dinner wasn't going to end well. ... The moment Claudia stepped inside, Lottie stood. "Claudia, come sit. We made your favorite—barbecue ribeye." Claudia's eyes flicked to the table, her face unreadable. "You remember wrong. Lydia's the one who likes barbecue ribeye." She herself had always craved spice. When she was little, Wilson and her brothers used to tease her with chili peppers, laughing as she squealed and gulped down milk after—until Lottie would yank them both by the ears. But after Lydia came, her fragile health required a delicate diet. Ever since then, every meal in the Lancaster house had gone bland.Lottie's face stiffened for a second before she smoothed it over with a smile. "No matter. There's plenty to eat tonight. If you don't like something, the kitchen can make more." Claudia didn't bother responding. She dropped into a chair and met Wilson's eyes. "You said we were here to talk about Grandma's house. So talk." Wilson's jaw tightened. "Must you bring that up the moment you walk in? Can't you eat first? You look like a debt collector." Claudia's lips pressed into a thin line. "Hey, you're in the wrong seat," Zane said, frowning as he came downstairs, controller still in hand. "That's Lydia's spot." At the table, Wilson and Lottie sat on one side, the three kids on the other. Lydia's seat was between Clarence and Zane—it used to be Claudia's, before it was taken from her at six years old. "I didn't know seats in this family came with name tags," Claudia said coolly. "And what if I want to sit here?" "Never mind," Lydia said quickly, all soft smiles. "It's just a seat. Let Claudia have it." Zane glared at Claudia, ready to argue—but then he remembered what the officer had said about her being hurt. After a beat, he let out a sharp breath and sat down. Lydia's eyes flickered with something dark. But with everyone still guilty of misjudging Claudia, it wasn't the time to pick a fight. She swallowed her irritation. Clarence, unwilling to fight with his biological sister, offered, "Lydia, I'll switch with you." "No need," Lottie interrupted smoothly, waving to a maid. "Move Lydia's chair next to me."When the outer seat had been left for Claudia, no one thought twice about it. But when Lydia was moved, it was treated like a tragedy—everyone scrambling to comfort her. Claudia's eyes flashed with amusement. Zane shot her a smug grin. But before he could say anything, Claudia stood and dropped into Clarence's chair instead. "I like it better here." Now the seats went Claudia–Clarence–Zane. Zane blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?" Claudia shrugged. "Isn't it obvious? I just don't want to sit too close and catch your stupidity." "Claudia!" Zane shot up, face red. "Enough, both of you," Lottie scolded, though her voice was gentle. Still, seeing them bicker again after all this time pulled a faint, wistful smile from her. "Claudia, how are your injuries? Are they serious? I'll have Dr. Larrabee take a look after dinner, all right?" Dr. Larrabee was the family physician. Wilson's tone softened, too. "Why don't you move back home this time? Everyone's here. You'll be well taken care of." Even Clarence and Zane nodded in agreement. Zane looked almost hopeful. A family full of sincere faces stood before her, all warmth and concern. Claudia almost laughed. She knew this act too well— the slap, then the sugar. Just enough fake sweetness to keep her dangling, to make her forget how it always ended.Because the next time she clashed with Lydia, they'd turn on her again—without hesitation. This kind of affection was cheap. Lydia's smile was soft, her eyes gleaming. "Claudia's right. This is your home. We're family. There's no need to hold grudges." She lingered on your just a bit too long. Claudia caught it immediately. "Heh." Claudia's lips curved. "Speaking of grudges, aren't you all forgetting something?" Zane frowned. “What?” "Hiring a driver to kill someone isn't exactly minor, is it?" Her tone was mild, but her words were sharp enough to cut steel. "If I hadn't insisted on calling the police, that charge would've followed me for life. Doesn't that deserve an apology?" Claudia had never been one to smooth things over.