From His Puppy to His Brother’s Diamond Chapter 02
Claire’s POV
She emphasizes “going to NYU together,” a flicker of triumph in her eyes she can’t quite hide.
I finally stop what I’m doing. Stand up. I look at both of them, my gaze ice–cold.
“Lily, drop the act. Nobody’s handing out awards for your little performance.” My voice stays calm, but every word has an edge.
Lily’s face goes pale. She shrinks back into Ethan’s arms.
“Claire! Why are you being such a bitch?” Ethan practically jumps, instantly pulling Lily behind him.
She came here to help, and this is how you treat her? You weren’t like this before. When did you become so nasty?”
Nasty?” I taste the word. Let out a laugh. “Ethan, you Barge into my room with another girl and expect me
to what, serve you tea?”
“We just…” Ethan stutters, then scrambles for an excuse. “I came to check on your application. Make sure you didn’t screw it up or something.”
“Don’t bother.” I walk to my desk, grab a box cutter.
The blade slides out with a click.
Ethan’s expression shifts. “What are you doing with that?”
“Opening boxes. Why? Guilty conscience?” I meet his eyes, something sharp in my smile.
Ethan squirms under my stare. He takes a breath,
trying to slip back into that condescending tone. “Claire, look. I know you’re still upset about the
scholarship thing. But I already explained, didn’t I? Lily needs it more than you. You’ll be fine at NYU. I’ll
take care of you. Next month when we move in, I’ll help carry your stuff.”
His self–satisfied face turns my stomach.
“Ethan. Take your girl and get the hell out of my room.”
“Claire! Don’t push your luck!” Ethan snaps, lunging forward like he’s about to grab my arm.
I step aside. My voice turns to ice. “Get. Out.”
His hand freezes mid–air. He stares at me like he
doesn’t recognize me. In all these years, I’ve never Ipoked at him like this, Like he’s garbage. Like he’s nothing.
“Claire, what’s your problem today?” Ethan’s jaw clenches, his face darkening. “Fine. You want to throw a fit? Go ahead. I’ll just wait and see how long you last without me.”
He grabs Lily’s hand, ready to storm out.
“Wait.” I call after them.
Ethan stops. Turns around. That smug little smirk
creeps back onto his face. “What? Regretting it
already? Let me tell you something. You better
apologize to me and Lily right now, or we’re done.”
Lignore his delusion. Instead, I pull open my desk
drawer and take out a small wooden box. Inside are all
the “gifts” Ethan’s given me over the past three years.
flip the box over. Everything spills onto the floor.
few cheap necklaces. Some dollar–store music boxes. And one poorly braided red cord bracelet.
“Take your trash with you.” I gesture at the pile, my voice flat.
Ethan freezes. Stares at the stuff scattered on the
floor. His face flushes red, then white. “Claire, what
the hell is this? I picked all of that out for you, and you’re just throwing it on the floor?”
“Picked it out?” I laugh, cold and sharp. Bend down and grab the red bracelet. “Ethan, when you gave me this, you said you got it blessed at a church. Told me it was one of a kind. Remember?”
Ethan’s eyes flicker. He straightens up, defensive. “Yeah. So what?”
I turn. My eyes lock onto Lily’s wrist. She’s wearing short sleeves today, and right there on her arm is the
exact same red cord bracelet. Maybe even nicer than mine. With a little gold bead dangling from it.
“Lily, did you get yours blessed at a church too?” I smile, but there’s nothing warm about it.
Lily jerks her hand behind her back, panic flashing
across her face. “I… I bought this myself. It has nothing to do with Ethan.”
“Nothing?” I don’t let her off easy. “Church bracelets don’t come with gold beads. That’s from some cheap accessory shop. Three for ten bucks, right? Ethan, you handed out ten–dollar junk to two different girls and spun this whole romantic story around it. You
should’ve been a screenwriter.”
Ethan’s face flushes crimson, like he’s been slapped in public.
Claire, you don’t know what you’re talking about! That’s not…” He tries to argue but comes up empty.
Turns out what I thought was special got mass–produced for everyone else.” I look at him, completely calm. No anger left. Just disgust. “Guess
none of this matters anymore.”
Without another word, I sweep everything on the floor into a black trash bag.
“Claire! You’re insane!” Ethan loses it. Storms over
and kicks the bag across the room. “Who the hell do you think you are? You’ve got money, so what? That’s all you’ve got! Lily’s ten times better than you. Kinder,
sweeter. You don’t even come close.”
Lily puts on her act, grabbing his arm. “Ethan, stop.
Claire just cares about you. She doesn’t mean it.”
“She’s just spoiled!” Ethan’s finger jabs toward my face, right up in my space.
I stare at that finger. My patience snaps.
No hesitation. I raise my hand.
Crack.
The slap lands hard across Ethan’s face.
The room goes dead silent.
The Ethan’s head whips to the side. Five red marks spread across his left cheek. He clutches his face, eyes wide,
staring at me like I’m someone he’s never seen before.