One night with her CEO boss left her pregnant—she fled, but he caught her and kissed her weak.
“What difference would it make?”
“You once saved my life when we were kids. Don’t you remember, Claire?”
“Never underestimate a mother’s protective instinct. Girls like you take hold of men and never let go. Well, if that’s the case, I’ll break your hands myself. How are you feeling?”
“Why do you even care?”
“Oh, of course I care. You’re my own… my own daughter.”
“So just stop. You nearly broke my arm yourself, and you let Victoria push me into the water. You nearly killed me.”
“I’m sorry. I know it’s my fault. I wasn’t there for you when you needed a mother.”
“I don’t have a mother. I am just a girl from a poor family who doesn’t even treat me like a human being.”
“No, no, no, no, don’t say that. Had I found you sooner, it wouldn’t be this way.”
“When I found out that I was adopted, I was actually relieved, because I told myself that my real parents would actually love me. And after what you did, it’s no different.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. If I had known you were my real daughter just… I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I don’t have a mother.”
“Then what can I do? Can I… can I get on my knees and beg for your forgiveness? And I… I’ll beg for your forgiveness. Please, I’m sorry.”
“Sis, stop it. She is your mother.”
“Out of jail already? That was fast.”
“Oh, they’ve learned their lesson. Claire, can we please put this in the past? Victoria, apologize to your sister now.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you were Mom’s daughter.”
“So my life and my children’s life is only worth one apology?”
“Victoria, on your knees! Get on your knees and beg for her forgiveness!”
“Mom! Mom!”
“For 20 years, you have been living the life meant for her. Our love, our family, everything. Those things belong to Claire now.”
“Fine, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hurt you. I’m sorry.”
“I was arrogant. Enough with the theatrics. Claire needs her rest.”
“No, it… it’s not like that. When Claire disappeared, I nearly lost my mind. If your father hadn’t brought home a girl that looked like her, there would have been no family left to save. And that girl was Vic.”
“I can’t hear any more of this. Leave now! Leave now!”
“Okay, all right, we’ll go. I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?”
“Claire Kingsley, I’ll make you pay a hundred times over for this.”
“When I was a child, my adoptive mom used to beat me. I would lie awake at night wondering if I was a stray or if my real parents would love me. And then the first time I meet my mom, she nearly breaks my arm herself to protect her fake daughter. It just hurt so much.”
“Hey, it’s over now. You have me.”
“Why are you so kind to me? Is it because of the babies?”
“You came into my life like a Christmas miracle. Stole my heart from the moment that I saw you. And now that I’m finding out you’re a Blackwood, I’m starting to believe in fate.”
“Mom, call an ambulance! Hello? Yes, emergency, yes! I guess we need an ambulance right away. Don’t sleep!”
“He’ll be fine. The boy’s blood type is extremely rare—RH negative. What we call panda blood. Our hospital’s—none of this is in stock. It’s too late to go to another facility.”
“I have panda blood.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you’re too young to donate blood.”
“But I want to save him.”
The True Heir’s Return
“Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock. Jingle bell swing and jingle bells ring. And a bushel of fun, now the jingle hop has begun. Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell.”
“Claire, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here. You saved me yesterday, so that’s like me from 20 years ago saving myself.”
“Claire, the car’s ready. Let’s go home and rest.”
“Claire, we’re so sorry. We… we didn’t recognize you. We’ve made some terrible mistakes and we want to make it right.”
“Gentlemen, 10 downtown properties, all transferred into your name. And 100 flagship stores from the Blackwood chain. And 20% of the group shares.”
“And you know, Mommy didn’t know which car you preferred, so Mommy just bought all 30 of the newest luxury models for you to choose from.”
“Yes, she did. And savings account, 2 million in cash right here.”
“I don’t need any of this.”
“Oh no, Claire, no. We just want you to have the best.”
“You think the Stark family can’t afford this?”
“No, no, no, that’s not what we meant. What a husband provides is different from what parents should give. Take it, Claire. Blood ties can’t be severed.”
“Claire, just accept it. You deserve it. But if you two are going to claim Claire as your daughter, you start acting like real parents.”
“Certainly! Of course, yes. Uh, we will hold a reunion dinner in your honor and invite every friend and relative and introduce them to the true Claire Blackwood.”
“That’s much more like it.”
“Ethan, we’ll go with Claire.”
“You think you can just walk back into the Blackwood family without my permission? Dream on.”
“Everyone here is a friend or a family member to the Blackwood family. And you all know how long we’ve searched for our daughter, and thank God we finally found her.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my real daughter, Claire Blackwood, the true heir to the Blackwood group.”
“She really looks like Mrs. Blackwood. She must be her daughter then.”
“What about the adopted one?”
“Wait. Claire, darling, won’t you say a few words?”
“Victoria! She’s about to jump off the building!”
“What? Oh my god! Victoria! Victoria, please get down! Please, Mommy begs you, get down!”
“What are you doing? You all called me a replacement. Well, she’s back now, so what am I even living for?”
“Nonsense! You’ve always been our daughter. Now please, please, Mommy begs you, please don’t lie.”
“I’m just a foster kid, and I would rather die than live unwanted. Please don’t scare Mommy like this! Please just calm down, I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“It’s too late. You’ve only ever cared about her.”
“Victoria, please just listen. Claire promises to treat you like her real sister. Say something, please! Hurry, Claire, say something now!”
“Victoria Blackwood, I’m sorry, but I can’t forget how you tried to drown me. So don’t expect me to treat you as my real sister.”
“You! This was supposed to be my reunion dinner, and look at you trying to ruin it.”
“I just can’t stand being on it and replaced.”
“Replaced? You stole my life for 20 years and nearly killed me. You think you’re the one that’s been wronged?”
“Claire, stop it! Are you trying to drive her to her death? She’s been diagnosed with depression because of you.”
“Huh? Is this your bargaining chip?”
“Tori, are you okay? Talk to—what are you doing? How could you be so harmless at your sister? How dare you hit my wife!”
“No, no, wait, wait a minute! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
“You rejected her, something the Starks will never—”
“Why do they only care about Claire? Even Ethan, he didn’t even look at me.”
“Then make him look at you. If Ethan doesn’t leave Claire, then make Claire leave Ethan.”
“How?”
“She has an ex-fiance. You were supposed to get married.”
“Check us in. Oh, uh, sir, it says that you have one king bed booked. Would you and your mom prefer a double twin?”
“What are you implying? Are you blind? I’m far too young to be his mother.”
“Oh, my apologies.”
“Forget it, we’re leaving.”
“Isn’t that Jasper Holtz, your ex-fiance? The serial cheater? That’s him, and his taste has only gotten wilder.”
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be epic.”
“Hey! Hey, you didn’t pay for that! What the—”
“What are you doing? Jasper Holtz, right? Claire’s ex-fiance. And who the hell are you?”
“Someone bringing good news. Claire’s the Blackwoods’ long-lost daughter. Filthy rich now.”
“What? We could win her back. You wouldn’t have to play gigolo to old women anymore.”
“No way she would never take me back.”
“Think about it. I’m sure you could find a way. The plan’s in motion. Just do as I say.”
“You really enjoy being Victoria’s little lapdog, don’t you? No, you both are from the same orphanage, yet Victoria gets to play princess while you’re stuck fetching her champagne.”
“Don’t you ever get jealous? Work with me, I can offer you more.”
“What exactly do you want?”
“Your next booth.”
“Why would I help you?”
“Because Victoria only pays you in scraps, and I’ll double it. Plus, I will make sure you never have to bow to her again. Claire Kingsley, or should I say Claire Blackwood? You’re smarter than I thought.”
“You know rats fight when cornered. I don’t start fights, I sure as hell finish them. 1 million. I’ll give you today’s plan and I’ll back you up. Deal?”
“Here’s what she’s going to do. Money will hit your account today.”
“Did you hear all that?”
“Every word.”
“Do you think I’m heartless?”
“Not at all. If anything, I think you’re quite charming when you scheme.”
“Don’t you dare screw this up. I won’t forgive you this time.”
“Relax, everything is all set. It’ll all go according to plan. Just get her inside, I’ll make sure she enjoys being a woman once my parents see that slut’s true colors. We’ll see if Ethan wants her then.”
“Perfect. Let’s toast to success. Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!”
“The plan is in place. Great, it’s time to call my parents. Time for the show.”
