Painful Smiles

During her kidnap, Clara deduced that her kidnap must be related to the picture on her captive’s hand.

A picture her father had taken of her to submit to the French Prince Claudia donated blood to years ago.

Her memories of the kidnap incident were vogue but she remembered strongly realizing the connection.

Maybe someone was trying to get her as the Prince’s weakness. She presumed it was the American and France tension going on that week.

Well, she wasn’t the real princess of the Prince and it was Claudia. But the Prince would have never known. And will never know.

Clara now had to make sure to be alert. If her kidnap was connected to the French Prince then he could send someone to spy on her and ask about her health.

She had to act as pitiful as possible and even bring up the donation to look real. She had to also make sure that the police won’t be finding anything that would instigate her plans as well.

Her kidnapper may have been captured by the French’s Prince men. He’d be receiving justice like he would had been caught here at the U. S.

Clara smiled as her fantasies seemed real. She would be the real princess soon. Since he already thinks she’s the real one. This sabotage would know no bounds.

No better to way of getting back at Claudia than stealing her Prince.

The door crashed open as Mega and Belle stood in front of her.

“Are you girls crazy? Want to break the door?” she yelled immediately. They looked apologetic but said nothing.

“How is school? Are my assignments done?” she asked rolling her head.

“A typical question for a school queen, I suppose?” Michael came strolling in, “Won’t you ask how they were first? Or let them ask you how you were?”.

Clara was confused on his visit. Before she could ask why he was there, Mark came running into the ward and then screaming out to some people that he had find her ward. It was a visit from her classmates.

“Y’all are darlings” Clara couldn’t help but say. Though she was barely touched and would have preferred if they set her gifts and chocolate instead while staying in their homes.

“The police said your investigation isn’t yet done. I wondered what they want from a victim of kidnap. Remembering your ordeals isn’t good for you, I’d advice you shouldn’t try” Michael chipped on as the rest told Mara of some safety measure to improve her health.

Claudia was standing behind the for and overhead Michaels “advice”. While others said things like “Eat well”, “Be more conscious on the road”, “Sleep well” and “Take care”.

Michael rather, was saying she should, in other words, “Don’t cooperate with the police questioning and get over the traumas”.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

It was safe to say again that he was he hiding something. It wasn’t like anyone told him directly that she was traumatized. Clara wasn’t looking like she was either.

“Such bad lucks could have happened to Claudia instead of you” Belle sighed. All eyes went to her. She regretted her words instantly.

“Claudia would have definitely escaped from the kidnapper herself” Wright added.

“Is that the point? No one should suffer traumatic experiences. You know Claudia lost blood recently. This would have been bed for her” Michael added and the others agreed. Claudia scoffed and walled away from the door.

Belle muttered “sorry” and stayed shut while the rest talked about the vents of school that day.

Michael’s words played in Clara’s head. She kept her eyes on him all through the visit.

What he had said about her forgetting the kidnap had also made her suspicious as, obviously, every other person was telling her to remember more things to catch the kidnapper.

“Could he be the French Prince or a spy sent by him?” that idea popped into Clara’s head as she was staring at Michael.

It would explain why he was really nice to her in the beginning but if he was really the Prince then he should have still been nice to her despite everything. He most probable might be the spy.

She had to act pitiful in front of him. “Well, I hope I get better. I have had my share of losing blood a kid. I hope that trauma doesn’t resurface” Clara blurted suddenly.

Belle and Mega looked at her confused. Clara knew they didn’t know about Claudia’s donation much, Mark knew more about it but had forgotten.

“You and Claudia seemed to have lived dangerous lives” a girl from their school had said and it got everyone laughing.

“I wasn’t fighting or anything. It was required I give out blood. Like a donation stuff, it was hard but I did it either ways” she replied amidst chuckles.

Some kids praised her for her kindness while some talked on how dangerous it was.

Michael stayed quiet. Perhaps, he had been wrong about her. She was indeed the person the innocent girl that had donated blood.

She just got tired of being a push over and became wilder. Also with a sister like Claudia, it was no wonder her life seemed unhappy.

At the end of the day, their classmates left Clara’s ward to retire to their homes. Claudia was at the front door sitting with Paul.

“I win. You’ll date who I want you to date” Paul jumped excitedly, throwing his Uno cards in the air. Claudia shook her head disappointed.

“Date? Wait, who are you?” Some girls had asked when they saw Paul playing with Claudia. They basically can’t believe she could play with a kid.

Paul stood up straight to them, “Paul Larabee, third child of the Larabees, fifth member of the household. Second most reliable sibling. Nice to meet you”.

Michael patted his head, “I bet Clara isn’t in your list of reliable siblings right?”. Paul nodded to him. Wright was surprised to know Paul was friendly with Michael, making him wonder if they were very good friend.

“Clara never talks about having a brother” Belle was aghast.

“She’s ashamed of the best things. Me, Claudia, her plushy, Mr. Pinks. Not to worry, I’ll have the doll” Everyone laughed at his comments.

Claudia smirked too, “You won’t say this in front of her, you know”.

“How could I? She eats little children alive”.

“Don’t say that. Clara is a typical angel at school. Let’s go” Claudia shut his mouth and led him away.

Whispers ensued from the classmates on why Clara would hide the fact she had a younger brother and what he meant by she eating children alive.

Mega didn’t look surprise, “I knew she had a scary side. That little demon. Many new things to uncover about her”.

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