Before either of us could speak, a soft voice rang out.

"Archie…"

Claire.

My stomach twisted as she sauntered towards us, draped in a delicate dress that hugged her curves. She barely spared me a glance before fixing her honeyed gaze on Archie.

"I think Zac misses his daddy," she purred. "He won’t stop crying, no matter what I do."

Archie frowned. "Didn’t he just fall asleep?"

"He didn’t sleep well."

Archie sighed heavily, then turned and walked off towards Zac’s room.

Claire and I watched him go in silence. As soon as the door shut behind him, she turned to me with a sly smirk.

"Do you really think you can hold onto this marriage, Wendy?" she whispered, stepping closer. "The more you cling to him, the more I’ll make sure he’s mine. You’ll never get what you don’t deserve."

I balled my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. I knew exactly what she was doing.

My eyes followed her as she moved towards the coffee table, picking up a small ceramic pot. She glanced at me again, her smirk widening.

"You should have died with your parents a long time ago," she sneered, taking another step closer.

Then, suddenly, she swung the flowerpot at me.

I dodged, and the pot crashed to the floor with a loud smash. My breath caught. What the fuck?

"You’re insane, Claire!"

But she wasn’t done. With a twisted look of determination, she knelt down, picked up a shard of glass, and—before I could react—dragged it across her own forehead. A thin line of blood welled up as she let out a sharp cry.

Footsteps pounded towards us.

"What happened?!" Archie’s voice.

I turned to explain, but Claire was already whimpering pathetically, clutching at her forehead.

"Archie," she sniffled, "Wendy threw a flowerpot at me!"

I froze.

What?!

Before I could protest, Archie was already at her side, gripping her shoulders anxiously.

"Are you alright?"

Claire bit her lip, looking utterly heartbroken. "I don’t know why she got so angry… I just wanted to talk…"

My whole body trembled with rage. "I didn’t do it!"

Archie’s furious eyes snapped to me. "Wendy!"

"I swear, I didn’t! She attacked me first and cut herself—"

Claire whimpered, burying her face in his chest.

"I know she’s mad at me for spending time with Zac," she murmured. "But I never stopped her from holding him. I was only trying to help… I’d do anything for the heir to your family."

Archie fixed me with a sharp glare, his voice as cold as ice.