Chapter 124

There really weren't that many guests at the Dawson house. Basically, just Daisy's friends showed up. All of them were dressed to impress, clearly gathered to celebrate Daisy's birthday. So when Clara walked into the hall in her modest outfit, it was like she'd wandered into the wrong party—completely out of place. No one even tried to say hi. Who knows what Daisy's been saying about her behind her back—those girls gave Clara looks like she didn't even deserve to breathe the same air. Clara clutched the strap of her white shoulder bag tighter as her gaze swept across the scene. She was home, technically. But it felt like she didn't belong at all. "You're back?" Helen Foster, her stepmother, was the first one to approach, but her tone was more demanding than welcoming. "Did you bring a gift for your big sister?" Clara glanced at her without saying anything, just quietly reached into her bag and pulled out a gift box. Helen snatched it right away and opened it on the spot. When she saw t