Chapter 78

Wren froze in place, memories flooding his mind like a tidal wave. He remembered when Clara first came to live with the Zachman family. She had been timid and overly cautious, always reading the room and adjusting herself to avoid stepping out of line. It was clear she felt like an outsider, dependent on their kindness. Despite having housekeepers around, she would quietly do small chores herself, never asking for anything or demanding attention. Wren, who was busy with school at the time, wasn't always around to keep an eye on her. What he didn't know then was that, in his absence, some of the housekeepers had been treating Clara terribly. They would boss her around when no one was watching, forcing her to do their work and use cruel words to belittle her. They constantly reminded her that she was just a guest in the Zachman residence—a charity case. They threatened to get her kicked out if she wasn't compliant enough. Afraid of being abandoned again, Clara never told Wre