Chapter Forty

Clarissa sat stiffly on a couch in the middle of the living room at her elder sister Sophia's house.

Her arms were tightly folded across her chest, and her eyes were fixed on the floor as she seethed with anger and fraustration.

Sophia watched her younger sister with a furrowed brow, concern etched on her face as she tried to find the right words to soothe her.

"Clary," Sophia called out, her voice a gentle whisper. Clarissa shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "No," she whispered in a broken voice.

Sophia's eyes softened, and she reached out to gently touch Clarissa's arm. "Everything is going to be alright, trust me," she said, her tone filled with warmth and empathy.

"Clary," Sophia called out again, watching as Clarissa's tears spilled down her cheeks.

Clarissa shook her head, wiping away the tears with a delicate handkerchief. "No," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sophia waited patiently, her heart aching for her younger sister. Finally, Clarissa spoke again,