Claire in danger.

CLAIRE.

Becky turned to me in exasperation. "Like your mother. She couldn't be controlled, didn't want any form of discipline. Look where that got her." She spread her arms wide and my eyes shifted down to my father at her movement, waiting for him to say something. When he didn't, his eyes fixed on his hands, I scoffed, turning around in disbelief. Father had never been quiet about how much my mother meant to him, even after he'd married Becky. Once, Becky had asked if my mother didn't teach me manners, this was during her early days, and father had gotten so mad, he'd almost hit her. So to see him here, quiet as Becky bad mouthed my mother, shocked me.

"See what I'm saying, zero manners. Dirty habits you'd picked up from your mom but they were never beaten out of you. My husband has tried so much to love you the way you demand, but you're never grateful. You go around the house sulking like everyone here hates you, but you don't even care about my husband or any of us. If you did,