“Burn those who burned me!” Chapter 36

***Clara’s POV:***

Over the years, I played invisible to my father and his family. I still married Jason, but our marriage was filled with bitterness and anguish. He became angry that his father still wanted him to marry me instead of Sophie. It didn’t matter that I was an academic genius studying pharmaceuticals at one of Glendale’s top universities, all he knew was that he loved Sophie. One our wedding night, instead being in marital bliss, he spent it with her.

*“Look, Sophie’s stomach isn’t feeling well. I’m going to go check on her. I’ll be back before morning.”*

I remember crying and begging him not to leave only for him to accuse me of being cruel and clingy. Over the years, it became obvious that they were having an affair, later I would learn it had been going on since we were all 16. Still, I played the dutiful wife, never wavering, never faltering. By the time I was 28, I had become one of the country’s top biochemists and pharmacists at JGP, by 29, I was dead. At the hands of my husband who was now the president at JGP, I was pushed down the stairs after he and my father learned I was able to breakthrough my mother’s research on finding a cure for cancer. Before her death, my mother began extensive research and trials on a cure for cancer that caused no severe side effects. Throughout the years, no other scientists had been able to crack her code, until me that is.

I’d spent years detailing her research, looking for possible formulas and equations when finally, I hit a breakthrough. At the time, I had been working for JGP, I informed my father about my discovery but instead of him being proud, his mind immediately filled with disdain and then greed. He and my so-called husband wanted to market the medicine only to the rich and keep it secret from the public. I wasn’t about to allow that, my mother worked too hard for that research all the way up until her death. In my previous life, I reached out to Ethan Taylor. He had one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies as well as biochemical facilities. I’d admired him for years, he offered to work with me several years before my death, but due to my blind and dumb devotion to my father and husband, I’d declined. Now, fate has given me second chance to correct my foolish mistakes and bring my mother’s dream to life. Smiling at the school receptionist I nodded and moved forward with my application.

In my previous life, due to my genius, Lexington offered me an early admissions acceptance. However, in an attempt not to piss my dad, sister, and fiancé off by “showing off”, I declined. Later, I went to Lexington after graduating Bartrum hoping that would help me get closer to my father and fiancé. It didn’t work, instead, I fell into the shadows of my less than exceptional and academically challenged sister. Years of my father and husband praising Sophie for medicinal treatments already being performed in other countries while stealing the credit for all of my work. But not this time, this time I would be smart. I’ll do two years at Lexington so that I can use their labs and after that, I’ll be moving to Springsten to attend Osha Bio-Pharmacy school of technology. There, I’ll finally get to partner with Ethan.

The receptionist smiled brightly at me. Everyone in Bartum knew how hard I had been working and how much I excelled.

*“Excellent Ms. Granger! With your grades and test scores, I just know you’ll get in! Would you like me to send a letter to your parents?”*

I immediately panicked, I couldn’t have them find out and try to ruin my chances in an attempt to not hurt Sophie’s precious feelings.

*“Actually, I would like to tell them once I’m accepted. It’s my father’s alma mater so I would like to be the one to share that news. If you could, please keep this off the school network?”*

The receptionist smiled brightly, praising me for being such a great daughter and how proud my father will be. She winked her eyes and assured me this would remain between us.

Perfect.

That day, I went back home. My mind was still wrapping around this whole rebirth thing and I finally felt fatigue. After grabbing a snack, I headed straight to my room in the basement, just then, I was stopped by Jason and Sophie. I could feel the fury rising in my chest as all of my previous life’s memories came flooding at once. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes in order to control my temperament. Jason spoke first.

*“What are you doing home so early? I thought you’d be at the library.”*

After I transferred to Bartrum, I would spend countless days in the library ready biology, chemistry, and pharmaceutical books. Mainly to help advance my research, but also to stay out of the way of them. My voice flat, I responded.

*“I’ll be studying from home today. Excuse me.”*

Jason was caught off guard by my indifference, in my past life, I wanted to desperately hold on to the boy that brought me that ring. As I walked by, he grabbed my wrist.

*“What’s wrong with you? Don’t you have any manners? Your sister is standing right here.”*

I could tell by the smugness in his voice; he was trying to get a rise out of me. As I glanced at Sophie, I could see a look of triumph on her face. I snatched my wrist out of his grasp and smiled politely at Sophie.

*“Apologies sister. Hopefully you’re having a wonderful day; and if you aren’t, I’m sure my fiancé will see to it that you do.”*

Both Sophie and Jason had an instant look of shock on their faces, never had I been so curt with them. I swiftly walked away before either could say anything and locked the door to my tiny room in the basement.

After taking a nap, I woke up with determination, in five days I would have my acceptance letter from Lexington, I wanted to make sure I had as much research with me as possible. While taking some notes, I heard a loud bang on my door. After the necklace fiasco, my father moved me to the basement because Sophie needed sunlight, and her mother needed the extra room for her “projects”. I was forced to switch my room to the basement, never once did any of them come down here until now.

As soon as I opened my door, my father started yelling at me.

*“What’s this I hear about you upsetting your sister!! I thought I told you to stop all of this foolishness!”*

I had no clue what he was referring too but my guess was that she went crying about my remarks in the kitchen. In the past, I would have tried to defend myself, but now, I realized there was never any point. Putting on my best apologetic expression, I bowed my head and began to speak.

*“Though I’m not sure what I’ve done, I apologize deeply Sophie. I promise it won’t happen again, whatever it may be.”*

My father, stepmother, and Sophie all looked at me with shock and puzzlement. They were so used to me constantly trying to defend myself, shamefully trying to get my father to take my side for once. Leaving no room for him to scowl me any further, my father simply scoffed.

*“Whatever, just don’t let it happen again.”*

With that, he turned around and stalked away with my stepmother directly behind him. Sophie lingered for a moment, her face was filled with anger and disdain, she’d clearly looked forward to my father humiliating me on her behalf.

Scoffing.

*“Playing at being the obedient daughter? Well, it’s too late Clara, I already have daddy wrapped around my finger. He doesn’t even know you exist, neither does Jason.”*

Sophie smiled smugly, waiting for my expression to change. With complete indifference, I simply smiled and closed my door, leaving her fuming as she stomped up the stairs.