Mom Came Back From the Dead to Warn Me About the Boy I Almost Chose Chapter 02

Mom Came Back From the Dead to Warn Me About the Boy I Almost Chose Chapter 02

I looked at Leo’s indifferent expression.

If my mother hadn’t warned me, I might have believed him again.

I had trusted him so completely. I thought he liked being my friend.

I still remembered my birthday three years ago. He had gathered almost every kid at Fort Valerius Elementary to sing for me. His eyes had sparkled as he said, “Claire, I’ll protect you forever.”

I had been so touched I almost cried.

From that day on, I followed him everywhere.

But now I realized the truth.

He had always preferred playing with Lily. He had only been nice to me because of my father.

Now he was openly pretending to have amnesia, saying he liked Lily without hesitation, while still agreeing to “take care of me” just to secure his place as my father’s adopted son.

How could anyone get away with something like that?

What a terrible, selfish boy.

I swallowed my anger and didn’t expose him. Let him enjoy these next two days.

When he heard my father’s announcement himself, I wanted to see the look on his face.

Seeing me stay silent, Cooper nudged my shoulder. “So? Who did you pick?”

“You’ll find out in two days,” I said calmly.

I turned to leave, but Toby’s voice followed me.

“Leo, she definitely chose you. Don’t you remember when you had a fever? Claire ran through the rain to the infirmary to get medicine for you. She came back soaked. That’s how much she cares about you.”

“Really?” Leo smiled, clearly pleased. “Didn’t know she cared that much.”

Something stabbed into my chest.

My eyes burned, but I refused to cry.

Everyone at Fort Valerius Elementary knew I liked being around Leo.

The other kids used to tease me for being his little shadow, but I never cared.

I had lost my parents when I was young. My dad was always away on military missions. When other kids picked on me, Leo was the one who stepped in.

So when he chose to be my friend, I had been overjoyed.

I told myself I would be good to him. Really, really good.

But now I understood.

Maybe the only reason he had ever been kind to me was because of my father.

“Claire Vane. Wait.”

Leo called after me.

I turned around. He was walking toward me, holding one of Lily’s Barbie dolls.

“I know you picked me,” he said confidently. “I’ll be your brother. But I don’t want you interfering when I’m playing with Lily.”

I looked at him steadily. “Didn’t you lose your memory? How are you so sure I chose you?”

He frowned. “Everyone says you like me the most. Who else would you pick?”

Anger surged through me.

So he had always known how much I cared. And he still chose to treat me like this.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “I won’t cling to you anymore. You can play with Lily all you want.”

In fact, I thought he would be even happier once he found out I had chosen Elias.

Leo hesitated, clearly thrown off by how easily I agreed.

I turned and kept walking.

Behind me, he reached out instinctively, like he wanted to stop me.

At that exact moment, a small bicycle came wobbling straight toward me.

Before I could react, the front wheel slammed into my leg.

Pain shot up instantly as I lost my balance and fell hard onto the ground. My palms scraped against the rough concrete, skin tearing open.

Lily hurriedly jumped off the bike and ran toward me, her voice trembling with tears.

“Claire, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hit you…”

Before I could say anything, my mother’s voice exploded in my head.

“That girl is such a fake! Last time too, she grabbed your swing first, then cried like you were the one bullying her. And that idiot Leo believed her every single time!”