Claires face flushed a deep red as she found herself in an intimate proximity to Edward for the first time. Under his guidance, she hesitantly touched him, and with a mix of shyness and fear, she sat down upon him. Both let out a gasp as their bodies met, and Edward urged her on with increasing insistence. "Faster..."
This woman, Claire, was surprisingly sweet to his taste, a fact that he found inexplicably irresistible.
Endure pain and struggling, Claire secured a chance at survival. Afterward, Edward, regaining his usual cold demeanor, glanced at the exhausted Claire with a look of distaste. "You can leave now," he said coldly, without a hint of tenderness.
Claire lowered her eyes, suppressing the bitterness she felt, and quickly left the room. For the following week, she was left alone, which she initially took as a relief. However, her respite was short-lived as the butler informed her, "Miss Randall, Mrs. Randall has sent for you."
Despite her fear, Claire had no choice but to comply. She was escorted into a temples side hall where she was met with a harsh slap from her mother. "You are nothing but a lowborn wretch. Do you really think marrying into the Cullen family will elevate you?" her mother spat, the force of the blow leaving Claires cheek burning and swollen.
Before Claire could recover, her sister, Elizabeth Bennet, stepped forward and pushed her to the ground. In an instant, two bodyguards seized her, and Elizabeth brandished a sharp razor. "You unworthy creature! How dare you marry Edward Cullen?! I want you to become a nun here!" Elizabeth snarled with venom.
Claire struggled in fear as Elizabeth approached with the blade. She knew that their plan to make her a nun was only temporary; if she died here, no one would ever know.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Edward was wheeled in, his expression dark and foreboding. "When you discipline someone, consider their master. Have you asked for my permission to touch her?" he demanded.
Elizabeths razor, poised at Claires forehead, trembled, and a cut opened, seeping blood. "Edward..." she stammered in disbelief.
Their mother, recovering from her shock, remembered Elizabeths pleading from before and, steeling herself, spoke up. "Mr. Cullen, there was a mistake in our family. It should have been Elizabeth who married into your family. We wish to correct this mistake."
Edward scoffed. "Youre quite calculating."
"Does that mean...?" their mother asked, hope flickering in her eyes.
"I find her satisfactory. Miss Randall... may not compare," Edward replied coolly.
With a heavy heart, their mother ordered her men to release Claire. Elizabeth seethed at his words, and as Edward turned to leave, she took the opportunity to trip Claire.
Claire fell near the edge of the temples pool, her blood dripping into the water and mingling with a drop already there. This caused a stir among those present, as the pool was known far and wide for its legend: only the blood of a true mother and daughter would mix.
Elizabeths face drained of color as she shouted in disbelief, "This temple is a fraud! I dont believe it! Mother! Lets get a DNA test! I cant be... not a Randall!"
Edward, uninterested in their family drama, interrupted. "Sort out your family affairs on your own. Claire is no longer associated with the Randall family."
Claire was in a daze as she returned to the Cullen estate, the events at the temple and Edwards claim of ownership over her swirling in her mind. That night, she was summoned to Edwards room, where he sat in his wheelchair, eyeing her with disdain at the shaved part of her forehead. "Youre ugly," he remarked, and with a click, the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness.
His voice cut through the blackness. "I cant be interested in you looking like that. Come here and please me now."
Edward had somehow become addicted to this woman, who, despite her plain appearance, had an extraordinary body.
Claire obediently went to Edwards side, knowing he was her only safeguard in the Cullen household. She needed to keep him pleased if she wanted to survive.
In the darkness, her vision was impaired, and she accidentally fell into Edwards lap, her head pressing against his arousal. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
"So eager?" he mocked.
Without a word, Claire undressed, preparing to mount him as she had done before. Edward, however, had other ideas. He pulled her down and whispered in her ear, "Patience. Give it some incentive to perform."
"Incentive?" Claire questioned, not understanding.
"Use this," Edward said, his finger brushing against her lips. She blushed deeply, comprehending his meaning.
Claire steeled herself, telling herself that this was just a transaction, a necessary sacrifice for survival. She closed her eyes and lowered her head...
Several minutes later, Edward was engrossed in trailing kisses from her neck down to her chest. Claire bit her lip to stifle the moans of embarrassment and shame, but Edward commanded her to vocalize her pleasure.
The sounds of their union filled the room, adding an air of intimacy to the night. When it was over, Edward leaned back in his wheelchair, satisfied with her performance. Eleanor, watching from the shadows, seethed with jealousy. This new woman seemed to have a knack for captivating Edwards attention.
"Lets see how long her charm lasts," Eleanor muttered to herself, her silk handkerchief twisted tightly in her hands.
A month later, while Claire was sent out on an errand, she was ambushed and a cloth was pressed over her mouth. Her consciousness faded as she was drugged.
When she awoke, she found herself next to a naked man. Shock and humiliation washed over her as she clutched the sheets to her body. "Who are you?!" she demanded.
"Jamie Fraser, Edwards cousin," he introduced himself with a smirk, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "And of course, the most entertaining cousin-in-law."
"We..." Claire began, but Jamie cut her off.
"What do you think? You couldnt resist, and I was happy to oblige."
Claire slapped his hand away, but he caught her wrist and pulled her close. At that moment, the door creaked open, and Claires eyes widened with fear as she saw who stood in the doorway...