Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 2

"You still owe Vanessa an apology."

"Get in the car; I won't say it again."

Claire found those words bitterly ironic.

She had explained it countless times-it wasn't her who pushed Irene Cole; it was Vanessa. But no one believed her. They all chose to side with Vanessa.

Claire was the real daughter of the Linwood family, yet her entire family only trusted Vanessa's version of events.

She felt guilty, indeed-guilty for coming back, for yearning for a family affection that was never truly hers.

She realized her mistake. She would change.

She would walk away, far enough to never compete with Vanessa for her parents' and brother's love, never again be a thorn in their side.

But why was Ethan so displeased?

She subtly pulled her hand away from his, stepping back to put some distance between them.

memories of how she used to trail after

suppressed his anger, striving to soften his tone, "Come home with

if she couldn't be bothered to look at

only fanned

if she hadn't learned anything else,

he was about to explode, a soothing

"Claire."

stiffened, and her previously

five years, she recognized that voice instantly—it was her childhood friend,

enter her line of sight,

on

anyone else said this, she would have graciously replied with a "thank you." But coming from Vincent, it felt like salt in her

childhood friend, Vincent Lewis, now a renowned lawyer,

said, "Claire, Vanessa has never suffered. She wouldn't survive

couldn't endure it,

she was accustomed to hardship, did that mean she deserved to bear a false accusation

of the Linwood family to prison had made him