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.

of how she used to trail after him

anger, striving to soften his tone, "Come

as if she couldn't be bothered to

only

she hadn't learned anything else, she'd

to explode, a

"Claire."

and her previously calm heart tightened

after five years, she recognized that voice instantly—it was

enter her line of sight, and the man's deep, resonant

congratulations on your

said this, she would have graciously replied with a "thank

most trusted childhood friend, Vincent Lewis, now a renowned lawyer, had represented Vanessa in court, ensuring Claire

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

couldn't endure it, but could

mean she deserved to bear a false accusation in Vanessa's

to prison had made him a star attorney in