Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 13

Her steely gaze swept over each member of the family, one by one.

Nathan, Adah, and Vanessa all avoided her eyes, unable to meet her penetrating stare.

Even an annoyed Ethan faltered, wilting under her sharp, knife-like gaze.

"Not talking? Then let me do the talking for you," Claire asserted.

"When Mr. Ethan received the dress, it was perfectly intact. Surveillance footage can prove I never touched the dress on my way here. Yet, when the dress reached Vanessa, it was damaged. It's pretty obvious who ruined it."

"So, you don't dare to check the surveillance footage because once it's seen, you can't just blame me or make me take the fall for someone else, right?"

Taking the fall for someone else.

Those words were like daggers, stabbing into Nathan and Adah's hearts, dredging up memories of that incident five years ago.

already in tears. "Claire, it's not like that. Let me explain. You and Vanessa are both my

years ago, desperate for a mother's love, she

hardship, those words only filled her with

you want; it doesn't matter

family, not wanting to spare them another

Claire reached the corner, she

stood there quietly, having clearly witnessed everything that

tightened, but she kept walking, pretending not to see him, determined to leave

was crushing her already aching heart. She wanted no connection

to pass him by, Vincent's familiar yet distant voice gently cut through the air, firm yet soft:

didn't comfort her; instead, they filled her with a

word "trust" coming from him was

paused for a brief moment, then quickened her

made her seem as if she were fleeing, her limping figure a