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 daughters. I love you both equally. How could I ever choose between

five years ago, desperate for a mother's love, she might have melted at her

after enduring five years of hardship,

whatever you want;

family, not wanting to spare them another

Claire reached the corner, she unexpectedly

quietly, having clearly witnessed everything that had

she kept walking, pretending not to see him, determined to leave this

heart. She wanted no connection with him

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

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

word "trust" coming from him was almost

for a brief moment, then quickened her

seem as if she were fleeing, her limping figure a picture of