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.

not like that. Let me explain. You and Vanessa are both my daughters. I love you both equally.

the Claire from five years ago, desperate for a mother's love,

of hardship, those

you want;

away from the Linwood family, not wanting to spare them

Claire reached the corner, she unexpectedly encountered

stood there quietly, having clearly witnessed

walking, pretending not to see him, determined to leave

like it was crushing her already aching heart. She wanted no connection with him and just longed

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

filled her

from him

brief moment, then quickened

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