Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 15

Ethan sat in the car in the Linwood family's garage, reviewing the footage from the dashboard camera.

During the fifteen-minute drive home from the prison, Claire had kept her hands on her lap, her body pressed against the window, maintaining that position the entire way. She hadn't even glanced at the dress, let alone tried to adjust it.

He recalled how they had falsely accused her, how she had confronted them with a cold, unyielding expression.

A heavy sense of guilt and remorse weighed on Ethan's chest, almost overwhelming him. His gaze was vacant as he stared ahead, Claire's indifferent and resolute eyes replaying in his mind.

He remembered her as someone who loved to smile. Whenever he came home, she would greet him with a bright smile, calling him "brother" warmly, bringing him tea, bustling around, and saying, "You've worked hard, brother."

But now, she seemed like a completely different person.

Ethan felt a headache coming on and closed his eyes, leaning back wearily against the leather seat.

He didn't know how much time had passed when Claire's gentle voice suddenly reached him from afar, "May, you don't have to see me off. You should head back."

Claire, please be careful. Call me if you run into any

snapped his eyes open and saw Claire and May standing at the front

a few more words,

got out of the car and shouted, "Claire,

thundered through the quiet courtyard like a clap of thunder, causing May to jump. "Master

from Ethan silenced May immediately. He then turned

as if she hadn't heard him. Her disregard struck

flashed through his mind: Claire was going to leave the

her arm, "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear me

shifting when she

prison, her left ear had been beaten deaf, and the hearing in her

stubbornly tried to

replaced by a surge of anger. "Are you done with your tantrum? Today is Vanessa's birthday, and you already made a scene in the ballroom. Now you're pulling this stunt, wanting

back toward the house, "You're coming home with me right

tighter, and Claire felt a sharp pain in her arm, as if her bones were