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."

please be careful. Call me

and saw Claire and May standing at the front of

few more words, Claire turned

hurriedly got out of the car and shouted, "Claire,

like a clap of thunder, causing May to jump. "Master Ethan,

He then turned to Claire, commanding

she hadn't heard him. Her disregard struck

mind: Claire was going

grabbed her arm, "Are you deaf?

shifting when she

hadn't heard him. During her first year in prison, her left ear had been beaten deaf, and the hearing in her right ear wasn't much better after

and stubbornly tried to free her arm,

replaced by a surge of anger. "Are you done with your tantrum? Today is Vanessa's birthday, and

her back toward the house, "You're coming

growing tighter, and Claire felt a sharp pain in her arm,