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."

me

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

exchanging a few more words, Claire turned to

this, Ethan hurriedly got out of the car

the quiet courtyard like a clap of thunder, causing May

immediately. He then

she hadn't heard

thought flashed through his mind: Claire

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

turned, her expression shifting

deaf, and the hearing in her right

away and stubbornly tried to

suddenly 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.

and yanked her back toward the house,

a sharp pain in her arm,