Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 16

She clutched her injured leg tightly with both hands, curling up into a ball. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and beads of cold sweat continuously trickled down her forehead. Tears streamed down her cheeks like a river bursting its banks, and all she could manage were whimpers of pain, too agonized to form a single word.

Seeing her in such torment, a dull ache spread through Ethan's heart. In a panic, he blurted out, "I only gave you a gentle kick. Stop pretending to be hurt."

Yet, there was an unmistakable tremor and guilt in his voice.

May, utterly shocked, quickly knelt beside her. "Miss Claire, Miss Claire, what's happening?"

The searing pain in her leg dragged Claire back to three years ago, to her second year in prison. She couldn't recall why she was beaten, but she vividly remembered the brutal scene of heavy wooden batons swinging down on her shin, the attackers' faces twisted with vicious intent.

She had cried and begged for mercy, but they mercilessly continued until they broke six batons, as thick as an arm, before finally shattering her leg and stopping. The leader of the group had grabbed her by the hair, warning her, "Don't even think about complaining to the guards. You crossed someone you shouldn't have, and we were specifically told to 'look after' you."

Claire's eyes grew unfocused, and her body shook violently. She kept muttering, "I'm sorry, please forgive me; I'm sorry, please forgive me..."

voice was filled with terror and despair, like a wounded animal crying out in

face was wet with tears as she desperately asked, "Miss Claire, what's wrong

hurts, it hurts so

heart like a dagger. "I didn't

gently rolled up Claire's pant leg. The

angle. Her skin was a tapestry of crisscrossing scars, some still red and swollen, others healed into ugly marks. The constant pain had atrophied the muscles, leaving her leg thin and fragile, resembling a brittle twig compared to a

if under a spell, his mind reeling from

She was fine when she went to prison, and now, just five years later..." he

for criminals. How could an eighteen-year-old Claire have had

quickly reddening. He gritted his teeth, suppressing his inner torment, and with a sudden burst of energy, he scooped Claire up in his

chaotic, but once inside the living room, he realized he didn't even know which room was

had shown such little care