Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 32

"Enough!" Nathan shouted, his entire body trembling with rage. He abruptly stood up from his seat and stormed over to Claire, delivering a stinging slap across her face without a second thought.

The sound of the slap echoed in the room, and Claire was knocked onto the dining table. Her plate crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

Her face swelled almost instantly, her lip split, and blood trickled down, staining the pristine white tablecloth with sharp contrast.

Already struggling with hearing loss in her right ear, the impact left her momentarily deaf, her mind buzzing as if a swarm of bees had taken up residence.

Did it hurt?

To Claire, the pain was familiar. After all, she'd grown accustomed to it during her time in prison.

But familiarity didn't equate to forgiveness.

any fatherly affection. Adah looked on with a pained expression but made no move to intervene. Ethan furrowed his brow, a flicker of something complex passing through his eyes before they hardened once more. Vanessa's glee was thinly veiled, her schadenfreude barely concealed.

burst of energy, she flipped the dining table with

erupted in chaos as dishes, food, and cutlery clattered to the ground,

while Vanessa let out a shrill scream. "Claire, have you lost your mind?"

Claire screamed, her

the corner

be pushed away forcefully. "Claire, calm down. We are family. Can't we discuss

he pointed at Claire, chastising her. "You ungrateful child, how dare you act out like this? Look at yourself; you're an embarrassment to

peeking from behind Nathan, whispered, "Sister, please don't do this. It's all my fault, don't

moving, their expressions a blend of anger, disappointment,

like a trapped animal, desperately roaring, but couldn't even hear

the door, her vision

last ounce of strength to stay upright, her legs gave