Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 37

Claire stared intently at Irene. "Irene, it's me, Claire," she said softly.

"You despise me so much, I'm sure you can recognize my voice, right?"

"I've heard that some people in a coma can have some level of awareness. I wonder if you can hear me now."

"If you can, when will you finally wake up?"

Claire rambled on, her words filling the air, but the person lying in the bed showed no sign of response.

The antiseptic smell permeated the hospital room, mingling with the stark whiteness of the walls and bedsheets, which only accentuated Irene's frail, skeletal frame.

Claire slowly sat down by the bedside, her eyes never leaving Irene's pale face.

was the one who hurt you, but I'm innocent. No one knows this better than

years, and in that time, I took Vanessa's place in

me with needles, beat me with sticks, and even took one of my kidneys... all under the orders of

floor, unable to chase away the gloom that hung

time I met you. You smiled so brightly, like a princess. I envied

now, I'm nothing more than a

was Vanessa who hurt

wave of overwhelming injustice washed over her, and Claire's tears began to flow

not noticing that Irene's

her heart out, Claire stood up. "Irene, you need to get

she found herself staring into

features were chiseled and handsome, yet hard and unyielding-thick eyebrows arched toward his temples, and his deep-set eyes were as inscrutable as a dark abyss. Below his high-

grew weak, and every muscle in her body