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.

who hurt you, but I'm innocent. No one knows

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

and even

the curtains, casting dappled patterns on the floor, unable to chase away the gloom that

deep breath, forcing back her tears as she continued, "I remember the first time I met you. You smiled so brightly, like a princess. I envied you then- your loving family, your affluent life,

I'm nothing more than

who hurt you,

her, and Claire's

noticing that

Claire stood up. "Irene, you need to get better soon. I'll come

herself staring into a pair of deep, cold

eyebrows arched toward his temples, and his deep-set eyes were as inscrutable as a dark abyss. Below his high- bridged nose,

from him sent shivers down Claire's spine. Her legs grew weak, and every muscle in her body tensed with fear, leaving her trembling