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.

whispered. "Everyone thinks I was the one who hurt you, but I'm innocent. No one knows

been unconscious for five years, and in that time, I

me with sticks, and even took one of my kidneys... all under the orders of your brother, who

filtered through the curtains, casting dappled patterns on the floor, unable to chase away the

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

nothing more than a disgraced

who hurt

wave of overwhelming injustice washed over her,

that Irene's eyes had flickered

you need to get better soon. I'll come back to see you when I

found herself staring into a pair of deep,

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.

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