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,

in that time, I took

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

unable to chase away the

continued, "I remember the first time I met you. You smiled so brightly, like a princess. I envied you then- your loving family,

more than a disgraced

Vanessa who

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

eyes, not noticing that Irene's eyes had

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

room, she found herself

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

gaze from him sent shivers down Claire's spine. Her legs grew weak, and