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.

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

unconscious for five years, and in

They jabbed me with needles, beat me with sticks, and even took one of my kidneys... all under the orders of your brother, who wanted revenge

floor, unable to chase

a princess. I envied you then- your loving family, your affluent life, your many friends. And here I was, finally back with the Linwood family, but I always felt like an

nothing more than a disgraced

who hurt

of overwhelming injustice washed over her,

not noticing that Irene's eyes had flickered ever

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

room, she found herself staring into a pair of deep, cold

arched toward his temples, and

down Claire's spine. Her legs grew weak, and every muscle in her