Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 46

Claire stared steadily at the Linwood family for what felt like an eternity, her gaze piercing enough to make them all shift uncomfortably. Finally, she turned away and continued down the hallway.

Vanessa clung to Adah's arm, her voice trembling, "Mom, the way Claire looked at us was terrifying."

Adah patted her daughter's arm reassuringly, though she herself couldn't shake the chilling feeling. There was a resolute intensity in Claire's eyes, as if she was ready to burn every bridge between them.

"Claire has changed so much in the past five years."

"She's so uncouth," Nathan scoffed. "Nothing like Vanessa. If we had known she'd turn out this way, we might have reconsidered having her."

Adah sighed, "Nathan, please, that's enough. She's still a young woman, and words like that can hurt."

Nathan's anger flared, his voice booming loud enough for Claire to hear clearly even from the storeroom she had retreated into.

"I'm her father! Do I have to coddle her too? We've been too lenient, and that's why she's so out of hand. She should have been taught proper manners from the start."

calm him, "Just let

for quite some time before

leaned against the door, slowly sliding down to sit on the floor. The room was enveloped in darkness as she hugged her arms tightly around herself, her head buried in her knees. Tears

soaking her clothes but doing nothing to

first joined this family, she had hoped it would be a warm haven, only to find it a

was thanks

and her

lying down and staring blankly at the shadowy ceiling, tears still slipping from

she eventually drifted

even in slumber, Claire found

fear as her body thrashed and writhed. She cried out, "Help! Mom!

with terror and hopelessness, as if she had returned

her rhythmically, accompanied by a soothing, elderly voice, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm

of concern, like a beacon of light piercing through the