Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 56

**"Smack-"**

The sound was sharp and resonant, slicing through the air like a sudden pause button had been pressed, leaving the room in an eerie silence.

"When are you going to stop this nonsense?" Adah's voice was sharp and icy, like a blade plunging straight into Claire's heart.

"Ever since you came back, this house has known no peace. We all have to tiptoe around you. You've thrown your tantrums-what more do you want? Aren't you supposed to be gone? If you want to die, do it yourself, but don't drag us down with you. We owe you nothing."

Each word was like a poisoned arrow, piercing Claire's already shattered soul.

Claire's body went rigid. She looked at Adah, the madness in her eyes slowly replaced by a hollow despair. Her lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.

At that moment, she felt as though she had fallen into an abyss of darkness, abandoned by the world.

No words could be more cruel than a mother telling her own child to die.

deflated like a punctured balloon, the world spinning around her.

on. Her eyelids fluttered shut, and she slipped into

cry, rushing to scoop

and her bleeding, severed

must get Miss Claire to the hospital," she urged, picking up the severed finger and clutching

time to waste, held Claire close and

"Why take her to a hospital? Just leave her to fend for

snapped out of her daze, the realization of her harsh words hitting her with regret. How could she

within her like a lit

Adah screamed, storming up to Nathan and slapping him

more forceful than the one she had given Claire

stood there, stunned, eyes wide. "What's

this would have happened!"

see you stopping me when I hit

she sank to the floor, burying her head in her hands, consumed by