Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 87

Ethan couldn't help but raise his voice when he saw Claire's indifference. "Claire!"

But Claire acted as if she hadn't heard him. She walked straight to the dining table, picked up a fork, and began eating on her own.

Her blatant disregard for Nathan's condition left both Adah and Ethan feeling cold- hearted and disillusioned.

Tears streaming down her face, Adah implored, "Claire, have you no heart? Your father is in such a state, and you can still think about food?"

Claire picked up a piece of roast beef and chewed it slowly.

Delicious!

It was almost laughable. At twenty-three, it was the first time she had tasted such succulent roast beef.

Back at the orphanage, there was never roast beef to be had.

After returning to the Linwood family, meals consisted of leftovers and cold dishes.

The irony was that it wasn't until she was in prison that she tasted hot, freshly cooked meals. If it weren't for Brian's special arrangements for her in prison, she would have believed the life there was far better than at the orphanage or with the Linwoods.

heartlessness? Why is it that when I treat you the

recalled the Chinese New Year during her senior year of high school. She had a high fever for three days and nights, bedridden in the storage room, but no one from the Linwood

only when May returned from her holiday that she found Claire barely clinging to life. Had May come back a day later,

died, the Linwood family probably wouldn't

for her, mentioned it to Nathan and Adah. And

just pretending to be sick for sympathy. I know her better than you do, May. If you're so free, why don't you

in your room for three days without eating or drinking. What

that she hadn't eaten or drunk anything for

water when she overheard these words, and a chill spread through her body, as if she were plunged

we ever abandoned you? You can't just speak against

didn't even remember what

never really

was worth less

Claire recovered from her

dog to the vet, spending over

died, the family was inconsolable, holding a grand

had lost a beloved