Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 119

Claire was taken aback by the seething accusation, her tear-streaked face glaringly visible in the sunlight. She looked at the furious man before her and realized he'd misunderstood everything.

"No, Brian, let me explain," she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear embedded deep in her bones. "It's not what it looks like, it's Vanessa..."

But Brian wasn't listening. He stormed into the hospital room and roughly pulled Claire away from Irene's side. Her frail body stumbled backward, crashing into a solid chest.

In that instant, Claire felt as if her entire skeleton might shatter. Before she could react, large hands gripped her slender shoulders, spinning her around.

She found herself staring into a pair of deep eyes.

For the first fourteen years of her life, those eyes had gazed upon her with endless tenderness. Now, all she saw was disappointment and reproach.

furrowed, his gaze tumultuous with a brewing storm. "Claire, what's happened to you? Are you still that kind, innocent girl I once knew? Give me back the person you used to be,

uncontrollably from Claire's

never admitted to his own change

at her sides as if every ounce of

But before she could

if she were a lunatic trying to cover up her crimes. With something akin to disgust, he released her

met with even harsher treatment. A large hand suddenly clamped down on

deny it? If it wasn't you, where did the marks on Irene's neck come from?

regained consciousness, and you couldn't wait to silence her, could you?" Ethan's heart ached with every

his sister have turned into this kind of person? He had once been indignant over the mistreatment she suffered in prison. But now, it seemed he had been too naive. No amount of beating or bullying could change Claire's