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.

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

tears spilled uncontrollably from Claire's eyes, filled with despair. She had never changed;

never admitted to his

arms hanging helplessly at her sides

Her voice was hoarse, laden with endless sorrow and grievance. But before she could finish, her emotions erupted, and she screamed at Vincent, "It's not me

didn't believe her. Worse, he looked at her as if she were a lunatic trying to cover up her crimes. With something akin

suddenly clamped down on her head, forcing her to look at the lifeless form of

he loudly demanded, "We all saw it, and you dare deny it? If it wasn't you, where did the marks on Irene's neck come from? Claire, how

couldn't wait to silence her, could you?" Ethan's heart ached

sister have turned into this kind of person? He had once been indignant over the mistreatment she suffered in prison. But now, it seemed