Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 133

Aberdeen, Grace, and May watched in horror as Claire climbed onto the window ledge. Their eyes widened in shock at the sight.

Aberdeen was the first to react, her voice trembling as she called out, "Darling, come down! It's dangerous up there!"

Grace quickly joined in, shouting, "Sweetheart, there's no hardship you can't overcome. Please, don't do anything foolish."

May was already in tears, pleading, "Miss Claire, no matter what you're facing, I'm here with you. Please, come down."

Claire looked at them, and the wildness in her eyes began to calm. Her tear- stained face softened into a gentle smile.

She gazed earnestly at May. "May, meeting you was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have survived my first year back with the Linwood family. You gave me a second chance at life."

"Whenever anyone in the Linwood family bullied me, you were the one who protected and cared for me. You were the only warmth I felt in that house."

"I've dreamed so many times that when I made something of myself, I'd repay you. I wanted to buy you a big house, treat Mandy like my own sister, help her through college, and send her abroad for further studies..."

"But...” Her voice began to choke with emotion, “But all my dreams have turned to dust. My own parents and brother framed me, sent me to prison, and ruined my chance to attend university. I'm broken and can't repay you now."

of all the hardships

everything

me alone. I can't go back to prison, where I was beaten every day. It hurt

uncontrollably, and even Aberdeen and Grace's

child, how could

gentle as she offered, "Darling, if they don't want you, I

She couldn't bring trouble to

drawing the Linwood

difficulties

wouldn't

her

hard to get into university, and now she would never

life was in

Aberdeen.

from the train station when Grace was the first