Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 144

May was visibly shaken. "How is that possible? When Miss Claire went to prison five years ago, she was perfectly healthy."

Her words were like a bomb dropped into a tranquil river, shattering the silence.

Aberdeen, Grace, and Sean all widened their eyes in shock.

If Claire was healthy before her imprisonment but missing a kidney afterward, it suggested that the organ was taken during her incarceration.

A heavy silence descended over them, like a suffocating blanket.

Sean recalled the documents he'd reviewed earlier that morning.

Liam hadn't uncovered anything about Claire losing a kidney, but given the torment she'd endured over the years, it wasn't hard to surmise that the loss was connected to those who'd harmed her.

What kind of deep-seated hatred would drive someone to do such a thing to a fragile young woman?

Even Sean, who considered himself ruthless, couldn't fathom such cruelty.

minute stretching

clutched a rosary, praying fervently for

silently, hearts breaking

and a weary doctor emerged, pulling down his mask. "She's stable for now, but she'll need to stay in the hospital for

relief, their hearts easing just a

disheveled, his eyes shadowed with fatigue and regret. The confident man he once was

wandered distractedly toward

he reached the door, the head nurse emerged, her face flushed,

noticeably swollen, and she seemed startled to see Ethan, her eyes

her with a nod, his mind consumed by thoughts of Claire, tangled

second glance

appearing oddly satisfied. Ethan assumed he'd just used the restroom and didn't dwell on

a chair, drained of energy, every bit of

noticed his son's demeanor and frowned, "Haven't found

twisted with anger and disbelief. "Dad, Claire