Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 170

He was gasping for breath, struggling to keep himself from collapsing.

Finally, the overwhelming dizziness started to subside, and he managed to regain a semblance of calm.

He raised a trembling hand to haphazardly wipe away the tears from his face, just as he was about to gently place the acceptance letter back into the drawer. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed an old, slightly worn diary in the corner.

For a moment, his hand hovered in mid-air. His heart was in turmoil-logic told him not to open it, knowing its contents might bring more pain and guilt. Yet, the insatiable curiosity and longing to understand Claire's world proved irresistible.

In the end, his hand seemed to move on its own accord, reaching out to grasp the diary.

As he opened the first page, a family photograph came into view.

In the photo, his parents sat beaming in the center, with his mother cradling Lucky, their beloved dog, who had lived a full eighteen years before passing away of old

age.

After Lucky's death, the family was engulfed in sorrow, even holding a special funeral for him. They were so heartbroken that they never got another dog. However, Lucky's room was preserved, his favorite toys still carefully arranged inside.

He stood next to his father, while Vanessa nestled beside their mother.

family of four, seemingly

placed apart from

thoughts were yanked back to the day they took

Labor Day, the weather was particularly nice, and the flowers in the garden were

a family photo

Vanessa remembered Lucky was

and timidly asked him, "Big

replied dismissively that they were

thinking she would be

photo, she eagerly stood

get close to him, and Claire's proximity made him uncomfortable. Instinctively, he pushed her away, completely unaware of

remembered, after the photo was taken, Vanessa suggested that they take advantage of the holiday to go on a family

four of them, along with the dog, set off on a trip, only returning home

first major argument between the

asked, "Why didn't you take

not part of the Linwood family,

could be placed at the center of the family photo, yet his own sister was distanced