Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 202

But as soon as Sean imagined what Brian might have done to her in that room, the thought made those slightly flushed lips of hers hard to ignore.

He frowned slightly, but it was fleeting. The emotion that had slipped out was quickly reined back in.

"Come here," he commanded, his voice deeper than usual.

Claire felt a twinge of nervousness, but she couldn't bring herself to resist. So, obediently, she walked over and sat quietly on the bed.

Sean dipped a cotton swab into the ointment, ready to apply it. However, he was momentarily distracted by the delicate fragrance wafting from her.

For a moment, his fingertips hovered above Claire's swollen cheekbone, hesitating to touch down.

The steam from her recent shower still clung to her eyelashes, crystallizing into tiny droplets that shimmered with her uneasy tremble.

"Mr. Foster, is something wrong?" Claire asked, surprised.

"It might sting a little," he said, his voice rough and low, his Adam's apple moving

in the shadows. "Try to bear with it."

He leaned in closer to Claire's face.

The ointment was cool against her skin, not as painful as she had feared.

His expression was intensely focused, his handsome face so close that Claire could see every detail.

Her heart raced suddenly, and she nervously clutched the edge of her robe, her eyes fixed on Sean's prominent nose, afraid to move.

her nose, and his warm breath lightly brushed her neck, making her

slightly and deliberately leaned in closer, his warm

made

observed her reaction and looked up, "Does it

Claire replied, her gaze darting away,

hang in there. It'll be over

ointment, Claire thought they

her surprise, he

never

and Grandma had been so good to her; if she ever had the chance, she promised

startled when Sean gently

"Mr. Foster... this isn't quite right, I—I'm

her in, "Hmm? What do you

crimson, and she

softly, "It's still early. Rest up, and we'll

demeanor in the ballroom earlier, it was clear

you, Mr. Foster,"

large hand

comforting presence, Claire gradually drifted off

her side, watching her peaceful slumber, the smile on his face

spent a grueling three hours steeped in

as oppressive as

speculating about how

fear