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.

mixed with the smell of tobacco lingered at her nose, and his warm breath lightly

raised an eyebrow ever so slightly and deliberately leaned in closer, his warm breath teasing

made

her reaction and looked up, "Does it

Claire replied, her gaze darting away, feeling like she

in

with the ointment,

her surprise, he even helped dry

twenty-three, Claire had never been

good to her; if she ever had the chance, she promised herself she

when Sean gently pushed her back onto

eyes widened, "Mr. Foster... this isn't quite right,

"Hmm? What do you need to be ready

she quickly turned

Rest up, and

by his demeanor in the ballroom earlier, it

Mr. Foster,"

placed a large hand

presence, Claire gradually drifted off

by her side, watching her peaceful slumber, the smile on his face vanishing without

ballroom, the guests spent a grueling three hours steeped in fear

as oppressive as the calm before

fear, speculating about how Sean might

time passed, fear turned into