Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 212

Sean felt a surge of heat under the intense gaze directed his way. He loosened his patterned tie, his Adam's apple moving dangerously beneath the black silk.

The elderly matriarch noticed the moment and was over the moon with joy.

This young rascal, she thought, finally seems to have understood how to keep Claire close. All her efforts hadn't been in vain.

Though his reasoning was shaky, Sean was never one for logic.

He turned to Claire, "Ms. Linwood, what do you think about this arrangement?"

To Claire, this so-called punishment wasn't one at all.

Living with the Foster family meant being well-fed and cared for, with her own spacious, sunlit bedroom and a private sewing room.

She was never disturbed while working, and everyone in the Foster family respected her.

This was the life she had always dreamed of.

"Alright," she replied softly, her voice slightly hoarse with a hint of barely concealed delight.

Sean's lips curled into a subtle smile, and a barely noticeable raise of his eyebrows revealed his own secret satisfaction.

This young lady was still as easy to convince as ever.

eyes, scrutinizing Claire with a gaze that could devour. The matriarch took it all in, clicking

in Sean's cunning presence,

end up completely taken in by him, thinking

by a group of suited men to discuss the

busy all day. Are you hungry? Help yourself to some food, chat with whoever you like, and ignore

and full of affection, as if she

a glass of juice, and slowly

deep, velvety black, dotted with a

evening breeze carried a slight chill, gently stirring her

she seemed to become one with the tranquil night, her fatigue and

head buzzed, as if a

ringing in her ears, a consequence of the brutal beating she endured from Yvonne and her followers,

pulled over a chair and sat down, resting her head on her

her like a tide, and she slowly closed her eyes, drifting into

had passed when Sean finished his engagements

her slender form, and Sean's

stood quietly by Claire's side,

flushed from resting her head for too

as if even in sleep, she

removed his jacket and draped it over

he scooped her up

tender, as if afraid of