Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 223

Ethan's legs gave way beneath him, and with a dull thud, his knees sank into the mud, the sound swallowed by a crack of thunder overhead.

The howling wind whipped around him, driving the rain in hard, stinging pellets against his skin. Yet, this physical pain paled in comparison to the turmoil inside him.

Rain streamed down his forehead and cheeks in a relentless flow, indistinguishable from tears of the heavens or the water of his own regret.

His screams were shredded by the gale, the metallic taste of blood mixing with rain as it filled his lungs.

Memories of how he'd hurt Claire, all the times he'd humiliated her for Vanessa, played over and over like barbs embedded in his mind, tearing at him with every blink.

Each scene magnified in his mind, looping endlessly, making him wish for anything but this unending torment.

"How could I have been such a bastard? How could I do this to her... Claire-"

Such raw, heartfelt repentance even moved Victor, who stood nearby, his brow furrowed with a mix of sympathy and disdain.

Victor felt pity, but he also believed Ethan deserved his anguish.

didn't he think of

now, it was nothing compared to the hell Claire

University, she was unjustly imprisoned, her record

had suffered in those five years in prison,

torment she faced in those endless nights was

softened, and he urged, "Ethan, Claire can't

if gripped by madness, stayed on his knees,

swelling with a purple bruise, blood

and hurried to stop him, "Ethan,

can't hear me, but she

pouring rain couldn't hide

I need to atone. I'll bow until she forgives

anguish as he

desperate display,

unimpressed, seeing

followed by renewed cruelty on Vanessa's