Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 260

"Please. Don't flatter yourself. I could've hired any half-decent lawyer and still won that case. Anyone in my shoes would've become an overnight sensation in Cresthaven because of it. You really think you're something special? Even a pig could've soared if it caught the right tailwind. You just happened to ride the Linwood family's coattails. Don't kid yourself about your own abilities."

She clicked her tongue, shaking her head in mock pity. "Honestly, sometimes I almost feel sorry for Claire. Can you imagine being that unlucky? A hopelessly lovesick mother, a greedy father who'd take everything for himself, a useless brother, and you—the childhood friend who bites the hand that fed her."

"If Claire got bullied and ended up behind bars, that's not on me. It was you people-her so-called loved ones who pushed her straight into the fire, step by step."

Vanessa had never believed she was in the wrong. In her world, survival was for the strongest, and she was simply fighting tooth and nail for her own share.

If those people had been clear-headed, if they'd really trusted Claire, would my words have swayed them so easily?

She and Claire weren't even related by blood. Why should she have to hand everything over just because Claire showed up one day?

If she was able to grind the real Linwood heiress into the dirt, that was her own skill.

had the guts, she was welcome

a spark of amusement in her eyes as she watched Vincent's face contort with emotion. Hatred burned there-hatred for her, regret for Claire-but not a trace of self-reflection for his own part in what had happened. "Shut up! Just shut up!" Vincent was shouting now, wild-eyed, veins

eats the weak alive. I was only looking out for myself. And don't pretend you weren't after my looks and the Linwood fortune. You wanted something out of me otherwise, why turn a blind

Claire's money on

was happening to Claire in prison, didn't you? You knew she was slapped, forced to

Vincent with the force

back then, he'd been blinded by vanity, and made choices he could

school-too brilliant. Her light eclipsed everyone around her, especially

of him had grown jealous; he just wanted to dim her shine a little, remind her she was only a girl. So what if she had top grades? In the end, wouldn't she just get married and become

money; he'd take care of her after

buried those thoughts deep, knowing they'd sound ugly

He thought that, once they'd worn her down enough, he could swoop in, offer her comfort, and she'd have no choice but to cling to him-give up her dreams of

her from hardship. He'd be her safe harbor, providing for her, loving her. Wasn't