Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 262

She stood alone in the dark, a chill creeping slowly through her heart. That feeling of being overlooked by her family, forgotten by the world-it was something Claire could never quite shake, no matter how much time had passed.

Later, it was May who left a light on for her, a small beacon of warmth in the darkness—a rare comfort in the Linwood household, where such kindness was in short supply.

Having once experienced that deep, bone-chilling loneliness of a home devoid of affection, Claire treasured the warmth she found with the Foster family all the more.

She wanted to wait for Mr. Foster to return, just as she once waited for her fifteen- year-old self to come home, braving the snow and wind alone.

Minute by minute, time ticked by.

The entire house was wrapped in silence, broken only by the steady ticking of the living room clock.

When Claire grew tired of sitting, she curled up on the sofa. Her health had always been frail; exhaustion came easily. As weariness washed over her, she let her eyes drift shut.

She pulled her knees close, cocooning herself in the smallest space possible, as if that could somehow make her feel safer.

he came home:

no sign of his grandmother or Nanny Grace; they must have

on for

the hard set of Sean's

not to wake her. Then he leaned down, slipping one arm beneath her back and the

the bed, pulling the covers up around her

Linwood," Sean murmured into the quiet room, a tenderness in his voice

another word, he slipped from the room, closing the door softly behind

Sean didn't head for his own bedroom. Instead, he walked straight to the study, settled behind the desk, and switched on the lamp. The warm light cast gentle shadows

waiting for him, the only sound in the room

shrill ring of

found Vincent," came

to his own apartment. Halfway there, he realized he was out of cigarettes and stopped to

sound, and under the weak glow of a streetlamp, he found Vincent sprawled on the ground, covered in blood, looking utterly

that day, Vincent had said things to Claire at the hospital—things Jeffry had already relayed to Sean,