Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 269

The sound echoed softly through the quiet kitchen, lingering in the air but stirring nothing like a pebble sinking into a still lake.

Mandy paused, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. Had Claire heard her at all?

She furrowed her brow and spoke again, her tone warmer and more insistent. "Claire?"

But the only answer was the gentle bubbling of the soup simmering on the stove. Claire remained focused, stirring the thick, fragrant broth with slow, deliberate movements. The soup had been cooking for over an hour, filling the kitchen with its comforting aroma and rolling clouds of steam.

Mandy's gaze locked on Claire's slender back, unease gnawing at her. She called out again, louder this time. "Claire!"

Her voice rang out, bouncing off the kitchen walls. Still, Claire seemed sealed in her own world, oblivious, lost in the rhythm of stirring.

A chill shot up Mandy's spine; her eyes narrowed in alarm. It was then she realized Claire couldn't hear her.

Last time she'd seen Claire in the hospital, she'd seemed fine. How long had it been? And now, she'd lost her hearing?

Mandy clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

What the hell did the Linwoods, Brian, and Vincent do to her?

cold, murderous resolve. She could almost

Suddenly, Claire turned around.

saw Mandy, a spark of surprise lit up her previously calm eyes. Her lips curved into a

Mandy smoothed away her anger, her face brightening with a pure, sunlit smile-warm and dazzling. "I missed you. So I

searching for any sign of hidden pain, any trace of what she'd

Mandy's hand in her own-soft and

led Mandy toward the

Claire, her doubts unresolved. "Let me help you in the

amusement. "No need. I can handle it-there's too much grease in

reply. Had

to sound casual.

be swayed, Claire turned back to the stove, still stirring. "Alright, then-could

back, standing behind Claire. "I don't

would have paused to ask what she'd prefer. But this time, she

reply hit Mandy like a punch to the gut. That clinched it-Claire really

have been lip-reading,

have suffered terribly in