Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 274

Brian's face went pale, memories of that chaotic day at the hospital flooding his mind.

Back then, Claire had been desperate to prove her innocence, her emotions spiraling out of control, eyes brimming with despair and helplessness.

But Brian had looked the other way, stubbornly blocking Irene from naming Vanessa as the culprit.

Now, recalling how it all unfolded, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt-the ache for Claire only deepened inside him.

He spoke at last, voice heavy with remorse, every word weighted with regret. "No... it wasn't Claire."

"Then who was it?" Karin demanded, eyes locked on Brian, her voice trembling with fury. "Who could be so cruel? Who pushed Irene down the stairs? If she hadn't been lucky, she'd be dead."

Brian fell silent once more.

He and Karin had grown up with Vanessa; if anyone knew what Vanessa was really like, it was him.

Even if Claire hadn't done it five years ago, Brian was certain Vanessa would never have hurt Irene on purpose. Maybe Vanessa had accidentally bumped into Irene, who'd lost her balance and tumbled down the stairs.

Besides, Irene was Vanessa's closest friend. Vanessa had no reason to harm her.

thought, Irene had always been the careless type-never sitting or standing properly. It was no wonder she ended

confess? If she'd kept quiet, she wouldn't have spent five years in prison, and Brian wouldn't

that, conveniently forgetting that Claire never even had the chance to defend

Vincent, the defense attorney, twisted the truth, and Brian himself never gave Claire a chance

been the ones to shove her into the abyss. Now, Brian found himself blaming Claire for not proving her innocence, ignoring the fact that she never

something!" Karin's voice shook with emotion as she shouted

Brian kept his lips firmly shut, refusing to say the name on the tip of his tongue. His stubborn silence-protecting

their youngest, the apple of their eye. She'd been doted on since birth, the darling of the entire Cole family. As the heiress to Cole Enterprises, she'd had everything she wanted; nothing was ever

coma, and even with the best care,

amount of punishment for Claire could erase the pain the Coles felt. That's why they'd paid people to

told they'd taken revenge on the

their own son was protecting the real

of red. He shoved his hand through the bars, grabbed Brian by

mouth shut, refusing

despite the nurses' best efforts.

you ever

your mother and

you out of