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.

been the careless type-never sitting or

did she confess? If she'd kept quiet, she wouldn't have spent five years

himself it was as simple as that, conveniently forgetting that Claire never even had

had lied on the stand. Adah had wiped the security footage. Vincent, the defense attorney, twisted the

most had been the ones to shove her into the abyss. Now, Brian found himself blaming Claire for not proving her innocence, ignoring

with emotion as she shouted at

on the tip of his tongue. His

was 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

Five years in a coma, and even with the best care, her body was frail-skin and bones, barely

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

told they'd taken revenge

own son was

of red. He shoved his hand through the bars, grabbed Brian by the collar, his eyes wild with rage. "Tell me who's really

mouth shut, refusing to

anger boiled over as he pictured his daughter, bedridden for five years, wasting away despite the nurses' best efforts. With a

selfish fool! Have you ever cared about your sister

have any idea how much your mother

get you out of this