Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 295

The very first thing she did upon waking was look for Claire.

Her gaze darted desperately around the room, and the moment she spotted Claire sitting quietly on the sofa, she forgot all about her own weakness and disheveled state. Nothing else mattered.

Propping herself up with trembling hands, her legs barely supporting her, she half- crawled, half-stumbled toward Claire, inching forward with sheer determination.

Tears streamed down her face, unchecked and uncontrollable.

"Claire, I was wrong. I swear I'll never take Vanessa's side again. Please, please forgive me. Your brother-your brother's in prison because of Nathan, that monster. Claire, you're all I have left."

Adah's voice cracked with sobs, hoarse and filled with despair. As a mother, she collapsed at Claire's feet, weeping bitterly, pouring out her regret. She looked utterly broken, as wretched as a person could possibly be.

But Claire remained as she had been before-expressionless, unmoved, cold as stone.

She only glanced at Adah briefly, her eyes indifferent, before turning away.

That coldness, that utter lack of feeling, drove a knife straight into Adah's heart.

understood what it meant

her. There would

heart,

anguish, her voice trembling, she pleaded, "Claire, are you really going to be

even lingered on her. She

this complete indifference, that hurt Adah even

spoke up, voice sharp with righteous fury. "Mrs. Linwood, you have no right to call Miss Claire heartless. In the three years she lived in the Linwood household, did you ever care about her for even

fifteen years suffering in a group home, and when she finally returned to her family, you ignored her. Every month you sent a fortune to Vanessa, but not a penny to

same school uniform all year round. You saw it and looked the other way. For three years, you

birthday party for Vanessa alone. You only bought presents for Vanessa. Not once did Claire get so

early every morning for school, came home late every night, and sometimes didn't even get a warm meal. Meanwhile, the rest of you sat at the table together, laughing, eating, enjoying yourselves. When I suggested

eyes full of contempt. "She was in high school, still growing, buried in homework—so hungry she was pale and thin, her hair brittle and lifeless. And you could tell yourself she was

her like Nathan, or lied about her like Vanessa, but your cold

being heartless? How dare you blame her for turning her back on you? Ask yourself honestly-have you ever acted like a mother to

words bottled up

years Claire spent in prison for a crime she didn't commit, May had more than once considered