Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 301

"You stay away from my son!" Sophia Shaw's eyes blazed with fury. "He's never hurt you not once! He's innocent in all of this."

Claire Linwood's voice was icy, her words sharp as glass. "Not once, you say? Every meal your son ate overseas, every roof over his head, every privilege-who do you think paid for it all? The Linwood family did. If he's enjoyed the easy life your family gave him, he can bear the consequences of your crimes too."

"A son paying for his father's sins one kidney. That's all I'm asking. Hardly unreasonable." Claire's tone was measured, almost calm, but every word hit Sophia like a hammer, splintering her hope.

"No! You can't-if you want revenge, take it out on us. My son doesn't know anything," Sophia sobbed, her voice breaking.

For the first time, real terror overtook Sophia. She loved Garnett Brown too much —without him, she was nothing. To keep her alive, Garnett had swallowed his pride, endured her affair with Nathan Linwood, even shared her with him. Garnett's love was vast, forgiving beyond measure.

She could not let Garnett's bloodline end. Her son-nothing could happen to her

son.

Sophia steeled herself and looked at Vanessa Linwood with a gaze full of helpless sorrow. "Vanessa, don't blame me. I have no

the truth dawned. She watched, speechless, as Sophia pleaded with Claire. "Claire, I accept your terms. If... if Vanessa dies, I'll sign the donation forms immediately. Just promise me-you'll leave my son

whatever you want to us, but spare my

was ragged, desperate. "If you agree

she'd never felt agony like this-the raw heartbreak of being abandoned by her own parents. It was as if her heart had been

anguish pitiful to see. But not a single

knew everything Vanessa was suffering now, Claire had once

Claire again and again for Vanessa, wounding her without mercy. Now, the tables had turned; the once cherished Vanessa was nothing but a pawn, discarded by the people

the justice Claire had

again and again, hoping for affection

all ties with the Linwoods. Back then, she had no taste for revenge-no strength to seek it. But the Linwoods had refused to let her go, forcing her, step by step, into the darkness she now