Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 310

Claire's vacant eyes slowly came into focus, and the instant she recognized Brian,

a look of undisguised disgust swept across her face.

"I can't even begin to tell you how much I hate you," she said coldly.

All the color drained from Brian's face. His lips trembled as he whispered, "Do you really hate me that much?"

"Yes! I hate you! I wish you were dead!" Claire suddenly screamed, her voice raw with pain.

If it hadn't been for them, she would never have ended up like this-broken, ruined, barely a shadow of her former self.

Her heart felt as if it were being torn apart, left bleeding and exposed.

If she hadn't been sent to prison all those years ago, she would've gone to the best university-had a future, a real life.

Five years later, she should've graduated, landed a respectable job, and when she eventually met Mr. Foster, she wouldn't have felt so unworthy, so small.

She'd finally fallen for someone, but she didn't measure up. She could never hope for a happy ending, not with him.

Hot tears spilled down Claire's cheeks, one after another.

Why was her life so bitter? Sometimes she wished she'd never met Mr. Foster at all-then at least she wouldn't be suffering this heartbreak, mourning something she could never have.

Her life was still a mess,

show your face to me again. I

as if he'd been

three words-I hate you-echoed in his

wrapping Claire in a desperate embrace, as if he

like this. Please," he pleaded. "I really love you. Hit me, scream at me, whatever you want-just give

pushed hard against him, but the more

paid for what I did. Let's start over. I swear, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please, believe me," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion, as if he could tear his heart out and hand

couldn't care less

late. Some things can't be undone. You

voice was icy cold. "Brian, let go

I won't," Brian insisted, clutching her as if holding on could somehow

flashed with

of me," she said, fixing him with

hesitated, then slowly loosened his

a flicker of

slapped a thick stack of medical reports against

flipping through

pupils widened, his breathing grew ragged, and his hands

it," he stammered, but the tears streaming down his face betrayed