Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 312

If winter comes, he'll never make it.

Watching him, Claire couldn't help but think of herself.

She gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. Her own life was a mess, and yet here she was, finding room to feel sorry for someone else.

But maybe that was exactly why-she'd stumbled through her own darkness, been battered by life's storms. She understood what pain felt like. And because of that, she wanted, more than anything, to shield others from the rain, if only for a moment.

Claire turned, stepping into a nearby convenience store. She bought a loaf of bread and a bottle of water, then walked back to the man.

Her voice was gentle. "That roll's gone moldy-you'll get sick if you eat it. Here, take these instead."

Claire held out the bag. Inside were the bread, the water, and some money.

She'd kept just enough cash for the bus fare-ten dollars, no more. Every remaining bill she'd tucked inside the bag for him.

At the sound of her voice, the man's frantic, hungry movements stopped cold. He froze, as if struck by lightning.

He sat there on the ground, hair falling over his face, and behind those tangled strands his eyes were wild with fear, shame, and helpless confusion.

Claire bent down, her gaze soft, and spoke to him again, even more quietly. "Go on. Take it."

But it was as if he hadn't heard her-he didn't move. In fact, his body seemed to tremble.

bullied so often that even a stranger's approach scared

her tone further. "Don't be afraid. I

that, she reached to take the moldy roll from his

ghostly-pale hand. Something twisted inside

tear dropped onto

heart

thought. To him, a single act of compassion from a stranger must have seemed

and tossed it in

word passed his lips. Claire wanted to say something encouraging, but just then, her bus arrived. May tugged at her sleeve.

at the man before

bus pulled away, the man at the curb finally found the courage

It was Vincent Lewis.

Vincent had been

on orders from Sean Foster, who'd told

when they got to the hospital, the doctors informed Liam that Vincent's legs were

without Sean's orders, amputation

surgery, both legs

off, and he

he realized his legs were gone, the weight

had no money for the hospital bills. They kept him for a day before