Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 351

May couldn't bear to watch them humiliate Claire Linwood any longer. Fury surged through her, and she shot to her feet, her voice clear and sharp. "Get out! You're not welcome in our suite."

The laughter in the room slowly faded. Heads turned, eyes narrowing with sneering contempt as they regarded May.

"Your suite? This is the Grandeur Hotel's top-tier VIP suite. They don't just let anyone in here. Do you really expect us to believe that you two nobodies could afford to dine here?"

"Take a good look in the mirror before you talk big. Back in high school, Claire was broke as dirt-she could barely scrape together enough for lunch. While the rest of us ate in the cafeteria, she'd sit there sipping cold water like some starved stray. And when we were generous enough to offer her our leftovers, she'd turn up her nose, acting all high and mighty. I've never met anyone more fake."

"We all know what kind of person she really is. Who is she trying to impress now, acting like some big shot? Pathetic." One woman actually spat on the floor, face twisted in disdain.

"Claire, just admit you're here to cozy up to the class heartthrob. There's no need for this charade. We all know each other too well. Don't pretend to be a saint when everyone knows your history."

"So what if you got good grades? It didn't stop you from ruining your reputation. Now you've even done time, and yet you're still here pretending to be someone you're not."

around Claire like a swarm

themselves right at home. One man, barely settled next to Claire, had the nerve to drape an arm over her shoulders, flashing a sickeningly insincere

had a decent

with a sudden jerk, her

man—a heavyset guy in a tacky suit-looked stung by her public rebuff,

a pudgy finger right in Claire's face and bellowed, "Claire, don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm telling you now if you

in,

treat you-he's doing you a favor. Who do you

school, but now he's a construction boss, raking in at least a couple hundred grand a year-more than any of

the attention. He flashed his wrists, making sure everyone noticed the gold rings stacked on every finger, their gaudy shine catching the light. Then, with a flourish, he slammed his iPhone and BMW keys onto the table, as if daring

toes curling inside her shoes from second-hand

contempt. She had no interest in defending herself—she knew full well that nothing she said would change their minds. They'd

instead, she pulled out her phone, intending to call Sean