Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 353

The woman in the red dress beamed with smug satisfaction, as if this birthday cake were some crowning glory she'd always deserved. Trying her best to sound gracious, she said, "Then please thank your manager for me."

The server maintained her practiced, sweet smile and replied softly, "No need to thank me-it's our pleasure."

With that, she turned and wheeled the empty cart out of the private room with effortless poise.

As the door clicked shut behind her, every eye in the room turned toward the woman in red, radiating envy.

Once the flurry of compliments had died down, Mac Brown-still nursing the sting from the slap he'd received-let his chubby face contort with rage. Suddenly, he snatched a plate off the table and, scowling, swung it at Claire's head, cursing as he did:

"You arrogant little tramp! You dare hit me? Let's see if you can take what you dish out!"

Claire reacted instantly. She grabbed a fork from the table, ready to defend herself.

But before she could strike back, May pulled her protectively into her arms.

There was a sharp crack as the plate smashed down on May's head, shattering into pieces.

"May!" Claire cried out in alarm.

"I'm fine, Ms. Claire," May said through gritted teeth, fighting back the pain. "Go find Mr. Foster, quickly."

room erupted with

man in Cresthaven-barely half a year in the city and he's already spent billions to secure the whole Eastborough district. Do you really think someone like you could

Once our class star arrives, you can grovel at his feet-maybe he'll be generous enough to let you catch

star's not just anybody these days. Trust me, he wouldn't look

of person wouldn't I look

the door swung open again. A man in a crisp

school, Asher Chase had been the golden boy everyone swooned over-and even now, he was still noticeably more handsome than any of the other

were all he had left from those

high school was five

if he was a bit arrogant, his eyes still held a certain

eyes glinted with calculation, and he radiated the smug energy of a man who thought he'd made it. "Asher Chase, you

the crowd swarmed around him as if they were courtiers greeting a king,

off their compliments with fake humility-"You're all too kind, really"—but his face

so long?

grinned. "I was just having a business meeting with

true. He had indeed been near Sean Foster a few minutes ago, but calling it a

heard Mr. Foster would be at the Grandeur Hotel today, so he'd shamelessly lingered

about to discuss the Eastborough

to the private room he'd reserved-Suite 107-but halfway there,