Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 357

Sean stood in the doorway, dressed in a sharply tailored black suit that accentuated his tall, commanding presence. He looked every bit the picture of authority-broad-shouldered, straight-backed, and utterly unyielding.

The moment Sean caught sight of Claire, disheveled and covered in cream, a fierce, burning anger flared in his piercing eyes. Without a word, he strode over to her, and with a swift, calculated kick, sent Mac Brown-who had been gripping Claire's arm-crashing to the floor. Mac's large frame hit the ground with a heavy thud, and he let out a pained yelp.

Sean didn't seem to notice, or care, about the cream smeared across Claire's clothes. He gently pulled her into his arms, shielding her, one hand tenderly rubbing her back in reassurance.

Claire clung to him desperately, clutching the fabric of his suit jacket as if it were a lifeline.

Everyone in the room froze at the sight of Sean. His presence was overwhelming. The fitted black suit made him seem even taller and more imposing; his chiseled features-high-bridged nose, tightly pressed lips-radiated a cold, commanding authority that left everyone rooted to the spot, stunned.

It took a long moment before anyone found their voice.

"You think you can just hit one of our

want. Do you even know where you are? This is the Grandeur Hotel's exclusive VIP lounge! Our class heartthrob, Asher, is a favorite of Mr. Foster, the CEO of Foster & Co. Mess

contempt. "Hey, handsome, are you friends with Claire? Let me warn you, she's nothing but

over each

been standing off to the side basking in his earlier triumph, now looked completely rattled. His self-satisfied smirk vanished. He stared at Claire, now shielded in Sean's arms, unable to comprehend what was happening. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but the noise from the crowd drowned him out. He just stood

gaze swept coldly across the room. Everywhere his

"So you're the famous Asher they

was low

dread crept over Asher. His knees nearly buckled, but he forced a sycophantic smile onto his face. "Y-yes, that's

lounge was reserved under my

glances. Their expressions shifted in an instant— from cocky arrogance to shock, then to abject fear. It suddenly dawned on them: the impeccably dressed man before them was none other than the CEO of Foster

protective way he held Claire, could he really be her fiancé? The men in the group instantly straightened their backs, plastering ingratiating smiles on