Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 359

"Please... please, I'm begging you, we really can't eat anymore."

Asher's voice trembled with tears as he pleaded, cheeks bulging from the cake stuffed into his mouth. Cream oozed from the corners of his lips, mixing with his tears, making him look utterly pathetic.

Mandy let out a cold, bone-chilling laugh. "Now you want mercy? Too late."

With a swift flick of her butterfly knife, she stabbed Asher precisely in the side of his thigh.

"Aaagh!" Asher howled in agony, his legs buckling beneath him as he collapsed to his knees.

The pain was so intense his vision blurred, but he didn't dare stop chewing. He whimpered, his words muffled by the cake still crammed in his mouth.

The others were wide-eyed with terror, mechanically shoving cake into their mouths, letting the cream smear across their faces without a care.

They ate with difficulty, silent tears streaming down faces streaked with cream, each one marking a trail through the mess.

The private room was filled with the sounds of chewing, gagging, and sobbing.

Mandy paced the room, butterfly knife in hand, strolling as if she were out for a casual walk. Anyone who dared disobey earned themselves a quick slash-she was like an avenging angel of death.

Liam watched this side of Mandy, and she seemed like a complete stranger to him.

This was nothing like the girl he'd first met-back then, she'd seemed sweet and innocent, like a harmless little rabbit.

clear: the gentle exterior was nothing but a carefully crafted mask. Beneath it all, she was more like a venomous snake, lurking in the shadows, ready to

not letting a scrap remain. One by one, they collapsed, groaning, too full and exhausted to even

up to her.

spared him a

proper birthday yet. I was thinking... if you're free, maybe you

eyes, seeing nothing but honesty reflected

She lowered her gaze.

"No need."

She turned to leave.

grabbed her wrist, holding on

"What

to me? Before, maybe it

Why?

herself. The answer was obvious: there could never be

be leaving the country

resolved long ago never to let herself get tangled up in a

man. That kind of reckless devotion

seen what happened to Claire-she wouldn't make the same mistake,

That's just

it enough time, and any passion

it wouldn't take long

of tall, blue-eyed,