Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 360

At that moment, Liam couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy toward Claire.

Mixed in with his envy was a flicker of resentment.

If someone like Mandy-just a bystander-could become so tough, even a little extreme, because of Claire, then why couldn't Claire herself find the courage to stand up to her own family? Why did she always let herself get trampled on?

And now, thanks to Claire, even Mandy's birthday had been ruined.

As Mandy walked away, her figure growing smaller in the distance, Liam couldn't stop himself. He called out after her, his voice echoing down the empty street, "Mandy! Next year, on this day, I promise I'll throw you the biggest birthday party you've ever had!"

Mandy froze mid-step. A wave of complicated emotion surged in her chest- something close to gratitude-but in the end, she didn't look back.

Liam would never have imagined that, a year from now, he'd never get the chance to keep that promise.

After that day, life seemed to settle back into an uneasy calm.

Mandy, true to her word, showed up at the Grandeur Hotel every afternoon after school-always on time, always with the air of a strict supervisor-watching over the group in the private suite as they choked down slice after slice of cake.

The 101 Suite, reserved for VIPs, was outfitted with every comfort: a spacious dining area, a lounge, even its own bathroom.

it weren't, the place would have turned into a revolting, fetid dump after just a few days,

this month was nothing

day, they ate cake until they were sick. And if anyone actually did throw up, Mandy, with all the cruelty of a demon, would force them to eat their own vomit. So they gritted their teeth, fighting the urge to be sick, terrified of

finish an entire five-tier

this relentless torture, they ballooned before each other's

dresses, had once been the envy of everyone-petite, curvy, obsessed with their looks, each

their bodies erupted in angry, jagged stretch marks, ugly as

Some became diabetic. Their beauty and self-confidence, once their greatest weapons, had vanished without a

fared no

two hundred pounds in just a few

but now he was so obese

that had

to actually hurt Claire, I'll let you off-for now. But if any of you lay a finger on her ever again,

what Mandy was capable of. No one dared protest. They nodded frantically,

laugh, Mandy

a month locked up in that suite, Asher, Mac Brown, and

With the Foster family's