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.

into a revolting, fetid dump after just

month was nothing short

all the cruelty of a demon, would force them

to finish an entire

ballooned before each other's eyes, swelling

Scarlet and her friends in their signature red dresses, had once been the envy of everyone-petite, curvy, obsessed with

one- fifty. The fat came so quickly that their bodies erupted

Some became diabetic. Their beauty and self-confidence, once their greatest weapons,

fared

once been the school's golden boy-tall, athletic, lean-had shot up to two hundred pounds in just a few

He'd always been heavyset, but now he was so obese he could barely

felt the anger that had been burning in her chest

I'll let you off-for now. But if any of you lay

dared protest. They nodded frantically, promising to behave, swearing they'd

a contemptuous laugh, Mandy told them

up in that suite, Asher, Mac Brown,

Sean in her corner. With the Foster family's wealth