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.

dump after just

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

had to finish an entire five-tier

relentless torture, they ballooned before each other's eyes, swelling like overinflated

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

barely a hundred pounds to one- fifty. The fat came so quickly that their bodies erupted in angry, jagged stretch marks,

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

men fared no

the school's golden boy-tall, athletic, lean-had shot up to two hundred pounds

always been heavyset, but now he was so obese he could barely stand-reduced

Mandy finally felt the anger that had been burning in her chest begin to

satisfied smile. "Since none of you managed to actually hurt Claire, I'll let you off-for now. But if any of you lay a finger on her ever again, you won't get off so easy

one dared protest. They nodded frantically, promising to behave, swearing they'd never bother Claire

contemptuous laugh, Mandy

in that suite, Asher, Mac Brown, and the rest were too

had Sean in her corner. With the Foster family's wealth and power, trying to get back at her would