Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 363

Claire stood some distance away, watching Adah in silence, her gaze clouded with a tangled mix of emotions.

Adah Jones Linwood, have you ever truly reflected on your choices? Just because you fell for a worthless man and rushed into marriage, you managed to drag your entire life into utter ruin.

Your son is behind bars, your daughter is crippled for life, and you yourself lost an

eye.

You should have had a brilliant future, but your narrow-mindedness and sheer stupidity have left you with nothing but regret.

You-of all people-deserve every bit of this.

A cold, mocking smile played on Claire's lips. Having a mother like Adah was the greatest shame of her life.

She hated Nathan Linwood, but she hated Adah even more.

Looking back on her two decades of misery, Claire knew Nathan was the root of it all, but Adah was hardly blameless.

Her expression hardened as she stared at Adah.

arms, cooing and pretending to lull it to sleep.

whispered. "Mommy will protect you.

sweetheart. Mommy loves you so,

to the doll's cheek, as if she were holding her beloved, living

only deepened the

all this

cherished what she'd taken for

punished by life, eased something inside Claire. She saw no reason to linger here. During those dark months when

just wanted to see, with her own eyes, the miserable ruin

she'd seen enough. It was time

leave, a wild-eyed figure suddenly lunged at Adah, snatching the doll from her arms and taking off at a

Adah's face, replaced by panic

her back!" she screamed, her voice ragged, as she hurled herself after

man was too fast. No matter how desperately

My baby-my Claire!" she

gaining on him. He stopped, turned, and—seeing Adah's tear-streaked, devastated face-he grinned, revealing a mouthful

is fun-so much