Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 364

Her eyes never left Claire-not even for a second. There was something familiar in them, a flicker of recognition, a searching uncertainty, and then, finally, a rare moment of clarity.

Tears spilled down her face in an instant, yet she was smiling.

She reached out a trembling hand. "Claire, you're my Claire. You finally came to see me, didn't you?"

Claire looked back at her with cold indifference, her gaze utterly unmoved, as if staring at a stranger.

Adah stumbled toward her, words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "Claire, Mom missed you so much. Stay with me, please. Don't leave me again."

Just as she neared, a pair of orderlies intercepted her, blocking her path and refusing to let her come any closer.

Adah fought wildly, screaming, "Let go of me! I want to hold my daughter-that's my daughter!"

She was shockingly strong, flailing her arms and clawing at the air in desperation. Claire simply stood there, watching it all unfold with icy detachment.

So it's true, she thought. Once you let go of your obsession, the love you once craved more than anything turns out to be meaningless after all.

Claire's lips. Her voice was calm and distant. "Mrs. Linwood,

turned to

in her madness, Adah understood

furiously. "No, don't go!

with anguish, Claire acted as if she hadn't heard

inside Adah finally shattered. Her voice grew hoarse from screaming, the sound now more like the guttural cry of a wounded animal. "Don't

several

a needle into

her consciousness slipping away, but her eyes never left Claire's retreating figure. They were

gathered around her. "She's had another violent episode today. We should strap her down

away, showing no gentleness

Outside the psychiatric facility.

breath, savoring the fresh, open

to

want to see Nathan and Vanessa Linwood. My kidney's been inside Vanessa

the Foster estate, Claire walked heavily to

today had left her completely drained. Her legs ached, and