Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 370

He grabbed hold of the iron chain without a hint of gentleness, yanking hard. Vanessa, helpless as a lamb led to slaughter, was dragged out of the filthy animal pen, her feet scraping through the muck.

Sensing the danger, Vanessa struggled desperately, but she was little more than skin and bones now-far too weak to fight Jeffry's grip. He hauled her along by the chain like she was a stray dog, forcing her to crawl forward through the mud. Meanwhile, Sean knelt in front of Claire again, his voice soft and reassuring. "Climb on, Claire. I'll carry you."

This time, Claire didn't hesitate. She slowly climbed onto his back, clinging to him as he stood up.

The group pressed on, following a winding, treacherous path that twisted through the mountain, every step sinking into thick, sucking mud.

Nathan's eyes stayed locked on Claire, his face streaked with tears and snot that blended with the grime on his cheeks. He babbled incoherently, desperate and broken, but no matter how he wailed, Claire never looked back.

Nathan's father, irritated by the noise, snatched a broom from the yard and swung it at his son. "Quit your bawling! I'm not even dead yet what are you crying for, you miserable brat?" he snapped.

finally passing out in the mud. Only then did the old man toss the broom aside, glaring at Nathan's limp body with a sneer, clearly unconcerned whether

the earth in a sudden, furious downpour. The storm arrived without warning,

lay soaked to the bone, sprawled in the muddy water, his battered body washed clean by the torrent-yet no one

footing. Vanessa stumbled through the mud,

steady but weary, trudged through the slop with Claire clinging to his back. Each step sent splashes flying, his boots sinking deep into the muck. He frowned, not for himself, but because he worried Claire would catch a chill from the relentless rain. Of all times for a storm,

moving forward. The rain blurred the world around them, and the mountain path grew even

by a deafening crash as lightning struck a massive tree not far ahead. In an instant,

eyes went wide, a surge of

moving-fast! With

car was parked far beyond the mountain, leaving them no choice but to