Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 403

Sean's throat tightened as if something had lodged there, so dry he could barely make a sound. Grief churned inside his chest, raw and relentless.

He looked down at his daughter's clear, hopeful eyes, and it felt as though a thousand steel needles pierced straight through his heart.

He couldn't bear to let her know the cruel truth-that her mother was gone forever.

But lying to his daughter was even harder.

Sean was silent for a long while before he finally managed to speak, his voice strained. "Sweetheart, Mommy's gone somewhere far away now. But she's up in the sky, always watching over you. Her biggest wish is for you to grow up happy."

The little girl nodded as if she understood, a flicker of sadness in her gaze, but she quickly brightened and beamed up at him. "Then, Daddy, let's go home now!"

Seeing his daughter so gentle and mature for her age made Sean's eyes sting with tears. He pulled her slender, fragile body close, holding her to his chest.

Maybe it was a father's instinct, or maybe the bond between them was just that strong, but even though Sean tried so hard to hide his sorrow, his daughter sensed it instantly.

gently patted his head. "Don't cry, Daddy. If you cry, I'll be

ache more. "Alright, Daddy

but she suddenly said, "Wait, Daddy-I haven't said goodbye to Mr. Liam

paused, then carried her

but it was spotless; everything was tidy,

year-old had been quietly cleaning up every

slumped on the

as if the

drained

heavy sigh. "Liam, you've got to look forward. I'll give you three days to pull yourself together. After that,

eyes as empty and dry as an

if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he swallowed the words

up to gently touch his face. "Mr.

up at Sean, confusion written all over