Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 406

"Don't be scared, sweetheart. It's all right now. I'm sorry-I should've been here sooner." Sean gently patted Amara's back, his voice low and soothing as he tried to calm her trembling sobs.

Amara finally loosened her grip and lifted her tear-streaked face, meeting Sean's gaze with a surprising steadiness in her eyes. "You're the best, Daddy. The very best in the whole world."

Sean's expression softened completely. He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. "I promise, I'll never be late again."

"Okay." Amara buried her small head against his broad chest, though she still couldn't stop the occasional hiccup of tears.

Sean's heart ached for her. In two years, his precious daughter had never cried like this—not until today, when a madwoman had terrified her.

He glanced toward the woman sprawled on the ground. Only then did he realize who she was-Claire's mother, Adah.

Adah struggled to sit up, reaching desperately for Amara in Sean's arms. "Claire! My Claire..."

Sean's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. Love that comes too late is worth less than nothing.

When Claire was alive, suffering at the hands of the Linwoods, Adah had never spoken up, never shielded her daughter from cruelty. Now Claire was gone, and Adah had suddenly reappeared, mistaking Amara for the daughter she'd failed to protect. This belated compassion was sickening.

the hospital-and see to it I never have to look

in,

wild desperation, tears and snot streaking her face. "No! Please, don't take me back. I just want my

Mommy, won't you? I miss you so much, sweetheart. I

face remained buried in Sean's embrace, her small body still shaking from

her close, carrying

my daughter!" Adah wailed, thrashing

stared after the departing car in terror. "Don't take my daughter

cold as steel. "Your daughter died two years

you're lying! She can't be dead. My Claire is still

and haunted, her lips still whispering

felt no sympathy. He forced her back to the psychiatric

to leave again," he told the

worry, sir.

Jeffry left, Adah was shackled with heavy chains. For the rest of her days, the

spent the remainder of her life haunted by memories of Claire, lost