Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 421

Ethan struggled to rise, but his efforts were useless; it was as if every ounce of strength had been drained from his body.

He stared in despair at Claire's photograph on the headstone. The gentle eyes and soft smile that once brought him comfort now felt like a blade, sharp and merciless, cutting straight into his heart.

The pain was overwhelming.

Blood welled up in his mouth again and splattered across Claire's headstone.

Sean's expression tightened, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face.

Amara, without a shred of sympathy, shoved the suffering Ethan aside. "Get away. You're making a mess of my mother's grave."

She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and gently wiped the blood from the marble, her small hands careful and reverent.

Though Amara was just a child, the look in her eyes as she gazed at the headstone was full of devotion and aching tenderness, as if she were tending to the most precious thing in the world-something sacred, untouchable.

Ethan lifted his head, anguish twisting his features. His eyes were bloodshot, as if tears could no longer contain all the pain inside him.

He glared at Sean, gritting his teeth. "Did you tell her everything about Claire?" Sean looked down at him, making no attempt to deny it. "I did."

Rage flared in Ethan's eyes. "Sean, why would you tell a child things like that? She's just a kid-how could she possibly handle it?"

cold half-smile. "How I raise my

naïve. We give

of her. But my daughter-when she faces people like you, she'll fight back. She

the headstone and finally turned to face

but the icy set of her features sent a chill down his spine. She looked so much like Claire, but the

way of raising me. I can be

words so harsh

body trembled uncontrollably. "Amara, I know I

sneered, an

child's face.

too

tan uncle like you."

then do us both a

Ethan like a

stone, but Amara slapped his hand

"Don't touch my mother."

voice was barely

regret. "Is there

if it means spending