Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 422

No matter how desperately he struggled, the bodyguards dragged him away.

His anguished cries echoed through the cemetery, lingering in the chilly air-a sound that tugged painfully at the heart.

Sean checked his watch, then turned to Amara. "Amara, it's time for us to go."

She nodded, her gaze drifting to the photo of Claire on the headstone. "Mom, Dad and I will come see you again soon."

Ethan wandered aimlessly down the street, his mind a tangled haze. His steps were unsteady, his eyes vacant, haunted by the memory of Claire's black-and- white portrait on the gravestone.

He kept mumbling under his breath, a broken mantra: "No way... I don't believe it... Claire must still be alive. You're all lying to me..."

Everything around him blurred into insignificance. He drifted along the wide avenue with no destination, lost in his own world.

Then, suddenly, a girl in a white dress caught his eye.

Her features her eyes, her smile-looked so much like Claire's.

Ethan's pupils widened in shock and a wild hope flashed across his face. "Claire? Claire—!"

but the girl was

roared to life, and the car

pushing himself to the edge, his vision swimming

one more time! I was wrong, I promise I'll never treat you like that again. I'l protect you, I'll cherish you, I'll give

matter how he begged, the car never

uneasy curiosity, some even staring as if he'd lost his mind. Ethan didn't notice. His world had narrowed

his foot caught on the curb and he tumbled to the

knees throbbing with pain, but he barely noticed. He reached out toward the direction the car had disappeared, as if

sidewalk as

long he stayed there

the time Ethan made it home, night had

only to spot a

car. As Ethan approached, the man straightened and spoke in a quiet,

had passed. Both men had changed in subtle ways, but Ethan

price, but Sean had only driven the Cole

expression was as cold and guarded as ever, his features shadowed by

face hardened. "What do you