Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 429

Claire glanced at the headmaster, only to see his expression darken. “Nonsense. Claire has always been a well-behaved, sensible girl—there's no way she would hit you. And even if she did, I'm sure you were the one who started it."

His tone brooked no argument. "Well? Aren't you going to apologize to Claire?"

The words left Claire stunned for a moment.

She'd heard these exact lines countless times in her previous life.

Back then, though, it was the Linwoods who said them. But they weren't defending their real daughter-they were standing up for Vanessa.

Nathan, Adah, and Ethan would never bother to hear her side of the story. They'd scold her without mercy, then force her-the victim to apologize to Vanessa, the one who'd actually hurt her.

She'd suffered so many injustices in the Linwood household, and never imagined that, in this life, someone would finally use those same words to defend her.

No wonder Vanessa was always so smug. So this is what it feels like to have someone protect you without question. It feels... pretty good.

"But Headmaster, my nose is bleeding! How can you take Claire's side?"

the hem of his shirt, revealing a bruise on his stomach. "Look! Claire didn't just hit my nose with a basketball-she kicked me, too. You can't just favor her because she gets

deepened, his eyes narrowing in obvious displeasure. His voice grew stern. "Vincent, you're always causing trouble

of concern. "Claire, tell me the truth.

chubby little face, round

clear as glass, full of innocence-so pure that even without a

headmaster couldn't help but soften further under

If Vincent was picking on you, just tell

cheeks

sure. "He hit me on the head with a basketball and ordered me to fetch it for him. He said if

said that studying is pointless and that

eyes wide, playing up her innocence. "Headmaster, is that true? Is studying

was deliberately setting

her last life Vincent had been nothing but a thankless brat. She'd worked herself to the bone to put

vel

it on frivolities, and even

see what it