Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 447

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you. I was wrong, Claire- will you forgive me?"

Even though Claire hadn't been burned, just picturing her-so small-in the kitchen cooking made Orion's eyes redden with guilt and heartache.

Claire had grown up in an orphanage, a place where life was rarely kind. No wonder she knew how to cook; she'd probably had to fend for herself more times than he could imagine.

But she was only five-a child, really.

The more Orion thought about it, the more it hurt. He bent down and gently blew on Claire's tiny hand.

"Does it hurt? Is it burned?"

Looking at Orion, whose eyes brimmed with tears for her sake, Claire felt a strange warmth in her heart.

In her previous life, when she was with the Linwood family, she'd given them everything—her loyalty, her affection, her trust. But no matter how hard she tried, she never got their love in return.

They never cared about her. They always acted as if everything she did was simply expected.

Now, though, she finally had a brother who truly worried about her.

It felt so good. She knew, deep down, that being adopted by the Tempest family was the best decision she'd ever made.

"Don't worry, Orion. I'm fine."

"Promise me you won't do that again. From now on, you're not allowed in the kitchen."

"Okay."

was filled with warmth and affection, the scene unfolding at the Foster estate was

dropping Claire off at home, Sean returned, a kitchen knife clenched in his fist, and pushed open the door to

scrolling through her phone, shot upright in terror the moment

"Wh-what are you doing?"

far cry from the innocent, gentle boy he'd

throw Claire down

her face. "No, no, you've got it all

wall, twirling the fruit knife between his fingers with a

glint of the blade flickered across his young face,

when he

firsthand what he was capable of when crossed,

be when

Kids love to be picked up by grown-ups, don't they?

a hug, that's all,

you think,

I say is true. If there's a single lie,

you have to believe me. I've changed, I really have. I've been good these last five

looked up, his dark eyes so cold and deep they seemed to swallow

look in his eyes made Yvonne's knees threaten to

to do? I'm still your stepmother, you can't hurt me—" Sean moved closer, still

to learn your lesson. I

Yvonne was so terrified she nearly

away, but there was nowhere