Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 465

“No, no—Claire, please, let me explain!"

But Mrs. Tempest cut her off sharply. "There's nothing left to explain. You were ready to throw your own child into an orphanage. That alone proves you're not fit be a mother. Just look at those two children—the arrogance and conceit they display are evidence enough of your failures."

She turned to address the gathering, her voice icy and commanding. "All of you, causing such a scene at my precious daughter's birthday party-nearly ruining the celebration we planned for Claire. Don't think this will be forgotten. When the party's over, each and every one of you will answer for what you've done."

With that, Mrs. Tempest swept Claire into her arms and strode away, not sparing a single glance behind her.

Adah could only watch, helpless, as their figures receded down the hall. Her voice broke as she screamed after them, "Give me back my daughter-give her back!"

But no matter how she cried, no one paid her any mind.

She wanted desperately to chase after them, but her whole body was trembling, her legs refusing to obey. Tears streamed down her cheeks, fiercer than ever-a mother's fear of losing her child, raw and overwhelming.

"Claire, it's all my fault," she sobbed, her voice barely above a whisper. "In my last life, I was blind and foolish, always siding with Vanessa, and because of that, you were hurt-hurt so deeply you'll suffer for a lifetime."

"But this time-this time things will be different. God has given me a second chance, and I promise, I'll protect you, Claire. I'll never let anyone harm you again."

was wrong," she wept. "I regret it so much... If only I had come back sooner-maybe none of

thought, scolding little Claire-just five years old-without ever asking what really happened. She could have slapped herself for her stupidity, for her blind

turned cold and furious as she looked down

this-every bit of it-was this brat's

Vanessa had known perfectly well she wasn't Nathan's child; she was the daughter of Sophia and Garnett Brown. And yet, she'd lied, deceiving everyone in the Linwood family. Because

now that Adah was back, there was no way

lifted her foot, and drove the sharp heet of her shoe down onto Vanessa's tiny hand grinding it mercilessly into

wň

five-year-old's hand is delicate, almost fragile. The pressure from the heel threatened to

was the excruciating pain that finally jolted Vanessa

her eyes and saw a pair of feet pressing down on her hand. Looking up, she met Adah's eyes eyes so full of

raw and frantic. "Mommy-it hurts! Please, take your foot away, it

She didn't understand-her mother

adored her, doted on her. Why was she hurting her now, looking at her with such loathing? None of it made sense, but the pain in

didn't let up. Instead, she pressed down even

crack echoed through the