Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 523

Claire didn't spare Adah another glance. She climbed straight into the car.

She couldn't even forgive Nathan-so how could she possibly forgive Adah?

In her previous life, Adah's cruelty had gone beyond even Nathan's.

Nathan's malice, at least, sprang from the belief that Vanessa was his own flesh and blood. But Adah-Adah had always known Vanessa was adopted, and yet she still chose to humiliate her own daughter for the sake of another.

Coming back to life hadn't erased those memories. Just because she had another chance didn't mean the past could be rewritten.

If she ever forgave Adah and Nathan-those people-then how could she live with herself, knowing Mandy had thrown her life away for revenge? Mandy, who had killed for her sake.

So no, she wouldn't forgive. Not now, not ever.

The car door closed with a soft click, and as the car pulled away, Adah was left standing alone at the curb, staring after it in a daze.

She whispered to herself, "This is what I deserve. I don't deserve your forgiveness."

"But still... I don't have much time left. I just wanted to hear you call me 'Mom' one last time before I go."

Adah felt all her strength leave her. Her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed -until a steady hand reached out to catch her.

She looked up into Ethan's worried eyes.

"Mom, are you alright?”

shook her head weakly.

prison—a ten-year sentence. He'd

bars had stripped him of all his pride. Oddly, prison had become almost familiar to him, as though he'd lived that life before.

the nightmares-they

her. He dreamed of the way Vanessa faked her innocence, and how his whole family had been blind to the truth. In his dreams, he was always hurting his

him, torturing him, until he was nearly mad with

those dreams—until he came home and finally

been dreams. It had all really happened

lives, his sister had been abused by her own family until she was

by nightmares—he'd committed so

Claire won't forgive us. What do

a hot metallic taste filled her mouth and nose-she coughed, and blood spilled onto her hand. Her vision went

Ethan shouted, terror in

bitter, broken laugh. This

she'd done.

At the hospital.

woke slowly, the world blurry

IV from her hand and climbed out of bed,

pale light. She ripped

for the handle, she heard the