Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

He was gasping for breath, struggling to keep himself from collapsing.

Finally, the overwhelming dizziness started to subside, and he managed to regain a semblance of calm.

He raised a trembling hand to haphazardly wipe away the tears from his face, just as he was about to gently place the acceptance letter back into the drawer. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed an old, slightly worn diary in the corner.

For a moment, his hand hovered in mid-air. His heart was in turmoil-logic told him not to open it, knowing its contents might bring more pain and guilt. Yet, the insatiable curiosity and longing to understand Claire's world proved irresistible.

In the end, his hand seemed to move on its own accord, reaching out to grasp the diary.

As he opened the first page, a family photograph came into view.

In the photo, his parents sat beaming in the center, with his mother cradling Lucky, their beloved dog, who had lived a full eighteen years before passing away of oldnoveldrama

age.

After Lucky's death, the family was engulfed in sorrow, even holding a special funeral for him. They were so heartbroken that they never got another dog. However, Lucky's room was preserved, his favorite toys still carefully arranged inside.

He stood next to his father, while Vanessa nestled beside their mother.

A family of four, seemingly so happy.

But Claire was placed apart from them, separated by one person.

His thoughts were yanked back to the day they took that family photo.

It was Labor Day, the weather was particularly nice, and the flowers in the garden were in full bloom.

Vanessa suggested taking a family photo in the garden.

The four of them were ready when Vanessa remembered Lucky was missing and called out for him.

Claire carefully brought Lucky over and timidly asked him, "Big brother, what are you doing?"

He replied dismissively that they were taking a family photo.

Claire's eyes sparkled with excitement, thinking she would be part of the family picture too.

During the photo, she eagerly stood close to him.

At the time, he didn't allow any woman other than Vanessa to get close to him, and Claire's proximity made him uncomfortable. Instinctively, he pushed her away, completely unaware of the disappointment and hurt in Claire's eyes.

He still remembered, after the photo was taken, Vanessa suggested that they take advantage of the holiday to go on a family trip.

Naturally, he and his parents agreed. They packed their bags, and the four of them, along with the dog, set off on a trip, only returning home on the last night of the holiday.

He remembered vividly, that night marked the first major argument between the family and Claire.

It was all because Claire asked, "Why didn't you take me on the trip?"

Already exhausted from the trip, her questioning expression infuriated him. "You're not part of the Linwood family, why should we take you?" he snapped.

Even a dog could be placed at the center of the family photo, yet his own sister was distanced by a person's gap.

The dog had its own room, meticulously cleaned by a housekeeper, filled with items Lucky loved.

Meanwhile, his sister had to live in a dark, damp storage room, with only a few worn-out pieces of furniture haphazardly placed around.

Even the dog got to go on family trips, yet his sister had to stay behind.

They spent a small fortune every month on grooming, flea treatments, dog food, fish oil, calcium tablets, and vitamins for Lucky, ensuring he had the best life possible.

Yet his sister received nothing, her school fees paid through her part-time jobs and scholarships.

Scenes like these flashed through his mind like a slideshow.

Ethan felt as though a sharp blade had pierced his stomach, and he vomited blood onto the desk.

It turned out that in moments of extreme pain and stress, one could indeed cough up blood.

His heart ached profoundly.