Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Adah's slap carried the weight of a storm, leaving no room for civility towards Claire. In front of a room full of guests, she intended to teach Claire a harsh lesson.

The crowd erupted in disbelief, the previously calm atmosphere turning tense. Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on Claire, waiting for the slap to land.

But before Adah's hand could strike, Liam, who stood beside Claire, swiftly intercepted and grasped her wrist, forcefully flinging her hand aside. Off balance, Adah stumbled backward, nearly falling, eliciting gasps from the onlookers.

Humiliated in front of everyone, Adah's face burned with embarrassment. She stared at Claire with disbelief, as if betrayed by someone she once trusted, filled with anger and denial.

Claire, however, returned her gaze with an icy detachment. Her eyes held no trace of concern for the woman who was supposed to be her mother. Instead, they were cold, treating Adah as if she were a stranger of no significance.

This indifference pierced Adah's heart deeply. She had expected Claire to be remorseful, frightened, or even to break down and admit the mistake of leaving home. But instead, Claire was calm, composed, and unfazed.

Adah stood frozen, her expression one of sheer incredulity. She could manage not to love Claire, but she couldn't accept the idea that Claire no longer loved her. Claire, who once desperately sought her mother's affection, was now indifferent.

Her voice trembled as she pointed at Claire, choking on her words, "Claire, how could you just let him do that to me? I am your mother!"

Claire's lips curled into a mocking smile, devoid of warmth, as if she were watching a ridiculous performance. "Oh, Mrs. Linwood, you do remember being my mother. But since when does a mother greet her daughter with a slap?" "What is it? In your eyes, is a slap some kind of reward for me?" Claire's tone was gentle, yet dripping with sarcasm, each word a sharp sting on Adah's pride.

The guests murmured among themselves, casting curious and judgmental glances at Adah. As a woman who valued her social standing above all, Claire's public defiance was a significant blow to Adah's dignity, causing her face to flush with shame and anger.

"I—I only wanted to discipline you because I'm worried," Adah stammered. "You're a young woman, leaving home with nothing. How have you been surviving this past month?"

"And that dress you're wearing, it's worth tens of thousands. How did you come by it?" Her words were loaded with insinuation, clear to everyone despite her not speaking them outright.noveldrama

Claire's gaze hardened, filled with a chilling disdain. The thought of her own mother slandering her was repulsive. "Worried about me?" Claire scoffed. "Mrs. Linwood, spare me the pretense."

"When I was with the Linwood family, you all did nothing but belittle and abuse me. And when I was imprisoned, you couldn't distance yourselves fast enough. Now, you claim to be concerned? It's laughable."

Claire stood tall, her pink gown enhancing her regal presence, a stark contrast to the submissive girl she once was. Her transformation was undeniable, and she was no longer the Claire who could be easily trampled upon.