Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 119

Claire was taken aback by the seething accusation, her tear-streaked face glaringly visible in the sunlight. She looked at the furious man before her and realized he'd misunderstood everything.

"No, Brian, let me explain," she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear embedded deep in her bones. "It's not what it looks like, it's Vanessa..."

But Brian wasn't listening. He stormed into the hospital room and roughly pulled Claire away from Irene's side. Her frail body stumbled backward, crashing into a solid chest.

In that instant, Claire felt as if her entire skeleton might shatter. Before she could react, large hands gripped her slender shoulders, spinning her around.

She found herself staring into a pair of deep eyes.

For the first fourteen years of her life, those eyes had gazed upon her with endless tenderness. Now, all she saw was disappointment and reproach.

Vincent's brow furrowed, his gaze tumultuous with a brewing storm. "Claire, what's happened to you? Are you still that kind, innocent girl I once knew? Give me back the person you used to be, please."

As she faced this familiar yet distant Vincent, tears spilled uncontrollably from Claire's eyes, filled with despair. She had never changed; it was he who had.

Yet, he never admitted to his own change of heart.

Her shoulders shook slightly, her arms hanging helplessly at her sides as if every ounce of strength had been drained from her.

"Vincent..." Her voice was hoarse, laden with endless sorrow and grievance. But before she could finish, her emotions erupted, and she screamed at Vincent, "It's not me—"