Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 12

Her steely gaze swept over each member of the family, one by one.

Nathan, Adah, and Vanessa all avoided her eyes, unable to meet her penetrating stare.

Even an annoyed Ethan faltered, wilting under her sharp, knife-like gaze.

"Not talking? Then let me do the talking for you," Claire asserted.

"When Mr. Ethan received the dress, it was perfectly intact. Surveillance footage can prove I never touched the dress on my way here. Yet, when the dress reached Vanessa, it was damaged. It's pretty obvious who ruined it."

"So, you don't dare to check the surveillance footage because once it's seen, you can't just blame me or make me take the fall for someone else, right?"

Taking the fall for someone else.

Those words were like daggers, stabbing into Nathan and Adah's hearts, dredging up memories of that incident five years ago.

Adah was already in tears. "Claire, it's not like that. Let me explain. You and Vanessa are both my daughters. I love you both equally. How could I ever choose between you?"

If she had been the Claire from five years ago, desperate for a mother's love, she might have melted at her mother's tearful plea.

But after enduring five years of hardship, those words only filled her with disgust.

"Say whatever you want; it doesn't matter anymore."

With that, she turned away from the Linwood family, not wanting to spare them another glance, and walked away.

As Claire reached the corner, she unexpectedly encountered Vincent.

He stood there quietly, having clearly witnessed everything that had just transpired.