Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 145

Ethan's expression grew increasingly grim. He took a deep breath, striving to maintain his composure, but his voice trembled with emotion.

“Dad, Claire's missing, and all you can think about is your business deal with Mr. Foster?”

“If only you'd shown Claire a fraction of the concern you have for Vanessa, she wouldn't have been driven to such despair.”

“Who is your real daughter, Dad?” he asked, his voice strained with barely restrained anger.

Nathan, feeling his temper flare, slammed his hand on the bedside table. “So Claire’s gone missing—does that mean we all just stop living?”

“It’s not like I told her to disappear. If she wants to vanish into thin air, so be it. At least I won’t have to see her moping around, which frankly improves my mood.”

His face flushed red with anger, Nathan continued, his voice laced with bitterness. “Ever since that troublemaker came back into the house, I've had no peace.”

As he spoke, his breath came in heavy gasps, and he grew more resolute. “It’d be better if she never returned. Whether she’s dead or alive is of no concern to me. What I care about is the Linwood family business.”

Nathan’s eyes were cold and detached, showing no trace of fatherly affection.

Ethan felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, leaving him chilled to the bone.

He stared at Nathan, his lips trembling as he finally voiced the question that had haunted him all night. “Dad, five years ago, did you already know it wasn’t Claire who pushed Irene down the stairs?”

Ethan’s gaze was unyielding, scrutinizing Nathan’s face for any flicker of emotion.

Nathan’s expression stiffened, a flicker of panic in his eyes before he regained his composure.

Ethan laughed, but his heart was breaking.

“Enough.” Nathan’s voice cut through sharply, his eyes full of warning. “This isn’t the time for this. Get a grip.”

Ethan’s eyes were red, his chest heaving with fury as he glared at Nathan, enunciating each word, “You ignored Claire’s suffering, burdened her with a false crime, let her endure unspeakable torment in prison? Aren’t you afraid of karma?”

Nathan trembled with rage, pointing a finger at Ethan, his voice shaking. “How dare you speak to me like that? Everything I’ve done is for the Linwood family’s reputation. Claire, that worthless girl, what does it matter if she sacrifices a bit?”

“Sacrifice?” Ethan let out a bitter laugh. “Claire was beaten in prison, her leg broken, and she lost a kidney. Does that not weigh on your conscience?”

Nathan’s expression faltered slightly at the mention of Claire’s missing kidney, but he quickly regained his stoic facade. “She’s always been a troublemaker. If she got beaten up, she probably provoked it. As for her kidney, it’s likely she got hurt fighting, so it was removed. She brought it on herself.”