Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 198

Under the pressure from the demanding hostess, two wealthy women reluctantly hoisted the barely conscious Claire, dragging her towards the banquet hall. Her legs, devoid of strength, left trails of blood on the polished floor. The remnants of her gown slipped further with every tug, leaving her nearly exposed.

Brian stood frozen, watching the scene unfold with a storm of emotions churning within him. He wanted to intervene, to stop the indignity, but as he took a step forward, Vanessa caught his arm firmly.

"Brian, you can't afford to offend the Foster family," Vanessa cautioned, her voice low but insistent. "You're here tonight to make connections with them, aren't you?"

Brian's eyes reflected his inner turmoil as he watched Claire being dragged away, his heart heavy with guilt and pain. Yet Vanessa's words kept him rooted in place, trapped between his desire to help and the fear of jeopardizing his future ties with the powerful family. He could only watch as Claire was led toward an uncertain humiliation.

Claire, it's not that I don't want to help you. You brought this upon yourself. Why did you have to be so stubborn, to provoke Mrs. Foster, to refuse to beg for mercy? The humiliation you're facing now is because of your own character. He repeated these excuses to himself, convincing himself that Claire deserved what was happening, as if she had truly done something as scandalous as seducing another woman's husband.

Andie watched helplessly as the battered, nearly unclothed Claire was dragged away, fear enveloping him. He knew all too well the lengths Sean could go to. The thought of what Sean might do if he saw Claire in such a state sent a shiver down his spine. Sean's ruthlessness was infamous in the city.

Years ago, when Yvonne Smith—now Mrs. Foster—had confronted Sean’s mother while heavily pregnant, the confrontation had led to tragic consequences. A then five-year-old Sean had pushed Yvonne down the stairs, causing her to lose the baby. He had even arranged for her to be unable to conceive again. Though he later seemed to mellow, appearing more composed, Andie understood it was merely a façade.

Now, with Sean finally finding a woman he cared for, only for her to be tormented by Yvonne, Andie couldn't imagine the reaction. Nor could he bear the thought of becoming a target himself. Fueled by desperation, Andie struggled against his captors, ignoring the fresh scratches and bruises inflicted in the process.