Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 288

"Impossible!" Brian shot back without a moment's hesitation. "Mom, you watched Vanessa grow up—you know how kind she is. There's no way she could have pushed Irene down the stairs. There has to be some misunderstanding here. Honestly, I think Irene probably just lost her balance and—"

"Brian!"

Before he could finish, Irene's voice cut through the room, sharp and icy.

Her eyes, glinting with a cold, hard light, landed on Brian—not with the affection of a sibling, but with the hatred reserved for a mortal enemy.

She couldn't believe it. Even now, after everything, Brian was still defending Vanessa, still trying to wipe her slate clean.

It was Brian who once claimed to care for Claire, and Brian who hurt her most deeply.

Years ago, it was Brian who insisted on breaking off his engagement with Vanessa. Now, with the truth laid bare, he was still fighting tooth and nail to protect Vanessa's reputation.

Suddenly, Irene felt a wave of revulsion toward her brother.

Honestly, what Brian was doing hurt her even more than anything Vanessa had ever done.

"Brian, let me make this perfectly clear," Irene shouted, her voice trembling with anger and pain. "Five years ago, it was Vanessa who pushed me down those stairs. Claire was innocent!"

"No, it wasn't me—it really wasn't!" Vanessa shook her head desperately, tears brimming in her eyes. The angry red slap mark on her cheek only made her look more pitiful, as if she'd been wronged beyond all measure.

"Brian, please, you have to believe me," she pleaded, her voice cracking.

Brian could never bear to see Vanessa cry. Shooting Irene a fierce glare, he snapped, "Irene, you can't just throw around accusations like that. This is about Vanessa's reputation—and I know she'd never do something like that."

"So Vanessa's reputation matters, but Claire's doesn't?" Irene shot back, furious.

If she could stand, she would have stormed over and slapped Brian herself.

Her face was flushed with rage, her eyes burning with resentment. "You want to know why Vanessa pushed me down the stairs?" she spat.