Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 298

Atonement?

She scoffed. She didn't need any of it.

All of this—apologies, promises, pleas—were nothing more than desperate attempts for comfort, a way for them to cling to some shred of hope after losing everything, after finally facing the consequences of their actions.

If Nathan had any better option left, he would never have come crawling to her.

All the suffering she'd endured in the first half of her life had been a gift from the man standing before her.

Why should she forgive the person who had hurt her the most?

Not only did she refuse to forgive him, but she also believed Nathan's punishment was far from enough.

Her hatred ran deep—for Nathan, for Ethan, for Vanessa, for Adah, for Sophia, for Garnett Brown, and for Vincent and Brian.

Every single one of them had chosen to hurt her, all for Vanessa's sake. They were her executioners, one and all.

As for Jarrod and Karin, she couldn't quite say she hated them, but there was no affection in her heart, either. Their cruelty hadn't been for Vanessa—it had been for Irene, for vengeance.

Claire's gaze swept slowly, deliberately, across each face in the room.

None of them could meet her eyes. Shame weighed down their heads, one by one.

Finally, Claire's gaze settled on Nathan, her voice calm, unwavering. "You may have betrayed me, but I won't stoop to your level. Go on—go back to where you came from."

Nathan's eyes widened with terror.

What did she mean?

Was she really going to send him back to that remote mountain village?

No, he couldn't go back.

He remembered the day he'd left so clearly, leaving that wretched place with pride, convinced he'd never return. Now, he was nothing but a beaten-down stray. If he went back now, he'd become the laughingstock of the entire region—all their gossip would drown him.

"No, no…" he whimpered, his voice cracking. "Claire, don't do this. I'm your father!"

Claire's lips curled into a cold, silent smile.

Father?