Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 525

My name is Amara Foster.

My mother is a renowned scientist, and my father is a powerhouse in the business world.

They are, without a doubt, the most devoted couple I’ve ever known. Their love for each other is obvious in everything they do.

Growing up in a family like this, it was inevitable that I’d be cherished from the moment I was born.

It wasn’t just my parents and great-grandmother who doted on me. My grandparents and uncle all treated me like I was the most precious thing in the world.

But as much as they showered me with love, they were also strict when it came to my upbringing.

Once I started preschool, our teachers encouraged us to be kind, to work together, to be friendly, and to learn how to share.

When I repeated my teacher’s words to my mother, she looked at me seriously and said, “Sweetheart, your teacher isn’t wrong, but you need to remember: if someone treats you badly or tries to bully you, you must never just put up with it. You don’t have to be kind to people who hurt you. If someone bullies you, you fight back—hard.”

“And if there’s something you really like and you don’t want to share, you have every right to keep it for yourself.”

Half-understanding, I asked, “Mom, if I do that, does that mean I’m not a good kid?”

She would always stroke my hair gently and answer, “The most important thing is to protect yourself first. Only after that comes being a good person.”

“Sweetheart, remember—your father and I work so hard and climb so high in the world so that no one can bully us, and so we can protect you from being bullied. We’ll always have your back. We don’t go looking for trouble, but we’re never afraid to stand up for ourselves. Do you understand?”

At the time, I didn’t fully grasp everything she meant, but I trusted my mom completely. If she said it, it must be right.

Because I believed in her advice, whenever I faced problems, I never let myself feel inferior or discouraged. At school, nobody dared to mess with me.

Maybe that’s partly my personality, but I know it also has a lot to do with my family’s status.

Still, I’ve never used that as an excuse to push others around.

Preschool was a pretty happy time for me—I enjoyed every day.