Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 65

Adah looked at Claire with eager anticipation. "Claire, just tell me what you want," she said. "I'll do anything to earn your forgiveness."

Her words were resolute, her eyes filled with determination.

Anyone looking at her would easily be convinced of her sincerity.

But Claire wasn't one of them.

"Oh, really?" Claire replied, her face expressionless.

Adah nodded emphatically. "Trust me this time, Claire. I promise you won't be disappointed," she pleaded.

Claire regarded her, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes.

"Alright."

Seeing Claire agree, Adah couldn't help but smile, but her smile quickly froze.

Claire continued, "All you have to do is ask Vanessa to leave the house and sever all ties with her. Then I'll forgive you."

Adah clenched the hem of her shirt, trapped between a rock and a hard place.

She looked at Claire with pleading eyes, only to meet Claire's unyielding, cold gaze.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

After what seemed like an eternity, Adah finally spoke in a dry voice, "Claire, Vanessa... she's been with our family for many years. Your father and I have always treated her like our own daughter. To suddenly ask her to leave and sever ties... what would people say about our family? And she hasn't done anything terribly wrong. It's just that..."

Claire let out a cold laugh. "If she hasn't done anything wrong, Mrs. Linwood, then why did you delete that surveillance footage?"

Adah was speechless, unable to muster a rebuttal.

"Don't make excuses, Mrs. Linwood. You don't really care about what people say about the Linwood family. After all, five years ago, when the police took me away in front of all the elite of Cresthaven at the graduation party, you never cared about the family's reputation."

"In the end, you're just biased."

"Admit it, Vanessa is the apple of your eye, while I'm just a weed."

How laughable.

The truth was, Adah had never valued her.

Neither cherished nor willing to let go.

But it didn't matter to her anymore.

Five years in prison had shown her the truth.

Claire looked at Adah for a long time, her gaze heavy and unwavering.

Finally, she spoke, "Alright, I'll give you another chance. Vanessa can stay with the Linwood family, but only if Mrs. Linwood climbs the 999 steps of the Temple of Serenity and brings back a blessing from Father Benedict for me. Then I'll forgive you. How about that?"

Adah's face turned even paler, her lips trembling, eyes filled with fear and hesitation.

The 999 steps of the Temple of Serenity were steep and treacherous. Even young people found it a challenge, let alone someone in their fifties, regardless of how well she maintained her health.