The next day, as usual, May came to bring her food.
But this time, Adah didn't accompany her; instead, Mandy came along with May.
Mandy was a twenty-year-old college student, her eyes clear and innocent, radiating the vibrant glow of youth.
Looking at herself, Claire realized she was only three years older than Mandy, yet she felt like a withered flower, long past her innocence, burdened with weariness.
The moment Mandy saw Claire, her eyes reddened with emotion.
She gently held Claire’s injured left hand. It wasn’t just her fingers that were broken; her hand and arm bore the painful marks of Nathan's belt, now bruised and discolored.
Mandy said with heartfelt concern, "The Linwood family is truly awful. How could they treat you like this?"
“Claire, you should leave the Linwood family. Don’t stay with those demons any longer.”
Claire could feel Mandy's genuine concern. During her five years in prison, no one from the Linwood family visited her. Only May and Mandy took the time to see her, giving her a glimpse of kindness in the world.
They were good people, and Claire was determined to protect them at any cost.
Claire smiled at Mandy, “I’ll follow Mandy’s advice.”
“Really?” Mandy's eyes sparkled with surprise.
“Yes, really.” Claire nodded.
However, before leaving the Linwood family, Claire knew she needed to ensure May and Mandy had a safe path out, so Ethan could no longer use them against her.
With that thought, Claire shifted the conversation to Mandy’s studies. “Mandy, how’s school going for you?”
“It’s going well. I manage to get a scholarship each semester.”
Seeing her confidence, Claire felt relieved. “Mandy, have you ever thought about studying abroad?”
That was why she asked Adah for a million dollars.
Her life had been harsh enough; she couldn’t let the people who cared about her suffer the same fate.
For the next two days, Claire’s life remained calm.
One morning, Vanessa came downstairs after washing up, ready for breakfast, only to find Nathan, Adah, and Ethan missing.
Looking at the breakfast already set on the table, she asked, puzzled, "Haven't my parents and brother gotten up yet?"
A servant answered, "Sir and the young master rushed to the office early without having breakfast, and the madam left after quickly eating a few bites."
Vanessa knew that her father and brother had been busy with the Eastborough Project, leaving early and returning late every day. But it was unusual for her mother to be up so early.
“Do you know where my mom went?” she asked again.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom