Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

"Have pity on him? Then who's ever pitied me?"

"You know he's my own brother. But did he act like one when he tried to help outsiders carve out my kidney? Is that what brothers do?"

"In my last life, he framed me and I spent five years in prison. Before that, he humiliated me for three years in the Linwood family's house. After I got out, he kept coming back, humiliating me again and again. The only reason I haven't gone after him is out of mercy. If he'd just left me alone, I'd have treated him like he was nothing-barely worth a thought."

"But what did he do instead? He wanted to take my kidney, leave me disabled— and now you want me to just forgive him?"

"Adah, you know how terrified I am of being crippled. Last time around, your whole family left me in pieces. Do you really expect me to let that happen again?"

Tears streamed down Adah's face as she shook her head desperately. "No, that's not what I meant at all, sweetheart."

Claire let out a cold laugh. "Ethan's not a child. He's a grown man, and adults have to take responsibility for what they do."

"But you can relax. He was just an accomplice, not the mastermind—he won't get the death penalty. At worst, a few years behind bars. It's not the end of the world."

Adah's eyes widened in shock.noveldrama

That line—she'd heard it so many times before.

Because, in her last life, Ethan had said the exact same thing to Claire.

"It's just five years in prison, right? All you did was serve time. Irene Cole ended up in a coma."

Adah couldn't bring herself to meet Claire's gaze anymore.

Claire's voice was calm, almost detached. "Since Ethan thinks prison is no big deal, let him see for himself. Maybe some time in there will teach him something."

"And don't worry. I'd never bribe anyone to make prison life any harder for him. The only thing he'll lose is his freedom. In my last life, I lost a leg and a kidney. Compared to that, he's getting off easy."

Adah's mind went blank. She couldn't say a single word.

Claire brushed past her and walked out of the hospital room.

She didn't expect to walk straight into a broad, solid chest.

Claire looked up, and the moment she saw the man's face, her eyes narrowed in shock.

Brian Cole?

She never imagined she'd see Brian here at the hospital.

He was one of the men who'd hurt. her in the

past-though, compared

to the Linwoods and Varen

betrayals were almost

The surprise of seeing him left Claire frozen for a moment.

Brian, dressed in a sharp black suit, couldn't take his eyes off her.

Did he really see who he thought he saw?

It was her-Vesperia's youngest and most brilliant scientist.

Most people wouldn't even recognize a scientist in public, but Brian was different.

Back in school, Claire's name was already legendary. Brian had always prided himself on his grades, but next to her genius, he felt like an amateur. They were the same age, but by the time Claire was entering university, Brian was still in grade school.

Claire had always been his idol. He was her biggest fan.

Now, suddenly, his idol had literally fallen into his arms. Brian's face flushed red with excitement.

Standing beside him, Irene gasped in delight.

"Oh my gosh, Brian, isn't this the Claire you're always talking about? just saw a news segment about her yesterday, and now here she is in person!"

"She's even more beautiful than she looks on TV," Irene gushed, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Claire.

Claire snapped back to herself, her expression unreadable, her voice cool. "Would you mind letting go of me?"