Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Aberdeen, Grace, and May watched in horror as Claire climbed onto the window ledge. Their eyes widened in shock at the sight.

Aberdeen was the first to react, her voice trembling as she called out, "Darling, come down! It's dangerous up there!"

Grace quickly joined in, shouting, "Sweetheart, there's no hardship you can't overcome. Please, don't do anything foolish."

May was already in tears, pleading, "Miss Claire, no matter what you're facing, I'm here with you. Please, come down."noveldrama

Claire looked at them, and the wildness in her eyes began to calm. Her tear- stained face softened into a gentle smile.

She gazed earnestly at May. "May, meeting you was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have survived my first year back with the Linwood family. You gave me a second chance at life."

"Whenever anyone in the Linwood family bullied me, you were the one who protected and cared for me. You were the only warmth I felt in that house."

"I've dreamed so many times that when I made something of myself, I'd repay you. I wanted to buy you a big house, treat Mandy like my own sister, help her through college, and send her abroad for further studies..."

"But...” Her voice began to choke with emotion, “But all my dreams have turned to dust. My own parents and brother framed me, sent me to prison, and ruined my chance to attend university. I'm broken and can't repay you now."

May couldn't stop her tears as she thought of all the hardships Claire had endured with the Linwood family.

"Miss Claire, everything will be okay."

"It won't," Claire shook her head, despair etched in her eyes. "The Linwoods won't leave me alone. I can't go back to prison, where I was beaten every day. It hurt so much."

May wept uncontrollably, and even Aberdeen and Grace's eyes were red with unshed tears.

Such a good child, how could she be driven to this?

Aberdeen suppressed her anger, her voice gentle as she offered, "Darling, if they don't want you, I do. Come with me. I'll protect you."

Claire shook her head. She couldn't bring trouble to such a kind-hearted

grandmother by drawing the Linwood family's ire.

Grace pleaded as well, "Sweetheart, difficulties are temporary. Everything will get better."

But it wouldn't get better.

Her leg would always be lame; her lost kidney would never grow back.

She had worked so hard to get into university, and now she would never have the chance to attend...

Her life was in ruins.

She looked at Aberdeen. "Thank you, Grandma.”

Then she turned to Grace, remembering her from the train station when Grace was the first to step forward and protect her.

Back then, she had called her 'Mom'.

Grace had embraced her like a mother, even if only briefly, leaving a lifelong impression on Claire.

They say a child with a mother is precious, while one without is like a weed. But why, despite having a mother, did she live worse than a wildflower?

Claire looked earnestly at Grace, as if seeing her for the first time, and called out with sincerity, "Mom, thank you."

The word 'Mom' wasn't one she used lightly. Once spoken, it came from the heart. Eight years ago, the first time she saw Adah, she had tearfully called her 'Mom'.

She cherished that hard-won mother so much.

But in the end, she had been deluding herself. Her mother did not cherish her. After being released from prison, she addressed Adah as Mrs. Linwood.

Hearing 'Mom' from Claire brought tears to Grace's eyes that she couldn't hold back.

Adah flinched. For a fleeting moment, Claire's yearning voice made her think she was the one being called 'Mom'.