Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

People are all the same, yet just look at how clever her little Claire is—such a bright mind.

It's enough to make anyone jealous, honestly.

Mrs. Tempest's voice was gentle as she said, "Claire, how about we throw you a big graduation party in a few weeks? Would you like that?"noveldrama

Claire, ever the well-behaved child, nodded obediently.

At last, she was going to have a graduation party of her own.

In her previous life, both she and Vanessa had gotten into university. Vanessa's acceptance was to a second-rate college, but Claire had been admitted to Prestige University, the most renowned school in Vesperia.

Yet the Linwood family held a graduation party only for Vanessa. Claire was left standing in the shadows at Vanessa's celebration-until the police arrived and handcuffed her, right in front of everyone.

From that moment on, her life and Vanessa Linwood's diverged completely.

Vanessa was the Linwood family's cherished daughter, the darling of Cresthaven's elite. Overnight, Claire became a murderer—at least, that's what everyone believed.

But this time, things were different. She had loving parents and a brother who adored her; friends who didn't shun her; and, finally, a graduation party that belonged to her alone.

Her greatest regret had been missing out on college-passing the entrance exam only to spend those years behind bars.

But now, everything had changed. She was finally going to experience campus life for herself.

Overwhelmed, Claire couldn't hold back her tears.

Mrs. Tempest's heart broke at the sight. "Honey, why are you crying?"

Claire hugged Mrs. Tempest tightly around the neck. "Mom, thank you for bringing me home from the orphanage. If it weren't for you, I probably never would have had a graduation party, not in my whole life."

Mrs. Tempest's eyes grew even softer. "Sweetheart, don't cry. Whatever other kids have, you'll have too-maybe even more."

Mr. Tempest reached out his long arms and pulled both Mrs. Tempest and Claire into a warm embrace.

Orion bounded over and wrapped his arms around them, too. The four of them huddled together, filling the room with a sense of love and belonging.

But peace in the Tempest household was always short-lived.

A shrill voice echoed from outside the villa. "Claire, mommy's here for you! Come home with me, sweetheart!"

The housekeeper's firm voice followed: "I'm sorry, ma'am, you can't come in."

"Get out of my way! My daughter is in there!" Adah snapped.

Amid the commotion, Adah burst into the room, only to see Claire enveloped in

the Tempest family's embrace-a picture of familial warmth.

Adah's eyes widened, her heart clenching painfully at the sight.

Claire was her daughter. Yet here she was, being loved by someone else.

Adah couldn't understand it. In her last life, when the Tempests brought Claire home, she was still at the orphanage how could she be here now, in Northcrest City?

Her gaze flickered, and suddenly, realization dawned.

Claire must have been adopted by the Tempests at this very moment in their previous life. Later, they must have abandoned her, sending her back to the orphanage. That was the only explanation.

Since Claire was destined to be cast aside, Adah thought, she needed to reclaim her daughter now.

She understood the full story at last. This time, she vowed, she wouldn't make the same mistakes-she wouldn't hurt Claire again.

She would shower Claire with all the

love she had, spoil her like a princess, and as for Vanessa, that little brat-whatever pain Vanessa had brought upon Claire, Adah would make her pay for it tenfold.

Feeling justified, Adah straightened her spine and looked at the Tempests with open disdain. “You already have your own children. Why are you taking mine?"

"Your daughter?" Mrs. Tempest's

laugh was icy. "You couldn't even

protect your own flesh and blood.

You let her end up in an

orphanage what gives you the right

to call Claire your daughter?"

Adah clenched her fists. "I am her mother. No matter what you say, nothing can

break the bond of blood between us."