Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

"Claire must still be angry with me, right? She refuses to see me. That's okay. I can wait here as long as it takes-until she's willing to see me."

May looked at the shattered man before her, her eyes brimming with scorn.

This was once the proud, arrogant eldest son of the Linwood family, the very man who'd made Claire's life a living hell. Now he looked utterly defeated like a stray dog left out in the rain.

So now he realizes he was wrong?

Now he regrets it?

Isn't it a little too late for that?

Ms. Claire has been dead for ten years. Ten years.

If the Linwoods had treated her with the tiniest bit of kindness, would she really have died so young?

Even after all these years, whenever May thought back to what happened, her eyes would sting with unshed tears.

She drew in a deep breath, forcing down her sorrow.

With a frosty glare at Ethan, she turned to leave.

Ethan grabbed the iron gate in desperation, his knuckles white. "May, please, don't go! I'm begging you-let me see Claire. I know I did terrible things. I was a monster. I failed her.

But I get it now. Ten years in prison, every single day, I've lived with regret. Every day I thought-if only I could see Claire again, I'd do anything to make it right.

May, I'm begging you, just tell me where she is. I only want to say I'm sorry. I need her to know I've changed."

Tears streamed down Ethan's face, his whole body trembling-the picture of a man crushed by guilt and remorse.

May's heart ached. She couldn't help but remember all the pain Claire had suffered in the Linwood family's house. The memories stabbed at her like knives.

"Some wounds can never be healed," she said coldly.

"There's no medicine for regret. And Ms. Claire wouldn't have cared for your apology anyway."

With that, May slammed the door shut.

Ethan erupted, shouting wildly, "You have no right to keep me from seeing my sister! You can't make this decision for Claire!"

"Open the door! Let me in! Claire is my sister, my own flesh and blood. Nothing can change that—not you, not anyone!"

No matter how he shouted, no one answered.

With a dull thud, Ethan dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead to the cold stone step. "May, I know my apology can't fix anything. But it's all I have left.

I'm begging you—please, for Claire's sake, give me a chance. Let me see her.

I promise, if she's willing to see me, if she'll just hear me out this once, I'll never trouble her again."

"Claire—please, I came here to truly apologize. Just let me see you, even if you'll never forgive me. Just once-please—”

No matter how he pleaded or wept, no one opened the door.

He stayed there, kneeling at the threshold, as if he'd never rise again unless Claire came to see him.noveldrama

Suddenly, rain began to fall. Heavy drops pested down, soaking Ethan to the bone. Water streamed down his hair and face, his clothes clinging to him, making his misery complete.

Still, no one came to his aid.

It wasn't until a car pulled up in front of the manor that anything changed.

Someone stepped out, holding an umbrella, and came to stand before him. Ethan slowly lifted his head. When he saw Claire's breathtakingly beautiful face, at last, a faint smile broke through his tears.

"Claire, you finally came."