Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

"Are you really incapable of forgiving the mistakes I made in our past lives? What do I have to do for you to let go of your resentment?"

"Claire, please, I'm begging you-can't you forgive me?"

Claire was nearly thirty now, carrying herself with a poise and maturity that came from years of hard lessons. Her eyes were cold, utterly indifferent.

She answered him without a trace of warmth. "Forgiveness wasn't possible in our last life. It isn't possible now. And in the next one, it'll be even less so."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, not sparing Ethan so much as a backward glance.

Unwilling to give up, Ethan hurried after her, reaching out to grab her arm, but Claire slipped easily out of his grasp.

"Claire, are you really this heartless toward me?" he choked out.noveldrama

Claire didn't respond, but inwardly, she laughed a laugh so cold it could have frozen the sun. As ruthless as she appeared, she could never match the cruelty of the Linwoods. The pain she'd suffered in her past life was real and deep, and now they thought that a few words of regret would entitle them to forgiveness? It was absurd.

She pulled open the car door and slid inside.

That was the moment Ethan finally broke. All the walls he'd built to contain his guilt came crashing down.

"I spent half my last life drowning in regret isn't that punishment enough? Do you really need to see me die before you'll forgive me?"

Claire's eyes were ice. "If you're going to die, do it somewhere else. Don't die in front of me—I don't want the bad luck. Let's go," she said to the driver.

The car sped off, leaving Ethan standing alone on the curb. Tears streamed down his face, unstoppable.

Some things, once broken, can never be mended.

No matter how desperately he tried to atone for his mistakes, he could never wipe them away. In this life, Claire's forgiveness would always be out of reach. He was destined to carry that regret to the grave.

Claire, is this your punishment for us?

How merciless you are.

Claire:

I am capable of giving the purest love to it Nose I care about-even i

means dying for them, I would do it without hesitation. Contenty

But if they discard me, treat my love like it's worthless, I can take it all back.

If you hurt me, what right do you have to ask for my forgiveness?

To pick up the pieces and start over? Not me.

From the moment I was given a second chance at life, I swore I'd never debase myself again.

I have parents like Mr. and Mrs. Tempest, and a brother like Orion-I'm not lacking in family.

I have Sean, who loves me, cherishes me, and only ever has eyes for me I'm not lacking in love.

I have a sweet, adorable daughter. My life is full, and I am truly happy.

In this life, I have everything I once longed for.

Mr. Foster's love for me never faded with time.

He loved only me, from start to finish.

We grew old together, hand in hand, and watched our daughter walk down the

aisle and start a family of her own.

Amara married the son of Mandy and Liam.

I never imagined Mandy and Liam would

end up together, and I donet

know how it happened at s is that Mandy is het

Liam didn't disappoint me. He loves Mandy, treats her well, and together they have a boy who inherited Mandy's smarts and Liam's good

looks He and Amara grew

side by side, childhood friends who became inseparable.

Even Mandy had a smooth, happy life this time around.

May, too, was surrounded by children and grandchildren.

Everything was just so beautiful.

Without those people from my past life, everything was so much better.

[The End]