Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 413

He’d treated Claire the way he did back then solely to protect Vanessa.

At the time, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world—a justifiable act. He never once considered that he might be in the wrong.

But looking back now, he was horrified at how cruel he’d been to a girl who was only fifteen.

And that was just what happened in the first two days after Claire came home.

For the three years she lived with them, incidents like this happened constantly—sometimes every other day.

Ethan felt as if an invisible hand had tightened around his heart, squeezing so hard he could barely breathe.

Pain twisted his face. His brows knitted together in agony, sweat beading on his forehead and mingling with the tears that streamed down his cheeks.

Ten years in prison had forced him into a strict routine, and even his chronic stomach problems had improved over time. But now, a sharp, gut-wrenching pain tore through him, just like the time he’d collapsed with a bleeding ulcer. The agony was so intense, he wished he could just pass out.

He couldn’t stay upright any longer. He collapsed onto the narrow cot, curling his body in on itself, clutching the diary to his chest as bitter tears of regret spilled down his face. Over and over, he whispered, “Claire, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

He had no idea how much time passed before the pain in his stomach finally subsided.

By then, his entire body was drenched in cold sweat, leaving him so weak he could barely move.

Forcing himself upright, Ethan reached with trembling hands to turn the diary’s page.

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**June 20, 2007. Sunday. Overcast.**

I’ve spent a week in the hospital. Today, I get to go home.

These past days, I’ve felt hurt and disappointed by my family.

He sneered, “Who wants your cheap junk? You trying to get me laughed at at work? Don’t give me this embarrassing stuff.”

Mom and Dad barely glanced at their gifts. Their eyes held a storm of emotions I couldn’t decipher, but all I saw in the end was one thing: contempt.

Of course.

I was pathetic.

My bit of scholarship money couldn’t buy anything fancy, but I’d done my best—I just wanted to do something nice for them.

In that moment, it felt like a thousand needles pierced my heart. The pain was unbearable.

I just didn’t understand—what would it take for them to treat me like family?

Maybe… maybe I never should have come back at all.