Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 421

Ethan struggled to rise, but his efforts were useless; it was as if every ounce of strength had been drained from his body.

He stared in despair at Claire’s photograph on the headstone. The gentle eyes and soft smile that once brought him comfort now felt like a blade, sharp and merciless, cutting straight into his heart.

The pain was overwhelming.

Blood welled up in his mouth again and splattered across Claire’s headstone.

Sean’s expression tightened, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face.

Amara, without a shred of sympathy, shoved the suffering Ethan aside. "Get away. You’re making a mess of my mother’s grave."

She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and gently wiped the blood from the marble, her small hands careful and reverent.

Though Amara was just a child, the look in her eyes as she gazed at the headstone was full of devotion and aching tenderness, as if she were tending to the most precious thing in the world—something sacred, untouchable.

Ethan lifted his head, anguish twisting his features. His eyes were bloodshot, as if tears could no longer contain all the pain inside him.

He glared at Sean, gritting his teeth. "Did you tell her everything about Claire?"

Sean looked down at him, making no attempt to deny it. "I did."

Rage flared in Ethan’s eyes. "Sean, why would you tell a child things like that? She’s just a kid—how could she possibly handle it?"

Sean’s mouth curled into a cold half-smile. "How I raise my daughter is none of your concern."

"My daughter can be kind, but she will never be naïve. We give her all the love we have, but she’s not some fragile hothouse flower."

"Claire was too gentle, and that’s why people like you took advantage of her. But my daughter—when she faces people like you, she’ll fight back. She won’t simply forgive and forget."

Amara finished cleaning the headstone and finally turned to face Ethan.

She was so young, but the icy set of her features sent a chill down his spine. She looked so much like Claire, but the steely resolve in her eyes was all Sean.

At that, Amara wrinkled her nose in disgust. "We don’t need you. All you’ll do is taint her memory. Just leave—and never come back."

Utterly defeated, Ethan crumpled to the ground.

"No, I won’t go. I want to stay here with Claire. I have to atone."

Amara looked up at Sean. "Dad, can you have someone take him away? He’s too loud. Mom always liked peace and quiet."

Sean gave a low laugh. "She did. Claire hated noise."

"You heard her. Get him out of here."

At his command, several men in black suits and sunglasses appeared and, without a word, began to drag Ethan away.

"I won’t leave! I won’t—" Ethan screamed, clawing at the ground, his desperate gaze never leaving Claire’s headstone.