Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 429

Claire glanced at the headmaster, only to see his expression darken. “Nonsense. Claire has always been a well-behaved, sensible girl—there’s no way she would hit you. And even if she did, I’m sure you were the one who started it.”

His tone brooked no argument. “Well? Aren’t you going to apologize to Claire?”

The words left Claire stunned for a moment.

She’d heard these exact lines countless times in her previous life.

Back then, though, it was the Linwoods who said them. But they weren’t defending their real daughter—they were standing up for Vanessa.

Nathan, Adah, and Ethan would never bother to hear her side of the story. They’d scold her without mercy, then force her—the victim—to apologize to Vanessa, the one who’d actually hurt her.

She’d suffered so many injustices in the Linwood household, and never imagined that, in this life, someone would finally use those same words to defend her.

No wonder Vanessa was always so smug. So this is what it feels like to have someone protect you without question. It feels… pretty good.

“But Headmaster, my nose is bleeding! How can you take Claire’s side?”

Vincent pulled up the hem of his shirt, revealing a bruise on his stomach. “Look! Claire didn’t just hit my nose with a basketball—she kicked me, too. You can’t just favor her because she gets good grades!”

The headmaster’s frown deepened, his eyes narrowing in obvious displeasure. His voice grew stern. “Vincent, you’re always causing trouble around here. I have no doubt you were picking on Claire first.”

Turning to Claire, his gaze softened instantly, his tone gentle and full of concern. “Claire, tell me the truth. Did Vincent start this? Did he bully you?”

Five-year-old Claire lifted her chubby little face, round and rosy.

Her big, bright eyes were clear as glass, full of innocence—so pure that even without a word, she could melt the coldest heart.

Well, this time, she’d let him see what it felt like to be falsely accused.

The headmaster’s face turned red, then pale with anger.

Claire wasn’t just a star student—she was a child genius, the kind of prodigy the country would one day need. She’d sat for college entrance exams at five years old; a girl like this shouldn’t be discouraged from her studies. She needed guidance, support, and every opportunity to grow.

Everything had been fine, and now Vincent had the nerve not only to bully her but to try and convince her that learning was a waste of time.

It was as if he wanted to squander a national treasure.

If there hadn’t been others around, the headmaster might have smacked Vincent then and there. Instead, he forced himself to rein in his anger.

Still, his voice was sharp and cutting. “Vincent, who gave you the right to tell Claire not to study? You’d rather fight and fool around all day, but you can’t stand to see someone else succeed? You’re young, but you’re already so spiteful.”