Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Truth be told, Claire felt the same way-if it weren't for Sean, she doubted she'd ever set foot in a place this upscale.

She and May took their seats gingerly, sitting straight-backed and silent, waiting for Sean to arrive.

Less than five minutes passed before the quiet in the private room was shattered by a commotion outside: hurried footsteps, voices overlapping in a noisy chorus.

"Did the star of the class say it was room 101 or 107?"

"It's definitely 101! He's not just anyone now-barely out of college and already the sales manager at Foster & Co. That's something else."

"My god, Foster & Co.? That's only the most elite firm in the capital. They just opened an office here in Cresthaven, and he's already a manager? That's impressive."

"I could tell back in high school he wasn't ordinary-not just good-looking, but seriously capable."

"Right? And he can even get us into the Grandeur Hotel's super-exclusive VIP suite. Mr. Foster himself must really have his eye on him."

"Exactly! We're only here thanks to his connections. Otherwise, we could work our whole lives and never set foot in here."

As they chatted, the door swung open.

A crowd-men and women alike—poured in.

The men were sharply dressed, some in tailored suits, others in stylish casual wear, all exuding confidence. Heavy gold chains and flashy watches gleamed on their wrists. Their hair was meticulously styled, so slick with product that a mosquito could probably slip right off.

The women, meanwhile, were decked out in trendy, revealing outfits-bare shoulders, dramatic makeup layered thickly on their faces. As soon as they entered, a cloud of competing perfumes filled the room, so overpowering that Claire felt lightheaded.

She stared at them, stunned, unsure why this loud group had appeared in the private room she and May had reserved.

It was obvious the newcomers were equally bewildered to find Claire, and an older woman, already inside.

After a brief, awkward pause, a woman in a crimson dress spoke up first.

"Claire? What are you doing here? Last night at the restaurant you said you couldn't make it and now you're here even earlier than us."

Claire recognized her instantly-she was one of the women who'd sneered at her in the restroom the previous night.

No sooner had the red-dressed woman finished than her friend in yellow chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. "Some people act all holier-than-thou, pretending they don't want to come when deep down they're dying to. Think you're some kind of princess, huh? But the moment you heard the class star was hosting the reunion at the Grandeur, you just had to show up."

She rolled her eyes theatrically at Claire.

The other women followed suit, their gazes full of scorn and barely concealed contempt.

The men, on the other hand, lit up the moment they spotted Claire. Back in high school, she'd been the prettiest girl in their year-gaunt and pale, maybe, but nothing could hide her striking beauty. Claire had always had that kind of classic, head-turning allure: the kind of woman who stood out in any crowd.

Now, after months of careful self-care, she'd filled out, her complexion glowing with health. Her skin was luminous, with a rosy flush, and her long, glossy black hair hung in silky waves over her shoulders-untouched by dye or curling irons.

She wore no jewelry, just a hint of makeup, but her beauty was so striking that it was impossible to look away.

"Claire, you're even prettier than you were back in high school," one of the men said, clearly impressed.

"Oh, please," another snorted. "What good is being pretty when you've got a criminal record?"

"Come on-she's a woman. Even if she was a felon or a fool, there'd still be men lining up to take her home. Am I right?"noveldrama

A snort, then a burst of raucous laughter filled the room.

The private suite rang with sharp, mocking laughter.