Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Claire's face was stricken with terror. "Did you drug me?" she demanded.

Scarlet's lips curled into a mocking smile. "I wasn't the one who gave you the anesthetic. You needed a kidney transplant from Vanessa, remember? The doctors put you under when they operated."

Everything had happened while Claire was unconscious, so she had no idea what had taken place.

Scarlet clicked her tongue in feigned pity. "Honestly, I don't get it. What does Mr. Foster even see in you? Aside from that pretty little face, you're absolutely worthless."

"Did you know he broke both his legs saving you? A pile of rubble came crashing down on him. Even so, he waited outside the operating room the entire day, fighting through the pain, just to make sure your surgery with Vanessa went smoothly."

"It wasn't until you were safely out of surgery and wheeled into recovery that they finally took him in for his own operation."

The words hit Claire like a punch to the chest. Pain and worry flooded her eyes as she blurted out, "How's Sean? Is he okay?"

Scarlet sneered. "How should I know? If he's stupid enough to die for someone like you, then good riddance." Her face twisted with manic disdain.

Just then, the elevator chimed and slid open onto the dimly lit basement parking garage.

Scarlet shoved Claire's wheelchair forward. Claire began struggling frantically. "Where are you taking me? Let me go! I need to see Sean!"noveldrama

Scarlet's patience snapped. She raised her hand and slapped Claire hard across the face. Blood immediately welled at the corner of Claire's mouth.

"Don't waste your energy, you pathetic bitch," Scarlet spat. "Now that you belong to me, you're never getting away. Not in this lifetime."

She yanked Claire's hair, forcing her head up as she kept hurling insults.

"That bastard Sean-six months ago, he forced me to eat cake every day. I got fat, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't lose the weight. Ended up with diabetes, too. He made me suffer, so now I'm going to make sure he knows what it feels like to lose the woman he loves most!"

Scarlet's laughter turned shrill and unhinged. "And Mandy, that nosy little witch- she cares so much about you, doesn't she? Just wait till she finds out you've disappeared. Imagine her, running around in circles, desperate to find you. The thought of her falling apart makes me so happy. Ha! Ha ha ha!"

She pushed Claire up to a car and yanked open the door.

The instant Claire saw who was inside, her hatred burned so fiercely it almost seemed tangible. Her eyes flashed with fury as she ground out, "Vincent. So this was your plan all along with Scarlet?"

Vincent met her glare and faltered for a moment, but quickly regained his composure, replacing it with his usual sickly sweet smile.

Leaning forward, he reached out as if to touch her face, but Claire jerked away in disgust.

Vincent didn't seem bothered. He just kept smiling. "Claire, you and I-we're meant to be. Sean's got money, sure, but do you really think a guy like him actually cares about you? He's just a player. He's been stringing you along."

He paused, putting on a show of sincerity. "Trust me, Claire. If you're with me, I'll make you truly happy."

Claire shot him a look of pure contempt. "You're unbelievable, Vincent. Absolutely shameless."

Scarlet had had enough. Without another word, she roughly shoved Claire into the backseat.

Still groggy from the anesthesia, Claire tried to fight back, but her limbs felt like lead.

She could only cry out in desperation, "Help! Somebody, please—”

Before she could finish, Vincent pressed a handkerchief over her mouth and nose.

A sweet, sickly scent filled her lungs-one she knew all too well.

The last time she'd tried to escape the Linwood family, heading for Southtown Station, Victor Lewis had knocked her out the exact same way.

Fear widened Claire's eyes as her thoughts blurred. The world tilted and darkened, and then everything went black.