Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you. I was wrong, Claire- will you forgive me?"

Even though Claire hadn't been burned, just picturing her-so small-in the kitchen cooking made Orion's eyes redden with guilt and heartache.

Claire had grown up in an orphanage, a place where life was rarely kind. No wonder she knew how to cook; she'd probably had to fend for herself more times than he could imagine.noveldrama

But she was only five-a child, really.

The more Orion thought about it, the more it hurt. He bent down and gently blew on Claire's tiny hand.

"Does it hurt? Is it burned?"

Looking at Orion, whose eyes brimmed with tears for her sake, Claire felt a strange warmth in her heart.

In her previous life, when she was with the Linwood family, she'd given them everything—her loyalty, her affection, her trust. But no matter how hard she tried, she never got their love in return.

They never cared about her. They always acted as if everything she did was simply expected.

Now, though, she finally had a brother who truly worried about her.

It felt so good. She knew, deep down, that being adopted by the Tempest family was the best decision she'd ever made.

"Don't worry, Orion. I'm fine."

"Promise me you won't do that again. From now on, you're not allowed in the kitchen."

"Okay."

While the Tempest household was filled with warmth and affection, the scene unfolding at the Foster estate was quite the opposite—a bloody family drama.

After dropping Claire off at home, Sean returned, a kitchen knife clenched in his fist, and pushed open the door to Yvonne's room.

Yvonne, who had been lounging on her bed, scrolling through her phone, shot upright in terror the moment she saw him.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

Little Sean's face was cold and sinister, a far cry from the innocent, gentle boy he'd been with Claire just moments ago.

"You tried to throw Claire down the stairs!"

Yvonne shook her head frantically, panic etched across her face. "No, no, you've got it all wrong, Sean! I can explain-really, just listen-"

"Explain?" Sean leaned against the wall, twirling the fruit knife between his fingers with a casual menace.

The glint of the blade flickered across his young face, making his childish features look suddenly dark and dangerous.

Yvonne feared Sean most when he was like this.

She'd seen firsthand what he was capable of when crossed, and she knew just

how reckless he could be when pushed too far.

“I—I was just joking with the little girl. Kids love to be picked up by grown-ups, don't they? I just wanted

to give her a hug, that's all, t

what you think, I swear!"

"I can swear to God, every word I say is true. If there's a single lie, may lightning strike me where I stand!"

"Please, Sean, you have to believe me. I've changed, I really have. I've been good these last five years you know that better than anyone."

"Finished?" Sean looked up, his dark eyes so cold and deep they seemed to swallow the light-dangerous as a bottomless pit.

The look in his eyes made Yvonne's knees threaten to give way.

"W-what are you going to do? I'm still your stepmother, you can't hurt me—" Sean moved closer, still holding the knife.

"I gave you five years to learn your lesson. I guess you've forgotten what happened before. Let me remind you."

"No, please—” Yvonne was so terrified she nearly lost control of her bladder.

She tried to scramble away, but there was nowhere to run in the small bedroom.

Sean, though young, was quick and

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agile. In a blink, he was standing- right in front of her. Without

hesitation, he drove the knife into Yvonne's thigh.

"Ahhh !" Yvonne's scream echoed throughout Foster Manor.

Inside the mansion, none of the household staff seemed surprised.

They'd all witnessed the young master's methods when it came to disciplining his stepmother.

He might be small, but Sean was vicious when crossed.

Still, as long as you didn't provoke him, he was remarkably

evented and never

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mistreated the staff. In fact, be was considered a rather good little boss.

Scream after scream rang out, but the servants simply turned a deaf ear, going

about their chores with practiced calm.