Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 113

Seeing Brian, Claire’s mind was bombarded with memories of the prison, where she had been assaulted. The attackers, their faces twisted with malice, had grabbed her hair, forcing her to look up. “Don’t blame us,” they sneered. “Mr. Cole promised us a reduced sentence if we took good care of you.”

They hadn’t named Mr. Cole, but Claire knew it had to be Brian. Only he had the power to reach into the prison.

During those high school competition years, she had been deceived into thinking Brian was a genteel, sophisticated heir. But in prison, she discovered that his charm was merely a facade. The real Brian was ruthless and vengeful.

As if awakening from a nightmare, Claire stumbled backwards. It was as though she was fleeing a monster, her fear so palpable it seemed to take form in her eyes.

Brian was provoked by Claire’s obvious fear. An unpleasant glint flashed in his eyes as he moved towards her.

Claire was terrified, her mind spinning. She kept retreating until she lost her balance and nearly fell. Brian swiftly reached out, catching her by the waist and pulling her firmly into his arms.

His large hand tightened instinctively around her slim waist, his brow furrowing. How did she get so thin?

Startled by Brian's sudden move, Claire's heart raced. She wanted to fight him off, but her body felt paralyzed.

She could feel the cold, commanding aura emanating from Brian—an aura honed through years of dominating the business world. It made breathing difficult.

Brian looked down at Claire in his arms, her once-clear eyes now filled with anxiety and fear. Her long lashes trembled like a frightened fawn’s. He smirked slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. “What are you running from?”

His voice was deep and magnetic, yet it was jarringly out of place in the tense atmosphere.

She staggered back, colliding with the wall and using it to steady herself. If not for the wall, she might have fallen flat on her back.

Even without falling, the sharp pain from her still-healing shoulder was excruciating. Claire bit her lip to stifle a cry, but the tension in her forehead revealed her agony.

Her face turned pale, and beads of cold sweat dampened the strands of hair at her temples.

Brian watched her, instinctively wanting to reach out and support her, but he restrained himself. His hand hovered mid-air, caught in an internal struggle.

A wave of inexplicable sorrow washed over him, seeing Claire’s pain. The long-buried emotions began to stir again.