Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

As for Nathan and Vanessa, those two vile excuses for human beings-Adah would make sure they never had another easy day as long as she lived.

Claire, you have to find happiness. Even if you can never forgive me, even if you never call me Mom again, I'll protect you-if it's the last thing I do. For the rest of my life, I'll live for you alone.

A wild, vengeful glint flashed in Adah's eyes.

She snatched up a rock from the ground and, with all the strength she could muster, brought it crashing down on Nathan's eye.

A guttural, animalistic scream tore from Nathan's throat.

In an instant, blood streamed from his ruined eye.

Adah straightened, looming over him as he writhed on the floor, clutching his face

in agony.

Last time around, Nathan had stabbed out her own eye. Because they were legally husband and wife, the attack was dismissed by everyone else as just another domestic squabble.

Well, this time she would take a page from Nathan's book. What did it matter? If she blinded him, no one would bat an eye.

Adah lifted her foot and pressed it hard against Nathan's head, grinding him mercilessly into the floor.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at you now, Nathan-you're like a mangy mutt."

"No, that's not right. A dog at least knows how to wag its tail for me. You're worse

than a dog-you're a stray that bites the hand that feeds it."

Nathan felt like his skull was about to split open under her heel.

He'd never seen Adah like this-so unhinged, so terrifying. For the first time, he was truly afraid of her.

The pain and terror overwhelmed him, and he blacked out cold.

But Adah wasn't about to let him off that easy. The grudges from her past life wouldn't be repaid simply by Nathan's death.

She grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away like a sack of garbage.

By the time she hauled his limp body back to the shabby apartment, she could already hear voices coming from inside.

"Take your time, Vanessa. All of this is for you," a boy was saying.

"Thank you, Ethan. You're always so good to me-unlike Mom. She yells at me, sometimes even hits me. I never want a mother like her again," Vanessa replied, her voice trembling with anger.

"Don't be upset, Vanessa. Mom doesn't mean to be so hard on you. She's just in a bad place right now. Once she's worked things out, she'll love you the way she used to," Ethan tried to reassure her.

"Hmph! I'm not forgiving her that easily."

Suddenly, a tremendous crash shattered the air-the front door burst open, kicked in with savage force.

Ethan and Vanessa both jumped in fright.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat when

he saw Adah standing in the

doorway, her face like thunder. Forza

moment, guilt flickered across his face. But then he

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remembered-Mom had cared for Vanessa for years, even if she was the daughter of another woman. She'd raised her as her own, despite everything. He couldn't believe his mother would simply abandon Vanessa.

Besides, Vanessa was so sweet and lovable. As her older brother, he couldn't

help but care for her.

Ethan mustered a smile. "Hey, Mom-you're back."

Adah stared him down, her eyes cold and unyielding.

She'd believed that once Ethan knew

the truth, he'd cut all ties with Vanessa. But she'd barely been gone an hour, and already Ethan had invite Vanessa over, opened up the treats she'd bought for Claire and was now feeding them to Vanessa.

Adah took a step closer. Then another.

Ethan shrank back, cowed by the storm brewing in her eyes.

"Mom, what's wrong?" he stammered.noveldrama

Without warning, Adah raised her hand and slapped him—hard.

The blow knocked Ethan clean off his feet. A crimson handprint bloomed across his cheek, swelling up instantly.

"You know Vanessa is just the other woman's child, and you still dote on her. Why don't you care half as much about your real sister?" Adah's voice was sharp as broken glass.

Ethan had never seen his mother like

this. He was still just a boy, and faced with her madness, all he could

do was cry, tears streaming down

his cheeks as he stared at her in shock, unable to utter a single word.