Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom novel Chapter 464

Adah’s eyes brimmed with panic and regret. She tried to get to her feet, desperate to chase after them, but her body simply wouldn’t cooperate—grief had robbed her of all strength. All she could do was sit there, tears of remorse streaming down her cheeks.

Claire hadn’t gone far when she spotted Mrs. Tempest and Orion rushing toward her.

Without hesitation, Mrs. Tempest scooped Claire up in a tight embrace.

“Oh, sweetheart, you scared me half to death! Let me look at you—are you hurt anywhere?”

Claire shook her head. “I’m okay, Mom.”

Mrs. Tempest’s jaw clenched so hard she nearly ground her teeth.

“If anyone dares lay a finger on the Tempest family’s little princess, the Chases can forget about showing their faces in Northcrest City ever again.”

Orion, his face flushed with anger, chimed in, “Mom, don’t forget those siblings we ran into at the kids’ boutique yesterday. Somehow, they snuck into The Celestial Aerie and barged right into the lounge—they tried to pick a fight with me and Claire!”

Mrs. Tempest instantly transformed, her protective instincts flaring like a mother lioness.

“Where are they?”

Claire pointed toward the stairwell. “They’re over there. Just now, those siblings tried to pin it all on me—saying I pushed Cordelia down the stairs.”

A cold light flickered in Mrs. Tempest’s eyes.

She hefted Claire in her arms and strode purposefully toward the stairwell, pausing at the top to look down. There, she locked eyes with Adah, whose face was twisted with regret.

The moment Adah saw Claire nestled safely in Mrs. Tempest’s arms, basking in motherly affection, her own pain was forgotten. She scrambled to her feet, pointing furiously at Mrs. Tempest.

“Put my daughter down!”

Mrs. Tempest froze for a split second, her gaze turning even icier. “Excuse me?”

Adah stared at Claire, refusing to back down. “The child in your arms—she’s my daughter. Claire, come to me. I’m your mother.”

Claire narrowed her eyes. Something was off about Adah. Yesterday, at the boutique, Adah hadn’t recognized her at all—in fact, she’d sided with Vanessa and bullied her. So why the sudden change now?