Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Claire's head snapped upward, eyes wide in alarm as she saw torrents of mud and debris thundering down the mountainside. For a heartbeat, her body moved faster than her thoughts-without hesitation, she leapt off Sean's back and threw every ounce of strength into shoving him away from danger.

She didn't care if she died; after all, she'd long considered herself broken, and another day of life or death made little difference now.

But Sean was different. He'd come to these mountains for her, risking so much, giving so much, simply to be by her side. If he were hurt because of her, even death wouldn't bring her peace.

Caught off guard, Sean stumbled forward, nearly losing his footing. By the time he steadied himself and spun around, Claire stood a few yards away, smiling at him with warmth and heartbreak all tangled together.

She held his gaze, so many words shimmering behind her eyes, yet all she managed was a trembling farewell: "Mr. Foster, I wish you a good life—may your marriage be happy, your home filled with children and laughter, and may you live to a ripe old age..."

The pounding rain, rolling thunder, and roar of the landslide swallowed her words. Sean's pupils dilated in horror.

"Claire!" he shouted, voice raw and desperate, and lunged for her without a second thought.

Just as the mud and rocks crashed down, threatening to bury her, Sean threw himself over Claire, shielding her with his own body.

A brutal impact drove the air from his lungs as rocks hammered into his back, pain piercing him like steel needles. Still, he locked his arms around Claire, every muscle straining, refusing to let go, creating whatever haven he could between her and the onslaught.

Jeffry saw what was happening. He shoved Vanessa aside and sprinted toward them, dodging falling stones as he yelled, "Mr. Foster! Claire!"

Mud splattered across Jeffry's face and clothes, rain blurring his vision as he fought his way forward.

In Sean's arms, Claire broke down, tears streaming down her cheeks and blending with the rain.

"Mr. Foster, you shouldn't have saved me..." she choked out, but her voice was drowned in the chaos-the relentless rain, the thunder, the landslide's unendingnoveldrama

roar.

The disaster swept wider, tearing trees from the earth, sending them tumbling with the mud.

Sean gritted his teeth, forcing out the words, "Claire, don't be afraid. I'm here.”

His voice was steady and gentle, even in this nightmare-he wanted to give Claire comfort, no matter what.

Buried beneath the thick, suffocating mud, darkness pressed in from all sides. Claire couldn't see Sean, but she could feel him straining above her, refusing to yield.

But the weight grew, crushing down on Sean until his arms began to buckle, every fiber of his body taut with effort.

In the pitch black, Claire reached up, fingers searching for Sean's face. Her fingertips brushed cold rain and muddy water on his skin, and her heart clenched at the touch.

She felt the tremors in his body, the way he shook with the effort of holding on, yet he never wavered, never loosened his grip.

Suddenly, a heavy rock crashed down, landing squarely on Sean. He grunted in pain, agony lacing his voice, and his body collapsed, pressing harder onto Claire.

Her heart seized. "Mr. Foster, are you all right? Please, don't do this for me. I'm not worth it-I'm nothing!"

But Sean only held her tighter, as if he hadn't even heard.

In that cramped, dark prison, their breaths mingled-shallow, ragged, but together.