Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

"Push, Mrs. Linwood, push! I can see the baby's head!"

The woman lying on the delivery table gritted her teeth and pushed, following the doctor's instructions.

A moment later, the sharp cry of a newborn filled the room-it was over. The baby had arrived.

"It's a girl! Congratulations, Mrs. Linwood. You have a beautiful daughter," the nurse announced, beaming.

The woman on the bed was utterly exhausted. Her blonde hair clung to her pale, sweat-soaked cheeks, but she barely seemed to notice her own weakness.

"Let me see her. Please, bring my baby over," she managed breathlessly, her voice trembling with urgency.

The doctor and nurses worked quickly, cleaning the baby and wrapping her in a soft, pastel blanket before placing her gently in her mother's arms.

As she gazed at her daughter's tiny, rosy face, a look of pure contentment spread across her features. "She's mine? She's really my daughter? Oh, thank goodness... You're the little heiress of the Linwood family now, you know that?"

Linwood family? Heiress?

Claire's consciousness snapped awake at that moment, those words echoing in her mind.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Adah's face—closer and younger than she remembered. Even disheveled, Adah was beautiful, barely looking older than her mid-twenties, much younger than Claire's memories from her previous life.

But hadn't she died? How could she possibly be seeing Adah again?

And why did Adah look so young?

Claire's mind buzzed, teetering on the edge of disbelief.

Everything felt surreal-almost absurd-yet the harsh scent of antiseptic hung in the air, nurses moved briskly through her blurred vision, and the steady beeping of medical monitors anchored her to reality.

It was real.

She had been reborn-right at the very moment of her own birth.

Claire stared blankly at Adah, her thoughts a tangled mess.

From the hospital bed, Adah propped herself up with effort and leaned close, pressing a gentle kiss to her newborn daughter's cheek.

The shock of it made Claire's eyes widen.

Adah had kissed her?

Three years spent with the Linwood family in her past life, and never once had she dared dream of such love from her mother. She hadn't even hoped for a hug, much less a kiss filled with such tenderness.

Now, living all over again, Claire finally realized she had been born into Adah's hope and longing. On the day of her birth, Adah had kissed her her long-awaited daughter.

For ten months, Adah had carried her, and at least once, she had truly loved her.

But after Claire was lost, time had eroded that love until there was nothing left.

These thoughts swirled through Claire's mind. By the time she came back to herself, she was already being carried out of the delivery

room in the nurse's arms, with Adah right beside her.

That's when she saw Nathan-the man she'd come to despise.

Nathan hovered over Adah, fussing and cooing, the perfect picture of a caring husband.noveldrama

But who would guess that this same man would one day abandon his newborn daughter, and then, years later, try to steal that same daughter's kidney?

It had all happened in another life, and she'd already had her revenge-but even now, living again, Claire felt the old hatred burning inside her.

Too bad she was just a helpless baby now, unable to do a thing.

Adah was so tired after giving birth that she quickly drifted off to sleep once they reached her hospital room Before she closed her eyes, though, she made sure to remind Nathan to look after the baby.

Nathan smiled warmly and agreed without hesitation, playing the part of the devoted father.

But as soon as Adah was asleep, his pleasant mask dropped, replaced by a cold, shadowy expression.

"Honey? Darling?" he called out a few times, but Adah was fast asleep, oblivious. Nathan's lips curled into a sneer as he turned his attention to Claire.

Claire stared back at him, her big eyes meeting his icy gaze. She didn't cry; she didn't fuss.

So, this was it, Claire thought. He was about to take her away-to toss her aside, just like before.