Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Mandy nodded. "She's not your mom. She's a trafficker."

The child's eyes lit up instantly, her fear melting away, replaced by a smile that bloomed across her small face.

"Aunt Mandy, can you help me find my real mom? I don't want to stay here anymore. Everyone here hates me. They don't give me anything to eat. I'm so hungry."

Hearing this, Mandy's tears fell even harder, streaming down her cheeks in an unstoppable torrent.

She gathered the little girl into her arms, holding her tight.

This poor child's fate was heartbreakingly similar to Claire's.

If Mandy hadn't found this place, this little one's future would have ended up just like Claire's trapped, abused, and forgotten.

The more Mandy thought about it, the more frightened she became. "It's okay, sweetheart. I'll take you away from here. I promise, I'm not leaving you behind."

She scooped the child up in her arms, ready to make her escape, when suddenly, a man burst into the room.

He caught sight of the lifeless woman on the floor and let out a horrified yell, "Did you kill my wife?"

His gaze snapped to the child in Mandy's arms, his face twisted with rage. "Where do you think you're taking that little brat?"

"You think you can kill someone and just walk away? No chance."

He started yelling for help, his voice echoing through the house. "Someone help, there's been a murder-!"

The moment the man appeared, the child in Mandy's arms began to tremble uncontrollably.

In a tiny, broken voice, she whispered, "Daddy..."

Mandy's eyes grew cold and hard. Clearly, this man had hurt Claire's daughter for years-there was no other reason for the child to be so terrified of him.

Mandy moved toward him, step by step, determination in her every movement. Suddenly, a crowd of villagers rushed in, blocking the only exit.

They shouted in angry confusion, voices overlapping: "Who is this stranger? She killed someone in our village! Don't let her get away!"

"Call the police! Hurry!"

Seeing he was no longer alone, the man regained his bravado. He strode up to Mandy, ready to snatch the child from her arms.

Mandy held the girl close with one arm. In the other, a knife flashed, ready for anything.

Just as the tension reached its breaking point, sirens wailed outside the police had arrived.

Mandy's heart sank. There was no chance to run now.

She set the child gently on her feet, then lunged and grabbed the man, pressing

her knife against his throat, using him as a shield.

"Don't move," she said, her voice low and icy. "Or I won't hesitate."

The man stiffened, trembling. "O-okay, I won't! Please, don't hurt me."

"Drop your weapon!" The police officers' voices thundered from att sides. They quickly secured the crowd, weapons drawn, forming a tight perimeter around Mandy.

"Give it up. There's nowhere left to run."

Mandy knew it was true.

From the moment she'd killed the first monster who'd hurt Claire, she knew this

day might come-the day she would face the police.

But now, the people who had tormented Claire were gone. Even if she died today, there was no regret.

Her only worry now was Claire's child.noveldrama

With the man held in front of her, Mandy glanced down at the little girl clinging to

her leg, shaking in terror.

Mandy

smile. "It's okay, sweetheart. Don't be afraid. From today on, no one will ever hurt you again."

osite her a gentle, reassuring

The child-sensing the danger-began to cry, fat tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Aunt Mandy, are those people with the guns here to take you away?" she asked, pointing her tiny finger at the officers.

Hearing the girl defend her, Mandy's heart ached and she nearly broke down in tears again.

She fought to keep her composure

and shook her head. "No,

sweetheart. Those are police

officers. They're good people. Let go

of me now, and go to them. You'll be safe with them."