Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 18
A moment later, Victor conceded with a resigned sigh. "I'll examine her, but don't expect me to treat her," he said.
He walked back to the bedside, set down his medical kit, and with a hint of frustration, tugged up Claire's pant leg. Muttering
under his breath, he said, "I really don't understand why you go to such lengths for her. Someone like her should just be left to
her own—"
His complaints abruptly ceased.
His gaze locked onto Claire's emaciated leg, as if glued by some invisible force, and he stared in shock at the twisted fracture.
Waves of disbelief crashed over him.
Claire's right leg was a grotesque sight. The bone jutted at an unnatural angle beneath skin stretched so tight it barely seemed to
cover the bones, with no hint of muscle or fat. The scar at the fracture site snaked across her pallid skin like a menacing
centipede, surrounded by dark red bruises.
Victor gingerly touched her leg with his long, slender fingers, each contact filling him with dread. Despite his aversion to Claire,
his professional instincts immediately assessed the severity of her injury.
"Was her leg always like this?" he asked.
The question landed like a stone on a tranquil pond, causing Ethan's eyes to flash with intensity. "Impossible. Her legs were fine
the whole three years she was home."
Victor understood immediately; the injury must have happened while Claire was imprisoned.
Suppressing his horror, Victor continued with the examination, his frown deepening with each new discovery. Claire's health was
in dire straits-her body, weakened by prolonged malnutrition, bore layers of old and new injuries that seemed to have been
inflicted by some sort of blunt object.
Unable to witness more, Victor stood up, his voice hoarse, "Ethan, can we speak in private?"
Once in the study, Ethan's expression was grave. "Tell me."
Victor steadied himself, carefully choosing his words. "Are you aware of the strength of human bones?"

Ethan shook his head.
Victor locked eyes with him, enunciating each word, "Human bones are incredibly strong. The tibia and fibula, in particular,
require significant force to shatter-like a severe car accident or a fall from a great height.
Given she was in prison, such accidents are unlikely. Her leg appears to have been beaten with something heavy.
Judging by the scar tissue, it wasn't properly treated. The bones healed misaligned, causing the deformity.
The pain she must have endured is unimaginable. Surviving it all is nothing short of miraculous."
Ethan listened, his body trembling uncontrollably, hands clenched into fists, knuckles white from the pressure.
His eyes reddened with fury, rage boiling within him like molten lava threatening to consume him whole.
"In prison... How could they?"
Images flooded his mind-Claire's frail body being struck repeatedly by some blunt tool while she was incarcerated.
The dull ache in his chest clouded his vision with black spots. It took a long moment before he could quell the rage burning inside
him.
"Victor, is there any hope for her leg?"
Victor shook his head, unable to hide his pity. "It's been at least three years. It's too late for treatment now."
Ethan was left in stunned silence.
He didn't notice when Victor left. By the time he came to his senses, he had collapsed into a chair, his mind a whirl of chaos.
Fumbling out a cigarette, his trembling hands couldn't light it.
In frustration, Ethan hurled the unlit cigarette to the floor, burying his head in his hands, fingers tangling in his hair.
His body curled in on itself, shaking slightly, anguished breaths escaping in ragged bursts.
Time seemed to stand still, his pain the only thing expanding in that room.
Eventually, his breath steadied. He lifted his head, face set in icy determination. Grabbing his phone, he called swiftly.

"Secretary Quinn, I need a thorough investigation into Claire's five years in prison. Leave no detail out," he ordered, his voice low
and chilling, each word edged with ice.