Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

In the café of a five-star hotel, Chloe held a freshly ordered cup of Americano. Outside the window, the bustling traffic and neon lights painted the city with a dreamlike glow, but she remained indifferent.
She took a sip of the coffee, and the bitterness spread across her tongue, yet it brought her a sense of calm.
A familiar yet distant voice came from behind her, "Ms. Quinn?"
She turned around and her eyes fell on Nora Foster. Nora was dressed in a perfectly tailored dark green dress, exuding elegance and grace. At that moment, Nora was smiling and waving at Chloe, motioning for her to come over.
Chloe hesitated, wanting to refuse. However, the warmth in Nora's demeanor, which was impossible to turn down, made her walk over to the table. "Mrs. Foster," Chloe said, her tone distant yet polite. "Is there something you need?"
"It's just a coincidence," Nora smiled, lightly tapping the chair across from her. "Sit down. Drinking coffee alone feels rather boring."
Chloe hesitated for a moment, then pulled out the chair and sat down. She placed her coffee cup on the table and folded her hands neatly in her lap, her posture calm and composed.
Nora quietly studied Chloe's outfit—the white shirt, the form-fitting skirt, and the black high heels. Every detail exuded a low-key yet refined elegance. This was completely different from the luxurious style of other heiresses.
"Not bad," Nora said with a slight smile, her eyes reflecting approval. "Simple, yet tasteful."
Chloe didn't respond, only offering a faint smile, making it impossible to read her true thoughts.
"I heard you've been quite popular online recently." Nora stirred her cappuccino, her tone casual. "I've seen those news reports... really heartbreaking."
Chloe lowered her eyelids and gently traced the rim of her coffee cup with her fingertip. "You don't need to feel sorry for me, Mrs. Foster." When she lifted her head, her eyes had returned to their usual indifference.
Nora's gaze tightened for a moment, but she quickly resumed her usual gentleness. "You're still young, and you'll go through some tough times. However, if you've taken a wrong path, you can always turn back."
"What do you mean?" Chloe raised an eyebrow, her casual words carrying deeper meaning.
Nora chuckled softly and placed the spoon back in the saucer. "I heard the Stone family's company is planning to go public soon. That's a rare opportunity. I remember you were involved in several important projects, so you must be familiar with the company's operations."
Nora's probing was quite obvious. Chloe lowered her gaze, not responding immediately. She slowly lifted her coffee cup and took a sip, then looked up and said in a calm, distant tone, "Sorry, I no longer have any connection with the Stone family."
Nora was taken aback by her response. "Don't be in a hurry to make a decision." She took a sip of her coffee and then added meaningfully, "I know a few investors who are very interested in new energy projects. If you're willing, we could collaborate..."
"Mrs. Foster," Chloe suddenly interrupted her, "I just need you to do me a favor, help my friend Qiana Lawson leave the Stone Group smoothly."
Chloe's sudden request surprised Nora. "Qiana Lawson?" Nora repeated the name thoughtfully, then shook her head. "You have nothing now, yet you're only concerned about your friend's situation. Your friendship is truly precious."
Chloe didn't respond, merely looking at her with a stubborn gaze, until the sudden sound of a phone ringing broke their silence.
Chloe took out her phone, glanced at the incoming call, then stood up and gave Nora a slight nod. "It's my grandmother's caretaker calling. I need to leave now."
"Go ahead," Nora nodded, but as she watched Chloe leave, her expression grew thoughtful.
After leaving the café, Chloe walked straight toward the elevator. After pressing the button, she leaned against the wall, putting her phone in her pocket. However, when the elevator doors opened, she saw someone unexpected, Carlos.
When their eyes met, they froze. Carlos stood in the elevator, as usual, wearing a well-tailored suit. His handsome face showed no sign of emotion. He stood there, quietly staring at her without speaking or moving.
"Mr. Lambert," Chloe was the first to speak. She nodded at him, then stepped into the elevator, standing beside him.
The confined space was filled with an invisible sense of pressure. Though the distance between them was close, it felt as though there was a chasm between them.
Carlos glanced at her, his lips moved slightly, but he said nothing. He pressed the floor button, then turned his gaze to the reflection in the elevator doors, stealing glances at Chloe.
Chloe looked down at her feet, silent. But just as the elevator was about to reach the destination, she suddenly spoke. "Mr. Lambert, if you have something to say, just say it."
Carlos was taken aback but quickly regained his composure. He turned to her and, in a calm but cautious tone, asked, "Are you alright?"
Those simple words, however, felt particularly harsh to Chloe. She slowly lifted her head and looked at him with a mixture of sarcasm and mockery. "What do you think, Mr. Lambert?"
Carlos was at a loss for words. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but the elevator doors had already opened. Without hesitation, Chloe stepped out, leaving him standing there.
In the evening, Nora sat in her study, carefully recalling every detail of her meeting with Chloe that day. Chloe had become even more indifferent and distant than three years ago. Ironically, this only piqued Nora's interest in Chloe even more.
Meanwhile, Carlos sat alone in his office, flipping through a document repeatedly but unable to focus. His mind kept replaying the scene in the elevator, along with the words and gaze of Chloe before she left.
"Damn..." he muttered under his breath, then threw the document aside and rubbed his temples in frustration.