Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Chloe stepped into the elevator, and she could feel Carlos's gaze fixed on her.
The elevator doors slowly closed, isolating them from the outside noise. The small space was filled only with the sound of their breathing. Carlos stood beside her, pressing the floor button, appearing composed, yet betraying a subtle restraint.
Chloe lowered her gaze, fixating on her black high heels. The tips of her shoes lifted slightly, then slowly lowered, mirroring the emotions she was suppressing deep inside.
Carlos tilted his head slightly, observing her profile.
He noticed she had become even thinner than three years ago, her frame so fragile it seemed as though the wind could knock her down. Her face, once bright and captivating, now wore an expression of cold indifference.
"Ms. Quinn," he couldn't help but speak, his voice low, restraining his emotions.
Chloe looked up, meeting his gaze briefly. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions, but they were quickly replaced by detachment. "Mr. Lambert, is there something wrong?" she asked, her tone as plain as asking about the weather.
Her cold response caught him off guard, but Carlos quickly regained composure. "How is Hayden doing lately?" he asked, his tone laced with a hint of concern.
Chloe frowned slightly but quickly relaxed. She looked at him, with a mocking smile. "Mr. Lambert, you're concerned about Mr. Stone? How rare."
"I just..." Carlos paused, "wanted to know your opinion on him."
"Opinion?" Chloe laughed scornfully. "There's nothing between Hayden and me worth discussing." Her simple words, sharp as a blade, shattered the fragile balance between them.
Carlos furrowed his brows. He could sense the coldness and resistance in her words. But the more she distanced herself, the more he wanted to understand what had happened in these three years to turn the sunny girl into the distant figure before him now.
"You've changed," he murmured, not with reproach, but as a simple statement of fact.
Chloe didn't respond, only lowering her eyes, her silence answering him more than words could. The elevator fell into a brief silence, broken only by the mechanical sound of the changing floor numbers.
In the suffocating atmosphere, her mind suddenly flashed back to the scene from three years ago in the prison.
The cold, damp concrete floor, the sharp scent of disinfectant, the malicious and mocking words... Everything had driven her to the brink. The only thing she could do was use silence to protect herself from harm.
"Silence is the best form of self-protection," a fellow inmate had told her, and it became the belief that sustained her through the darkest days.
She clenched her fists at the thought, the pain from her nails digging into her palms snapping her back to reality.
Carlos noticed the brief flicker of discomfort on her face but didn't push further. Instead, he changed the subject. "There's a fashion show tonight. Would you like to go?"
The elevator doors opened at that moment, and they both stepped out. Hearing his invitation, Chloe paused for a moment but didn't turn back, replying in a cold tone, "Sorry, I'm not interested."
Carlos stood there, his gaze fixed tightly on her retreating figure. He knew she didn't want to step into a world filled with schemes and intrigue. But they had to face it all together, or rather, he hoped to face it with her.
In the rental apartment, Chloe sat on the sofa, holding a cup of hot coffee, but never taking a sip. The flickering neon lights outside the window cast an uneven glow across the room. The missed calls on her phone screen only made her more restless.
At that moment, the silence was broken by a call. The name on the screen was Evelyn, and she hesitated for a moment before answering. "Grandmother."
Evelyn's warm, loving voice came through. "Chloe, I heard there's a fashion show tonight. Do you want to go?"
"I don't like those kinds of events," Chloe declined directly.
Evelyn sighed softly, "Although you may not like this kind of event, it's a great opportunity for you to prove yourself. I'm sure you can handle it well, right?"
Chloe's grip on her phone tightened, her knuckles turning pale. Over the years, she had always considered Evelyn the only person who truly cared for her. But even so, she couldn't bring herself to fully trust anyone.
"Thank you for your concern, Grandma," she replied, her voice calm and distant. "But I really don't want to go."
After hanging up, she leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes, but her mind was occupied with thoughts of the people who might attend the event, and the possible schemes she could encounter. This inner conflict left her feeling exhausted, yet she couldn't fully shake it off.
A black car slowly drove out of the parking lot at the Stone Group headquarters. The window rolled down halfway, revealing Carlos's handsome, yet slightly tired face. He was holding a delicate box, branded with the logo of an upscale dessert shop.
When the car stopped, he stepped out of the car, handing the box to the assistant who had been waiting. "Take this to Ms. Quinn, and tell her it's from a friend."
The assistant was surprised, but nodded without asking further. After watching the assistant leave, Carlos returned to the car but didn't start the engine right away.
He didn't know if he should be doing this, nor was he sure what consequences it might bring. He couldn't help but pay attention to Chloe.
As night fell, the high-end hotel was brightly lit, with celebrities gathered for the lavish event. Just around the corner, not far from the hotel, a woman stepped out of a cab.
The woman was dressed simply yet elegantly, her black dress highlighting her tall, slender figure. When the lights hit her beautiful face, it instantly drew the attention of everyone. It was Chloe.