Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Chloe returned to the Stone Villa, and the familiar scent greeted her. Everything in the mansion was just as she remembered. Her eyes swept across the spacious living room, where the delicate chandelier cast a soft light, illuminating every corner.
Evelyn sat on the sofa, with servants attending to her. When she saw Chloe enter, her face relaxed, and she smiled, saying, "Chloe, you're here. Come sit next to me."
Chloe smiled faintly and sat beside her. Evelyn took her hand, the wrinkled palm carrying a slight chill, yet it brought Chloe a long-lost warmth.
"How have you been recently?" Evelyn asked with genuine concern, her voice carrying a hint of probing.
"Pretty well," Chloe responded briefly, her tone flat.
Evelyn nodded, then fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "I heard Carlos Lambert has returned. He used to be so good to you. Have you considered giving each other another chance?"
The words left her unsure of how to respond. Chloe lowered her gaze, staring at the hand Evelyn was holding.
"Grandma, I just want to focus on my studies and work for now," she said, her tone both calm and firm. "I don't want to think about matters of the heart."
Evelyn paused, slightly taken aback, but soon smiled again. "I understand. You've been through a lot these past years. It's time for you to focus on yourself."
Chloe didn't respond, only lowering her gaze to Evelyn's warm, wrinkled hand. She knew Evelyn truly cared for her, but even so, Chloe couldn't fully trust her.
Just then, Hayden and Yolanda walked into the living room side by side. Chloe looked up at them. Both paused when they saw her, but quickly regained their composure.
"Grandma," Yolanda greeted sweetly, then turned her gaze to Chloe. "Chloe, it's been a while."
Yolanda's friendly greeting struck Chloe as oddly sharp. Chloe nodded faintly, saying nothing more.
"Since everyone is here, why don't we go out for a meal?" Hayden suggested, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation, unsure whether Chloe would agree.
Evelyn nodded in agreement. "Alright. It's been a while since we've all gathered."
In an upscale restaurant, the grand crystal chandeliers lit up the private room. The long table was filled with exquisite dishes. Yet, the atmosphere in the room was rather cold.
Chloe sat by the window, poking at her salad with her fork, listening to the conversations around her. She didn't actively participate, nor did she show any interest.
"Chloe, you used to love this dish. Eat some more." Suddenly, a piece of steak was placed onto her plate.
She looked up to see Hayden's expression cold, yet his eyes filled with expectation. It seemed he was trying to ease the tension between them, but Chloe merely glanced at him, then pushed the steak aside. "Thank you, I don't want to eat."
Those few words immediately froze the atmosphere. Hayden's smile faltered, and he looked toward his father, only to find him staring back thoughtfully.
"Since we're all here, there's something I'd like to address," Peter finally spoke in a serious voice. "I know we've wronged you in the past, Chloe. But over the years, we've tried our best to make up for it."
These words made Chloe grip her knife and fork tighter. She raised her head and met his gaze directly. "Make up for it? I'm not sure what you mean."
"I've already transferred a portion of the Stone Group shares to your name. This should be enough to ensure you live comfortably," Peter continued, his tone firm, as if he were not offering compensation but simply making an announcement.
"So," Chloe sneered, "you think that giving me these shares will make me forget everything that happened in the past?"
The air seemed to freeze, and everyone felt the invisible pressure. Hayden suddenly spoke up. "Don't be so greedy! We've given you enough. What more do you want?"
His voice, filled with anger, made the entire room fall into an eerie silence. All eyes turned to him—shock, anger, and confusion written across their faces.
Chloe slowly stood up and looked at Hayden. "Greedy?" she repeated softly, then mockingly added, "If it weren't for you, would I be in this situation today?"
At that moment, all her long-suppressed anger and frustration exploded. In response to her question, Hayden was momentarily speechless, unable to reply.
Yolanda, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke. "Chloe, don't blame Hayden. He's just doing what's best for our family. None of us wanted those things to happen back then... "
"Shut up!" Chloe suddenly turned and cut her off, her cold, sharp gaze sending a chill through Yolanda. "How dare you say that? If it weren't for you."
"Enough!" Phoebe, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. She forced a smile, though it seemed stiff and strained. "Today is a family dinner. Let's not bring up these painful topics, alright?"
No one responded to her. Everyone harbored their own thoughts, yet none dared to truly confront one another. The surface calm was not enough to mask the tense atmosphere, making it suffocating.
After the dinner, the others gradually left the room, leaving Chloe alone to gather her things. When the last person left, she let out a sigh of relief and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes.
A hurried and heavy set of footsteps broke the brief silence. The next moment, the door was suddenly thrown open, and Carlos stood in the doorway, his piercing gaze fixed on Chloe's frail yet resolute figure.
His lips trembled slightly, but he said nothing. It seemed he had many things he wanted to say, but couldn't express them, hiding all his emotions in his eyes. When their gazes met, time seemed to freeze.