Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Still drunk, Hayden collapsed on the sofa, muttering. Carlos stood by the window, holding a glass of wine, lost in thought. His face showed no emotion, but his fingers tightened around the glass, causing his knuckles to turn pale.
"Who do you really like?" Hayden's voice broke the silence again, this time with a hint of sobriety. He sat up straight, staring at Carlos, as though trying to read the answer from his face.
Carlos turned around, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You're drunk."
"Stop changing the subject!" Hayden suddenly stood up, his steps unsteady, but he stubbornly braced himself against the table. "You like Chloe, don't you?"
Carlos didn't answer. Instead, he gently placed the glass down. His silence only enraged Hayden more. He strode forward, grabbing Carlos by the collar. "Answer me!"
"Let go," Carlos's voice was low but commanding.
Hayden hesitated for a moment but quickly reacted. He released his grip, but didn't step back. He sneered. "I knew it. I knew you never really liked Yolanda."
"It's none of your business," Carlos said, straightening his collar, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather.
"None of my business?" Hayden snorted with derision. "Yolanda is my sister, so it's my business! You know she's wholeheartedly in love with you, yet you still..."
"Enough!" Carlos interrupted him, his voice cold. "You know what kind of person your sister is."
His words cut through Hayden like a sharp knife. Hayden stared at Carlos in disbelief. "What do you mean?"
"Just what I said." Carlos turned and walked toward the door, saying no more.
Only Hayden remained in the room, slumped back onto the sofa. The fireworks outside exploded in brilliant colors, but his world was clouded in gray.
In her temporary residence, Chloe sat on the bed, carefully applying ointment to her skin. The rashes had faded a little, but her skin still carried an unusual redness.
She glanced down at her phone screen, where a message from Maverick appeared: [8 PM, same place.] After a moment of hesitation, she set her phone back on the table.
Since leaving the Stone Villa, she had tried to sever ties with her past. But some things still had to be faced. Maverick was the only person she had trusted before being imprisoned, and also the only one willing to help her.
At 8 PM, she arrived at the agreed location. It was a small restaurant, with no sign, no fancy decorations, but it was quiet. Maverick was already there, dressed casually, his usual stern demeanor softened.
"You're here," he nodded at her and pushed the menu toward her. "What would you like to eat?"
Chloe shook her head. "No need, let's get to the point."
Maverick sighed, pulling the menu back. "You still don't know how to take care of yourself."
Chloe didn't respond, just silently watching him. Maverick, feeling uneasy, cleared his throat and pulled out several photos from his bag, handing them to her. "These are what I've recently found. Take a look, see if they're useful."
The photos made Chloe stunned. There was a transaction record, with Yolanda and Yael Foster's names clearly written. What shocked her more was that the transaction involved an underground organization connected to drugs and human trafficking.
"Are these real?" Chloe's voice trembled as she struggled to believe that the seemingly innocent Yolanda could be involved in such things.
"Absolutely," Maverick nodded. "But there's no solid evidence to bring them to justice yet. That's why I need you."
"Need me?" Chloe frowned. "What do you want me to do?"
"Help me investigate." Maverick stared at her, his tone serious. "Only you can get close to Yolanda and gather more information from within."
Chloe remained silent for a long time before slowly shaking her head. "No, I can't get involved in this again."
"But..." Maverick began to argue, but Chloe cut him off.
"I'm sorry, I really can't." She stood up, pushing the photos back toward him. "Thank you for your kindness, but this is something the police should handle."
With that, she turned and left the restaurant, not looking back.
Late at night, Chloe walked alone on the street. The cold wind cut through her, but it was nothing compared to the chill she felt deep inside. The photos kept flashing in her mind, making it hard to stay calm.
She knew that if she chose to intervene, it would mean putting herself in danger once again. After three years in prison, she no longer had the courage to do that.
Just then, a black car slowly stopped beside her. The window rolled down, and a familiar voice came from inside, "It's late. Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?"
Chloe stopped and looked at Carlos, who was leaning back in the seat, his demeanor elegant, but his eyes carried a hint of curiosity.
"It's none of your business," Chloe replied coldly, ignoring him as she continued walking forward.
The car followed alongside her, not leaving. Carlos didn't get angry. Instead, he patiently said, "Get in. I'll take you home."
"No need," Chloe quickened her pace, but was soon forced to stop as the car blocked her path.
Carlos stepped out of the car, standing in front of her. He looked down at her, his eyes seeming to see right through her. "Must you be this stubborn?"
"What do you really want?" Chloe couldn't take it anymore. She raised her head and met his gaze. "If you just want to pity me, then save it. I don't need it!"
Carlos paused, taken aback, before he chuckled softly. He took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, his tone affectionate. "I'm not pitying you. I just think, if you freeze out here, it'll make me feel uneasy."
Chloe hadn't expected him to answer like that. She froze, not knowing how to respond, standing there in a daze as his face moved closer.
Just then, a motorcycle sped by, splashing a pile of snow from the roadside onto them. Chloe was caught off guard, shivering from the cold, while Carlos quickly stepped in front of her, shielding her with his own body from more snow.
The sight softened Chloe's heart. But soon, she regained her indifference and threw the coat back at him. "Don't be so pretentious. I won't thank you."
With that, she turned and walked away. Carlos stood there, watching her retreating figure, a complex expression on his face, with a faint smile.