Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

In a private room, Phoebe sat at the head of the table, with Zaiden sitting beside her, talking quietly. A young man dressed in a well-tailored suit sat across from them, his demeanor relaxed but exuding a hint of danger.
"Chloe, you're here," Phoebe looked up with a gentle smile, her tone tinged with undisguised satisfaction.
Chloe nodded slightly, her gaze pausing for a moment as it swept across the young man. He was looking at her too, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"This is Yael Foster, the heir of the Foster Group," Phoebe introduced. "Mr. Foster, this is Chloe, whom I often speak of."
Yael stood up and extended his hand to her. "Ms. Quinn, long time no see."
His voice was deep, impossible to ignore. Chloe's heart skipped a beat, the voice was too familiar. She almost instantly recalled a party from years ago.
Back then, she was still the Stone family's heiress. During a break at the party, Yael had approached her, teasingly asking if she wanted to dance.
At the time, she had no interest in such a carefree heir and had politely declined. She hadn't expected that their next meeting would be in such a situation.
"Mr. Foster," Chloe restrained her emotions, shaking his hand before quickly letting go. "It really has been a long time."
A meaningful glint flashed in Yael's eyes. "I didn't expect to meet you again, Ms. Quinn. This must be meant to be." His tone was playful, yet there was a trace of seriousness, making it hard to tell what he truly meant.
Chloe didn't reply, only sitting down at Phoebe's signal. Zaiden immediately served her coffee, smiling as he spoke. "Ms. Quinn, you're becoming more and more beautiful, no wonder Mr. Foster is so interested in you."
"Mr. Roberts, you flatter me." Chloe picked up her cup, hiding her emotions behind a calm tone.
"This is no flattery, it's the truth," Phoebe chimed in. "Chloe, it's time to think about your future. Mr. Foster is a rare talent, not only successful at a young age but also very considerate."
"Is that so?" Chloe raised an eyebrow and looked at Yael. "I've heard you've been doing well in the business world, truly impressive. But when it comes to being considerate, I'm not so sure about that."
Her words were sharp, but Yael was unfazed. He smiled and said, "Ms. Quinn, you're as sharp as ever. But I really am considerate. If you don't believe me, you can give it a try."
His words were met with laughter from Zaiden and Phoebe, while Chloe lowered her gaze, placing her cup back without saying another word.
The dinner continued in the same atmosphere. Zaiden and Phoebe kept praising Yael, subtly suggesting that Yael and Chloe would be a perfect match, while Yael maintained a relaxed attitude, neither fully agreeing nor disagreeing.
He occasionally glanced at Chloe, always catching the hint of coldness in her eyes, which only made him more intrigued.
After dinner, Yael took the initiative to offer Chloe a ride home. Phoebe was pleased and even reminded him, "Drive carefully on the way back."
A black Maybach stopped outside the restaurant, low-key yet luxurious. The driver respectfully opened the door, but Chloe didn't get in immediately. She stood there, looking at Yael. "Thank you for the kind offer, but I'll take a cab home."
"Don't be so polite," Yael stepped closer with ease. "Since everyone hopes we spend more time together, I must be a good host."
His tone was gentle, but there was an unmistakable firmness in it that made it hard for Chloe to refuse.
In the end, she got into his car. However, as the car drove away from the restaurant, she noticed that the direction wasn't headed toward her home. "Where are you taking me?" She furrowed her brows and asked.
"There's a nice café nearby, I'd like to treat you to a cup of coffee," he replied casually, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "Don't worry, it won't take too much of your time."
Chloe was about to decline, but then she realized it might be a chance to better understand his intentions. So, she accepted his invitation.
The café was filled with the rich aroma of coffee. They were seated by the window, and the server quickly brought over two freshly brewed cups of coffee along with a beautifully wrapped bouquet of roses.
"What's this?" Chloe looked at the flowers, her expression wary.
"A small gift," Yael pushed it in front of her, speaking seriously. "Each flower has a special meaning. For example, this one represents destiny, and that one symbolizes protection..."
To Chloe, it felt more like a carefully staged performance. "Thank you, but I'm afraid I'm not interested," she replied coldly, pushing the flowers back. "If you have something to say, just say it. No need for all these pretenses."
Despite her bluntness, Yael didn't seem offended. Instead, he smiled more deeply. "Alright, I'll be direct. I hope we can get married soon."
The words hit like a thunderclap. Even though she had mentally prepared herself, Chloe still froze for a moment. "Married? Are you joking?"
"No, I'm serious," he looked straight at her, his eyes making it hard for her to read him. "From the first time I saw you, I knew you were my destiny. So, I don't want to waste time, and I don't want to miss my chance with you."
His confession was aggressive, but the intensity behind it made it impossible to ignore. This contradiction made Chloe feel uneasy and more cautious.
"Do you know about my past?" she suddenly asked, her tone tinged with self-mockery. "A person who's been to prison, what right do I have to be your wife?"
"Your past doesn't define your future," he replied without hesitation. "Besides, I don't mind your past. What matters to me is who you are now, and who you'll be in the future."
His answer was flawless, but it only made her more suspicious of his true motives. Especially when he said the next sentence, which made Chloe believe that this marriage was not as simple as it seemed.
"Actually, my family likes you very much. They believe that you'll bring good fortune to our family, which is why they're so eager for this marriage to happen."
The reason sounded absurd, yet she couldn't argue, because the thoughts of wealthy families were hard to fathom. But that made her more certain that there was some hidden agenda behind this marriage.
Just as the two were at a standstill, a familiar, cold voice suddenly came from behind. "It looks like you two are having a good chat."
Both of them turned their heads at the same time to see Carlos standing beside their table. His face was dark, and his eyes harbored a looming anger. He stared at them and coldly demanded, "What are you doing?"