Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

The lights at the party were soft and intimate, the air filled with the scent of expensive champagne. Chloe stood in the corner, gently swirling the wine in her glass, the surface rippling in delicate waves.
Her gaze swept across the crowd, and it briefly paused when she saw Yael, who was facing off with Carlos. The atmosphere between them was charged, as if a conflict could erupt at any moment.
"Mr. Lambert," Yael's voice carried a hint of mockery, yet his tone remained calm, "You seem unusually interested in other people's business."
Carlos's handsome face appeared gentle and refined under the soft lighting, but his eyes concealed a deep, unreadable coldness.
He didn't answer Yael directly, holding his wine glass, merely glancing at him indifferently before sharply asking, "I'm just curious, when did you start showing interest in someone else's fiancée, Mr. Foster?"
Carlos's words left Yael unfazed. He casually placed his wine glass on a nearby tray held by a server, then slowly walked up to Carlos, standing just a step away.
"Fiancée?" Yael raised an eyebrow. "Is it Yolanda or Chloe? Well, the alliance between the Stone family and the Lambert family hasn't been officially announced yet, has it?"
The guests around them couldn't help but glance over. Power struggles between wealthy families had always been a favorite topic of gossip, and now, this public showdown had undoubtedly become the focal point of the evening.
Carlos pressed his lips together slightly, his gaze growing colder. He didn't respond but took a small sip of his wine, his graceful movements unable to mask the anger beneath.
Yael's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Since you're not speaking, let me make the announcement for you, Mr. Lambert." His voice rose, capturing everyone's attention, "From today onwards, I will be pursuing Chloe."
Yael's words hit like thunderclaps, and the room fell into stunned silence. The previously lively party came to an abrupt halt, with all eyes now fixed on Yael and Chloe.
Chloe stood frozen, unable to comprehend why Yael would say such a thing in public. Her fingers instinctively tightened around the wine glass, and she took a step back, only to bump into a table behind her.
"Are you crazy?" she whispered sharply, her voice laced with clear displeasure and warning.
Yael paid her no mind. He turned back to Carlos, his tone provocative, "What do you think, Mr. Lambert? Are you satisfied now?"
Carlos didn't answer immediately. He simply stared at Yael, his thoughts unreadable. After a moment, Carlos set his wine glass down and spoke slowly, "Yael, do you know what you're doing?"
"Of course I do," Yael didn't back down, "I'm just expressing my true feelings."
Whispers spread quickly, and some of the onlookers wore amused expressions. Meanwhile, Yolanda, standing among the crowd, looked as though her world was crashing down. Her eyes fixed on Chloe, jealousy and resentment barely contained.
"True feelings? Then I hope your true feelings can withstand reality." Carlos sneered, his voice low and chilling, filled with anger and disdain.
After the party, Chloe left the venue in a car. The vehicle was silent, save for the low hum of the engine. The neon lights outside blurred as they sped past, but inside, her thoughts were in turmoil.
Three years ago, her life had been completely changed. From being the heiress of the Stone family to a prisoner, and now, returning to the luxurious world, her situation had become even more difficult.
Suddenly, there was Yael, who had declared his intent to pursue her. What did he want? Was it simply curiosity, or was there some hidden agenda?
She closed her eyes, resting her head against the seat, but couldn't calm the storm inside. Fragments of broken memories overwhelmed her, leaving her breathless. It wasn't until the driver announced their arrival that she snapped back to reality.
The Stone Villa's living room was brightly lit, with Phoebe sitting on the sofa waiting for Chloe. As soon as she saw Chloe enter, she quickly stood and greeted her, her usual cold demeanor replaced with a warm, caring tone. "Chloe, you're home."
Chloe paused, looking at Phoebe who had once stood by and watched her fall, now smiling broadly. The irony was overwhelming, but she didn't show it. Instead, she nodded faintly, "Yes."
"What do you think of what Mr. Foster said at the party?" Phoebe asked cautiously, pulling Chloe down to sit beside her, her demeanor that of a concerned mother.
"What do I think?" Chloe scoffed. "He can say whatever he wants. It has nothing to do with me."
"Of course it's related to you," Phoebe frowned, retorting. "He said he's going to pursue you. This is serious! What do you think of him?"
Seeing her agitated expression, Chloe couldn't hide her sarcasm. "What do you want me to think of him? Should I immediately accept him just because you think he's a good match?"
Phoebe was momentarily taken aback but quickly put a smile on her face. "Of course not. I'm just worried about your future. We're only thinking of what's best for you."
Chloe found it laughable. She knew that if they truly had her best interests at heart, they wouldn't have allowed Yolanda to frame her, nor would they have stood by while she was imprisoned for three years.
But Chloe didn't want to waste any more words on the past. She stood up and said, "Thank you for your concern. I'm tired, I'm going to rest now."
Watching her leave, Phoebe sighed helplessly. Hayden, who had been standing silently at the stairwell, walked down. His face was dark, and when he looked at Phoebe, there was a hint of reproach in his gaze. "What did you say to her just now?"
Phoebe snapped back, feeling uneasy as she avoided his gaze. "Just a casual conversation."
"It better be," Hayden said coldly, then turned and walked up the stairs. He quickly caught up with Chloe, who was about to close her door, and blocked it, questioning her. "Wait. What do you mean by all this?"
"What?" Chloe frowned and looked at him, confused. "I don't understand what you're saying."
"Stop playing dumb!" Hayden gritted his teeth. "Yael publicly declared he's going to pursue you. Why didn't you reject him? Are you doing this on purpose, trying to get back at the Stone family?"
At his words, Chloe froze for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh. The mockery and sarcasm in her laugh only made Hayden more furious. He grabbed her wrist so forcefully that it hurt, but she didn't back down.
"Get back at you?" She repeated the words softly, then stared into his eyes, speaking each word with precision. "If I really wanted to get back at you, do you think you'd still be standing here talking to me?"
Her words stunned Hayden. He stared into her cold eyes, an unfamiliar unease creeping over him. But he quickly forced himself to regain composure. "Then what do you want? Do you really like Yael?"
"It's none of your business," Chloe shook off his grip and slammed the door shut, shutting out all the noise.
The room was quiet, but she felt more exhausted than ever. Sitting at her vanity, staring at the haggard face in the mirror, she suddenly felt unfamiliar.
After a long while, she finally closed her eyes slowly, trying to sort through her emotions. The night was long, cold, and somewhat unbearable.