Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Chloe's expression didn't change at all. She coldly looked at Hayden, her wrist slipping from his grip with a smooth, decisive motion. The air was thick with tension, as if an even bigger conflict was about to erupt at any second.
"Hayden," her voice was low and sharp, "why should I apologize?"
Hayden was enraged by her attitude. He stared at Chloe, his sharp eyes burning with suppressed anger. "Just because I'm your brother, just because of everything I've done for you!"
"Brother?" Chloe couldn't help but mock. "Three years ago, you used that same title to send me to prison. Now, you want to use it to pressure me?"
Her words struck Hayden like a heavy blow. The anger on his face froze for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by even fiercer emotions. He grabbed Chloe's shoulder with force and growled, "That's because you brought it on yourself! If it weren't for you—"
"If it weren't for me taking the blame for Yolanda," Chloe interrupted him, coldly staring at him. "If I hadn't naively believed that family wouldn't hurt me, I wouldn't be in this situation now."
The crowd slowly gathered around them, whispering among themselves. Some people took out their phones to record the scene, while others murmured. The familiar sight reminded Chloe of what had happened three years ago.
"Enough!" Hayden shouted. Realizing he had lost control, he couldn't suppress the fury inside him. He shouted at the crowd, "Everything that happened today is a family matter of the Stone family. Please mind your own business."
However, the more he tried to calm things down, the more out of control the situation seemed.
"So this is the famous Stone family's eldest daughter? But I heard she's actually a fake heiress," someone whispered.
"Yeah, it caused quite a stir a few years ago! Didn't expect her to come back and fight for the family fortune," another person commented.
"Well, these rich family feuds are really something." someone sighed.
The whispers cut through Chloe like daggers, but she did not flinch. She tilted her head slightly, looking at the gossiping crowd, her tone as cold as if she were talking about someone else's business.
"Since everyone is so interested, why don't I tell you why I was kicked out of the Stone family three years ago?"
The words immediately drew everyone's attention, including Hayden's.
Hayden's face turned pale in an instant. He whipped around to look at Chloe, panic creeping into his voice. "You dare!"
Chloe sneered, not paying any attention to his threats. "Three years ago, I was framed for stealing company secrets, kicked out of the family by my own parents, and sent to prison by the so-called siblings. Three years later, I'm back, seeking justice."
Her words were like thunder, stunning everyone in the room.
"So that's what happened. No wonder she hates the Stone family so much," the onlookers were shocked by the truth and couldn't help but whisper.
"I can't believe they managed to hide something like this," Someone murmured, sympathy evident in their tone for Chloe.
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, and Hayden completely lost his composure. He suddenly stepped forward and shoved Chloe hard. "Shut up! Do you think this will clear your name?"
Chloe, caught off guard, staggered slightly from the push but quickly regained her balance. In that moment, a slender figure stepped in front of her.
"Stop!" Demi glared at Hayden, her voice filled with anger and warning. "Mr. Stone, please show some respect! Miss Quinn is no longer the helpless girl she once was!"
Her words didn't calm Hayden down; instead, they made him more agitated. He reached out to push Demi, but his force was too much, and he sent her crashing to the floor.
Demi fell, hitting a nearby chair with a dull thud. She clutched her arm in pain but still pretended to be fine, comforting Chloe. "Miss Quinn, don't be afraid, I'm here."
The sight made the onlookers gasp in shock. A few young girls even pulled out their phones to capture the scene.
"Oh my god, he actually laid his hands on a woman? That's too much!" a young girl said.
"This is supposed to be an heir from a rich family? He's acting like a thug!" someone immediately chimed in.
The murmurs finally made Hayden realize how out of control he had become, anxiety creeping in. But soon, he suppressed the unease, looked at Chloe, and venomously said, "Chloe, don't think this will ruin the Stone family's reputation! You'll pay for today's actions!"
However, before Hayden could finish, a deep and dangerous voice came from the back of the crowd. "Enough."
Everyone turned around to see Yael slowly walking into the hall. Yael was dressed in a well-tailored suit, his handsome but stern face marked with an unsettling displeasure.
His presence immediately quieted the entire hall. Even those recording videos couldn't help but lower their phones, as the inherent authority in Yael's demeanor made them feel a sense of respect.
Yael walked up to Chloe, his gaze first sweeping over her, then looking at Hayden, standing across from him. Their eyes met midair, neither willing to back down.
"Yael, this has nothing to do with you," Hayden spoke first, trying to assert his dominance, but his voice lacked confidence.
Yael smiled, the expression filled with clear disdain and mockery. "But I think I've seen everything that happened just now. As a citizen of Dawnridge, it's my duty to stop such unacceptable behavior, isn't it?"
As he spoke, he took out his phone, the screen showing a video of Demi being pushed down. The video had clearly spread online, and comments were now streaming across the screen.
[Oh my god, is this the famous rich family feud?]
[Who is that man? He's way too violent!]
[Supporting the young woman's fight for justice!]
Seeing this, Hayden lost all composure. He rushed forward, snatched the phone from Yael's hand, and smashed it to the floor. However, this childish and foolish act only made Hayden look even more ridiculous.
Yael didn't get angry. He spoke meaningfully, "Seems like today's show is getting more and more interesting."
His gaze once again landed on Chloe, his deep, dangerous eyes flashing with an unreadable emotion. "Don't worry. From now on, no one will be able to bully you again."