Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Chloe's eyes swept over the living room. The mountains of gifts seemed to mock her situation. The Stone family, a name she once thought meant sanctuary, was now nothing more than a gilded cage, trapping her freedom and her dignity.
"Chloe." Hayden's low voice echoed from the top of the stairs. He strode down, his face dark enough to curdle milk.
Chloe didn't turn around. "Something I can help you with, Hayden?" she asked lightly.
"What was that you said to Yolanda?" He stopped behind her, his voice tight with barely contained rage.
"I meant every word," Chloe said, turning to face him with a cold smirk. "Or do you need me to spell it out for you?"
Hayden took a deep breath, trying to get a grip. He knew this wasn't the same sweet, compliant girl from three years ago. She was sharp now, cold and unapproachable.
"Chloe, I don't care how much resentment you're holding onto, but you will apologize to our mother." His tone was hard, leaving no room for argument.
"Apologize?" Chloe raised an eyebrow, her eyes glinting with sarcasm. "For what? For calling Yolanda out on her little games? Or for pulling back the curtain on this fake family drama you're all starring in?"
Hayden's fists tightened. "Mom isn't well," he said through gritted teeth. "She doesn't need to hear things that will upset her."
"Oh, so you all can hurt me without consequence, but I'm not allowed to even defend myself?" Chloe advanced on him, each step radiating a quiet menace. "Hayden, are you trying to protect so-called family harmony, or are you just protecting your own interests?"
She backed him into the arm of the sofa. He looked pale but stood his ground. "Chloe, we're brother and sister. I don't want to see you become this person."
"Brother and sister?" Chloe let out a bitter laugh. "If you ever thought of me as a sister, you wouldn't have let me take the fall for you. If it wasn't for Grandmother Evelyn, I probably would have died in prison."
Hayden opened his mouth, but no words came out. He stared at the floor, his expression a mix of guilt and regret. For a moment, he was transported back to their childhood, when Chloe would follow him around, her eyes wide with adoration.
"When we were kids," he began, his voice low and raspy, "you always stuck to my side. You said you wanted to marry someone just like your big brother. I really thought I was the luckiest guy in the world to have you as a sister."
"A shame," Chloe cut in, her tone like ice. "That was a long time ago. I'm not that naive little girl anymore, and you are no longer the brother who protects me."
Hayden looked up, the coldness in her eyes hitting him like a physical blow. He wanted to explain, to say something, but he didn't know where to start.
"Alright, that's enough from both of you." A soft but authoritative voice cut through the tension.
Phoebe glided down the stairs in an elegant dress, a motherly smile on her face that didn't quite reach her calculating eyes.
"Hayden, how can you be so harsh with your sister? She just got back. Can't you cut her some slack?" she chided, stepping between them.
"Mom... " Hayden started, frowning. "But... "
"No 'buts'," Phoebe waved a dismissive hand before turning to Chloe, her voice instantly softening. "Chloe, darling, don't mind your brother. He's just worried about you and doesn't know how to show it."
Chloe looked at the familiar, painfully fake face in front of her and felt a wave of nausea. This woman never changed, always playing the part of the loving matriarch while letting her own children do as they pleased.
"Mrs. Stone," she said with a cold smile, "I'm so flattered by your concern. But I wouldn't dare expect it. After all, in your eyes, I'm just an outsider, right?"
Phoebe's smile faltered for a second before snapping back into place. "How could you be an outsider? We're all family here."
"Family?" Chloe arched an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to Yolanda, who was standing by, head bowed. "If we're family, then why is one of us constantly trying to destroy me?"
The question landed like a bomb in the quiet room. The staff froze, their eyes darting nervously toward the unfolding drama.
"Chloe," Yolanda finally choked out, her eyes red and welling with tears. She looked the very picture of misery. "I know I've made so many mistakes, but I'm your sister. Can't you find it in your heart to forgive me just this once?"
"Forgive you?" Chloe let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Forgive the person who framed me and sent me to prison? The one who nearly ruined my entire life? Sorry, that's a hard pass."
The air turned to ice. Even Phoebe, always in control, seemed at a loss for words.
"That's enough!" Hayden finally exploded, his head snapping up. He stared at Chloe, his eyes a storm of anger and pain. "Chloe, are you going to be happy only when you've burned this entire family to the ground?"
"No, you're the ones who pushed it this far," Chloe shot back, meeting his gaze without flinching. "You should have known this day would come the moment you decided to sacrifice me three years ago."
A sharp crack echoed through the room. Everyone froze. Hayden's hand was raised, but Demi stood in front of Chloe, having caught his wrist mid-swing.
Demi met Hayden's furious gaze, her own eyes blazing with defiance. "Mr. Stone," she said, her voice low and firm. "Control yourself."
A dead silence fell over the living room. Even Yolanda seemed to have forgotten her damsel-in-distress act, her face a mask of shock.
After a long moment, Chloe was the one to break the silence. She gave Demi's shoulder a reassuring pat and stepped past everyone into the center of the room. She looked around at each of them, her voice dripping with cold contempt. "You know, you don't have to put in all this effort to make me stay. I know exactly what this is about. You just want to use me to get something for the family."
A collective gasp went through the room. The staff looked down, trying to become invisible, while Phoebe and Hayden could only stare at each other, speechless.
"So," Chloe continued, "by all means, carry on with your pathetic little charade. It's not like I'm buying it anyway."