Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Yolanda clung to Carlos's arm, her movements so fragile she seemed on the verge of collapse. Her face was still streaked with tears as she kept her head bowed, her gaze evasive.
Their silhouettes, cast upon the pristine white wall, appeared fragmented and lonely—the palpable distance between them almost materializing into physical form.
The pungent smell of antiseptic hung thick in the air, so strong it made one dizzy. Chloe leaned against the hospital room doorframe, arms crossed, her gaze as sharp as an icicle in midwinter.
She watched the two figures at the end of the corridor—their intimate yet distant posture filled her with disgust. The corners of her lips curled slightly, but the smile never reached her eyes.
"Chloe?" Yolanda's voice was barely more than a whisper, as if even that might shatter the eerie calm.
Yolanda slowly lifted her head, her face so pale it was almost translucent. "C-Can I go see Grandma? I know you're still mad at me, but—"
"Mad at you?" Chloe scoffed, her voice icy. "Yolanda, do you really think you even have the right to utter this?"
Chloe's words pierced like needles, mercilessly stabbing into Yolanda's nerves.
Yolanda's shoulders trembled, but she braced herself, refusing to yield an inch. She knew she couldn't retreat. One step back would mean total defeat.
Carlos's brow furrowed slightly, his stern features betraying a hint of impatience.
Standing protectively yet imperiously beside Yolanda, he spoke in a deep, commanding voice, "Chloe, Yolanda is only concerned about her grandma. Must you be so relentless?"
"Relentless, am I?" Chloe slowly straightened up, each step radiating intimidation. "Mr. Lambert, have you forgotten? This is the Stone family's territory, not the Lambert family's."
Chloe's words lashed at Carlos's pride like a whip. His brows furrowed even deeper, but he stayed silent, instinctively stepping in front of Yolanda to shield her.
Chloe caught this subtle gesture, her lips curling into a knowing smirk.
"Grandma needs peace and quiet, not your false concern." Chloe stopped, keeping her distance from the two.
Without even glancing at Yolanda, she fixed her sharp gaze on Carlos. "So, please leave."
"Chloe?" Yolanda blurted out desperately, poking her head out, her eyes red as if she'd been crying. "I swear, I just wanted to see Grandma—nothing else, really."
Chloe suddenly whirled around, her piercing gaze sending a chill down Yolanda's spine.
Yolanda felt as if all her secrets had been laid bare, holding her breath in fearful caution.
"Nothing else, huh?" Chloe sneered, her voice as grating as glass scraping against a wall. "Yolanda, have you already forgotten why you were standing in the ancestral hall last night?"
Those words struck Yolanda like a thunderbolt, shattering her facade. All color drained from her face as she instinctively clenched her fists, but kept them hidden.
"Chloe, I—" Yolanda's lips parted, but no words came out.
"Enough." Carlos suddenly interjected, stepping between them and looking down at Chloe with an imperious gaze. "Chloe, must you really go to such extremes? Why are you so ruthless?"
"Ruthless?" Chloe lifted her head, meeting his gaze, her eyes as dark as a bottomless abyss. "Mr. Lambert, you only think I'm ruthless because you have no idea what they've done to me."
Her words were like daggers, each one landing with undeniable weight.
Carlos's brow furrowed as he tried to speak, but Chloe cut him off with an icy scoff. "You know nothing, yet you dare to accuse me? Mr. Lambert, you've got some nerve."
The air grew thick with tension as Chloe, Carlos, and Yolanda stood locked in a silent standoff, each consumed by their own complex thoughts, none of them willing to be the first to yield.
Yolanda finally spoke up, carefully tugging at Carlos's sleeve, her voice thick with tears. "Carlos, please don't fight with Chloe. It's all my fault. I'm the one to blame."
"Shut up." Chloe suddenly whipped around, her voice as sharp as an ice pick. "If you have even an ounce of shame, stop playing the victim with that pathetic act."
Yolanda flinched but quickly straightened her posture. Taking a deep breath, she clenched her fists tightly and pleaded, "Chloe, I just want to make up for the mistakes I made in the past. Can't you just give me a chance?"
"A chance?" Chloe sneered, her smile dripping with mockery. "Did you ever think about giving me one when you framed me? Or when you made me take the fall and go to prison?"
Each word struck like a blade, tearing fresh wounds in Yolanda's heart. She clenched her jaw until it ached, yet couldn't stop her body from trembling uncontrollably.
"Enough," Carlos cut in again. He reached out and grabbed Chloe's arm, but before he could tighten his grip, she yanked it away forcefully.
"Don't touch me," Chloe snarled like a cornered beast, radiating menace. "This is the Stone family business—no Lambert has a say here. If you insist on taking Yolanda's side, at least spare me the sight of you."
Carlos's face darkened, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned pale. He said nothing, his gaze locked on Chloe, a storm of unreadable emotions flickering in his eyes.
Just then, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over Chloe. The world spun violently around her as she lost all sense of balance. In the next instant, she toppled backward.
But before she could hit the ground, a pair of strong arms instantly caught her, pulling her securely into a protective embrace. It was Carlos.
Carlos looked down at Chloe in his arms, her pale face just inches away. Frowning, he murmured so softly that his words were barely audible, "What on earth is wrong with you?"
But Chloe didn't respond. Carlos glanced down at her, only to realize she had already fainted in his arms.
"Call a doctor, now." Carlos barked to Demi behind him, carefully scooping Chloe into his arms and striding toward the hospital room. His movements were swift yet gentle—the mix of urgency and caution clearly genuine.
Demi, too, was flustered. She dashed off to find a doctor, but not without turning back to glare at Yolanda, who was still standing there in a daze. "What are you standing there for? Get over here and help."
Yet Yolanda stood frozen, watching as Chloe was carried into the hospital room. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails bit deep into her palms.
Jealousy and resentment burned in those beautiful eyes, an inferno of bitter indignation raging in her chest, threatening to consume her.
Yolanda thought, 'Why? Why is everyone fawning over Chloe? I'm the true heiress of the Stone family.'
Yolanda took a deep breath and pinched herself hard on the thigh, forcing herself to regain her composure.
Inside the hospital room, the doctor was examining the unconscious Chloe while Carlos stood silently by.
He looked down at the woman on the bed. Her face, so familiar yet somehow distant, was alarmingly pale and fragile, and an inexplicable ache tightened in his chest.