Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Chloe lifted her gaze, scanning the opulent hall where crystal chandeliers refracted blinding light that made her dizzy.
All around, guests clinked glasses with plastered smiles, their faces hidden behind paper-thin masks of pretense that turned her stomach.
Chloe lowered her head, absently smoothing the skirt of her perfectly tailored black evening gown that hugged her slender, statuesque frame.
A voice, dripping with false sweetness, called out from the side, "Well, well, if it isn't the esteemed Ms. Quinn. What brings you here?"
Chloe turned toward the voice and saw Yolanda standing nearby with a wine glass in hand, her saccharine smile laced with thinly veiled hostility.
The blush-pink gown gave her a deceptively innocent, princess-like appearance, but her gleaming eyes betrayed a venomous hatred, like a viper coiled in the shadows, waiting to strike.
Yolanda's voice was deceptively sweet, dripping with sarcasm. "What brings you here tonight, Chloe? I thought you'd be too busy, reconnecting with someone."
Yolanda's every word dripped with venom, her tone deceptively sweet, but each syllable cutting deep. The nearby guests exchanged knowing smirks. Some even covered their mouths to stifle their laughter.
Chloe's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile that didn't reach her eyes. Her gaze, heavy with unspoken pressure, swept coolly over Yolanda. "How leisurely of you, Ms. Stone.
"So, is tonight's party to celebrate your fairytale wedding, or are you just here to parade that one-of-a-kind sisterhood of yours?"
Yolanda's smile instantly stiffened, her fingers tightening around the wineglass until her knuckles turned pale. But in a flash, she forced her composure back, masking her irritation with a sweet facade.
"Oh Chloe, you're just teasing," Yolanda said in a deceptively gentle tone laced with hidden sharpness. "I'm only looking out for you. Don't take it the wrong way."
"In the wrong way?" Chloe's voice was ice-cold, her gaze as sharp as daggers. "Ms. Stone, I have no time for such nonsense."
Electric tension crackled between the two, making nearby guests fall silent as they stealthily turned their gaze this way.
Not far off, someone even picked up their wineglass and casually edged closer, clearly eager for the brewing drama.
"Enough," A deep, mellow voice cut through the tension.
All eyes were immediately drawn to Carlos as he strolled in with a champagne flute in hand. Dressed in an impeccably tailored charcoal-gray suit, he exuded refined elegance.
Though a trace of weariness lingered in his eyes, his every movement radiated an undeniable presence. He first glanced at Yolanda before letting his gaze settle on Chloe, his expression inscrutable and layered with unreadable emotions.
Carlos looked at her, his voice calm yet carrying an indescribable weight. "Chloe, it's been a while."
Chloe shot him a cold glance and said nothing, then looked away as if he were nothing but thin air.
Chloe had no interest in this once-familiar, now-strange man, let alone waste a single word on him in such a setting.
Yolanda instantly noticed the fleeting tenderness in Carlos's gaze as he looked at Chloe. Her face paled ever so slightly.
Jealousy flared up inside her like a raging fire, but, mindful of the occasion, Yolanda forced herself to swallow her anger, hiding it behind a saccharine smile.
"Oh, Carlos," Yolanda cooed in a cloyingly sweet voice, desperately trying to change the subject. "What brings you here?"
Carlos didn't answer. Instead, he handed his champagne to a waiter and made a beeline for Chloe.
Stopping right before her, Carlos lowered his voice so only she could hear, "It's a bit too loud here. How about we get some fresh air?"
His voice was low, but carried clearly to those nearby. His words landed like a bombshell—instantly, every gaze in the room turned their way, thick with unspoken implications.
Color instantly drained from Yolanda's face as she stared daggers at the intimate proximity between Carlos and Chloe.
Jealousy nearly swallowed her whole, but with so many eyes on her, Yolanda could only clench her jaw and hold back her rage, not daring to make a scene.
"That won't be necessary." Chloe refused without hesitation, her tone as cold as if addressing a complete stranger.
Carlos didn't seem bothered. A faint smile played on his lips as he said, "Suit yourself."
A shrill, mocking female voice shattered the brief silence. "Oh, silly me, I almost forgot. Ms. Quinn used to be utterly devoted to Carlos, wasn't she?"
All eyes turned to see Xena standing at the center of attention, wine glass in hand, her face painted with exaggerated surprise.
Though her lavender gown lent her an air of elegance, nothing could mask the venom lacing her words.
The moment those words left Xena's lips, the entire room fell dead silent.
Guests exchanged glances, some brimming with curiosity, others barely concealing their glee, while a few couldn't help but snicker behind their hands.
Chloe slowly turned to face Xena, her gaze razor-sharp. "What an excellent memory you have, Ms. Schmidt," Chloe said calmly, her tone laced with quiet menace. "But allow me to refresh yours?
"What exactly did you do to worm your way into the Lambert Group back then?"
Xena's smile froze instantly, her fingers tightening around her wine glass as she instinctively recoiled. A buzz of whispers rippled through the crowd, with some guests shooting her contemptuous looks.
Xena put on a brave front, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her inner turmoil. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, really?" Chloe sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Seems your memory is failing you. Need me to refresh it for you?"
Xena was utterly flustered. She opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. Humiliated, she dropped her gaze and shrank back into the crowd, desperate to disappear.
This scene only stoked Yolanda's fury further. She had been ready to kick Chloe while she was down, but the moment Chloe's icy, dagger-sharp gaze landed on her, Yolanda suddenly lost her nerve.
Clenching her jaw in silent rage, Yolanda bit back her words, not daring to say another word.
"Alright, everyone, let's not take this too seriously," a deep, magnetic male voice cut through the tension.
Hayden stepped out from the crowd, dressed in a black suit and exuding effortless elegance. He gave Yael a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said with a hint of apology, "Mr. Foster, it's just some harmless drama between the ladies. Don't take it to heart."
Yael had remained silent throughout, standing to the side. He simply watched Chloe, his deep, shadowed eyes flickering with a complex, unreadable emotion.
Only after hearing Hayden's words did Yael finally speak, his voice cool yet deliberate. "I certainly don't mind."
After finishing his words, Yael strode to Chloe's side and, in an almost doting tone, said, "Let bygones be bygones. You have my trust."
His words served both as a public declaration and a possessive claim of sovereignty over Chloe.
As Yael draped his arm around Chloe's shoulders with effortless grace, his gesture radiated an undeniable power, making it clear to everyone that Yael was standing up for her.
Whether genuine or not, he would never allow anyone to humiliate her again.
Outside the club, the roar of engines filled the air. A luxury yacht slowly pulled up to the dock, gleaming with dazzling opulence under the lights.
Hearing the commotion, guests flocked to the entrance and soon boarded the yacht to continue the festivities.
The deck was ablaze with lights and bustling with figures. Yael was surrounded by a group of wealthy young men who respectfully invited him aboard.
Yet he maintained an air of polite humility that was paradoxically aloof and cold, making his true intentions impossible to decipher.
Meanwhile, Chloe stood alone at the edge of the deck, gazing out at the deep ocean stretching into the distance.
The night breeze caressed her, gently stirring the stray strands of hair by her ears and seeming to blow away a trace of the lingering clamor and her own restlessness.
But that fleeting peace was abruptly shattered when someone called out with a snide remark, "It's Yolanda's birthday tonight. So, Chloe, what did you get her?"
Quella approached, a glass of red wine in hand. Her sweet smile belied the challenge in her voice.