Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 55: Chapter 55

The captain's footsteps echoed sharply on the deck. The biting night wind carried the relentless crash of waves against the hull, each surge bringing an unsettling chill. He cradled a small wooden box in both hands.
He handed the box to Chloe, his voice carrying a quiet reverence. "Ms. Quinn, someone entrusted this to my care a few years ago, with strict instructions that it must be returned to you personally."
Chloe, who had been leaning against the railing, turned at the captain's words. She didn't take the box immediately, instead studying it for several seconds.
The wooden case was intricately carved with delicate patterns, its luster dulled, but clearly well preserved. A slight frown creased her brow as she struggled to recall any memory connected to the box.
Chloe took the box, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against the captain's rough hand. The icy touch made her falter for a fleeting moment.
"Thank you," she murmured, then gently lifted the lid. Inside, a pair of earrings lay nestled silently.
They were two perfectly round pearls, simple yet elegant, glowing with a soft luster under the moonlight. As Chloe's fingertips lightly grazed their surface, she instantly recoiled as if burned.
She recognized the earrings instantly. They were a birthday gift from Carlos.
Five years ago, when Carlos personally put these earrings on her, Chloe could still feel the faint tickle of his warm fingertips gliding across her earlobes. He told her, "Pearls suit you best—gentle yet with an inner fire."
Back then, Chloe took his words to heart, truly believing their love would last forever.
But now, they were like two icy needles, brutally piercing into her heart. All those sweet memories she once shared with Carlos had silently splintered into razor-sharp shards, relentlessly tearing at her from within.
Demi stood quietly to the side, noticing the sudden shift in Chloe's expression. After a brief hesitation, she gently asked, "Ms. Quinn, about these earrings—"
"It's nothing." Chloe's tone was flat, bordering on cold. She closed the wooden box as if the earrings were nothing more than ordinary trinkets. "Just an old thing."
With that, Chloe took several bills from her clutch bag and extended them to the captain. "Thank you for keeping it safe for so long. Please do accept this as a token of my appreciation."
The captain hastily waved his hands in refusal. "Oh no, Ms. Quinn. I couldn't possibly accept this. I was just doing my job."
"Take it," Chloe said, her voice quiet yet firm. "Consider it my thanks for your kindness."
The captain hesitated for a moment, then finally accepted the bills, bowing repeatedly. "Thank you so much, Ms. Quinn. You're too kind."
After the captain left, Chloe reopened the wooden box and gazed at the earrings again.
The wind tousled the hair at her temples as indecipherable emotions flickered in her eyes—but within moments, her expression smoothed into perfect calm.
Then, without warning, Chloe removed her earrings and strode straight to the edge of the deck.
Demi gasped, "Ms. Quinn, what are you doing?"
Chloe didn't answer. She just paused for a second on the deck. Then, she lifted her wrist—the pair of pearl earrings arced gracefully before plunging straight into the fathomless sea.
Plop. The earrings plunged into the water, their splash instantly vanishing into the waves.
The scene instantly drew all eyes to her. Even Yael and Carlos, deep in conversation across the deck, turned to look.
Carlos's face clouded over instantly. He strode to the rail, his gaze fixed on Chloe standing there, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as the sea.
"Why did you have to throw it away?" His voice was low, seething with suppressed anger.
Chloe turned to look at him, her eyes—once full of tenderness—now icy cold. Her lips curved in a mocking smile. "Because it means nothing now."
Carlos's Adam's apple bobbed—he seemed poised to speak, but no words came.
A storm of emotions flickered in his eyes, swiftly masked by icy detachment. Turning away, Charlos left behind nothing but a silent, chilling silhouette.
Yael stepped forward, his usual gentle smile in place, though his eyes held a probing look. "Chloe, how could you just discard something so precious like that?"
"What's there to regret?" Chloe said coolly. "Since I'm about to marry you, it wouldn't be right to keep gifts from another man—wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea."
Yael paused for a beat at her words, then his smile deepened. He gently clasped Chloe's delicate hand, his voice softening into an indulgent tone as he said, "I'm really glad you think that way."
Yolanda watched the entire scene unfold from nearby. Her face twisted in barely concealed fury, her nails digging so hard into her palms they nearly drew blood—yet nothing could mask the storm of resentment and bitter jealousy churning inside her.
Yolanda had hoped to approach Carlos, but realized he hadn't so much as glanced her way the entire time. Left with no outlet, she could only stand rooted to the spot, teeth clenched in helpless frustration.
The yacht sailed further into the ocean. An awkward tension hung over the deck after what had just transpired.
Even the most sociable guests fell silent, their laughter and chatter fading away, leaving only the rhythmic crash of waves against the hull echoing through the night.
To break the awkward silence, Quella suddenly put on an excited face and pointed out to sea. "Hey, everyone, look. There's a whole school of fish over there. Aren't they gorgeous?"
Turning to look, they saw, illuminated by the yacht's lights, a dazzling school of iridescent fish darting around the hull, their scales shimmering in the glow.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Quella pretended to admire the school of fish, stealthily moving closer to Chloe, standing at the edge of the deck. Seizing an unguarded moment, she suddenly reached out to shove Chloe overboard.
But in her overzealous attempt, Quella lost her balance—a shrill scream ripped from her throat as she herself toppled over the railing and plunged into the frigid, bone-chilling sea.
The sudden accident left everyone stunned. Chaos erupted instantly—some screamed for help, others frantically searched for lifebuoys, while a few rushed straight to the deck's edge, ready to dive in for rescue.
Hayden and Carlos sprang into action almost simultaneously, both hastily shrugging off their jackets to dive in.
But just then, Yolanda, who had been standing quietly among the crowd, suddenly clutched her forehead and whimpered with feigned weakness, "I feel so dizzy."
Before anyone could react, her body went limp, and Yolanda collapsed on the spot, throwing the scene into even greater chaos.
Yael frowned, barking orders at those nearby to help Yolanda up. Then his gaze shifted to Chloe, who stood rooted to the spot, unmoving. A deep, calculating look flashed in his eyes as unknown schemes churned in his mind.
Amid the panicked chaos, a slender yet resolute figure suddenly dove into the water. It was none other than Chloe.
The bone-chilling seawater instantly enveloped Chloe, but she swam toward Quella without hesitation.
When they finally reached each other, Quella, her face contorted with terror, grabbed onto her in panic. But at that very moment—
Unbeknownst to anyone, in the dark, fathomless depths of the sea, an enigmatic smile slowly played across Chloe's lips.
When everyone finally managed to haul both women back onto the yacht, Quella had already lost consciousness.
Meanwhile, Yolanda, drenched and disheveled, slumped in a corner, shivering uncontrollably, her gaze locked onto Chloe, brimming with a torrent of conflicting emotions.
Several wealthy young men hastily draped a blanket over Quella and summoned the ship's doctor to examine her.
A short while later, as Quella slowly came to, the first thing she saw was Chloe standing by her bedside—her expression coolly indifferent, yet with a faint, unreadable smile playing on her lips as she gazed down at her.
Before Quella could explain or thank her, Chloe leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper only the two of them could hear. "Scared now?"
She paused, her eyes cold. "Remember—try something like that again, and you won't get off so easy next time."