Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

The sound of footsteps from her dream jolted her awake. Chloe woke with a gasp, a sheen of cold sweat on her brow. In the suffocating darkness, she stared at the ceiling. The only sound was the relentless tick of the wall clock.
She sat up, hugging her knees. The memories were always there. Her life as a treasured princess had been nothing but a beautiful lie. Now, those same memories were coated in a thick layer of dust; to touch them was to feel only a biting, septic cold.
"How pathetic," she whispered to herself, a humorless smile twisting her lips.
She rubbed her temples, trying to banish the ghosts of the past, but the more she fought them, the more vivid they became. She remembered how the very people meant to protect her had been the ones to shove her into the abyss.
"Hayden... Yolanda... " She bit down on their names, her voice a low, frigid hiss. "I will make you pay."
Slowly, the black outside softened. A single ray of dawn pierced the curtains. It was weak, but it was a reminder to Chloe: she was no longer a prisoner of the dark.
She took a deep breath, rose from the bed, and pulled the curtains wide. The sky over Dawnridge was a brilliant, cloudless blue, the skyline punctuated by the occasional soaring bird. It was a beautiful sight, almost enough to make one forget the filth and sin hidden in the city's heart.
"I'm finally back," Chloe said to herself, softly and firmly.
After changing into a simple, elegant dress that Demi had laid out for her, Chloe stood before the mirror, adjusting the collar. The dress wasn't extravagant, but it gave her an air of quiet dignity. Her features were still delicate, but her gaze was now tinged with a cool, unapproachable distance.
"The dress suits you perfectly, miss," Demi ventured from the doorway. "Mrs. Evelyn will be so happy to see you."
Chloe merely nodded before turning to leave. The hallway was lined with a thick carpet that swallowed the sound of her footsteps, yet her own heartbeat thundered in her ears.
The walk to Evelyn's room wasn't long, but for Chloe, it felt like crossing an entire lifetime. She used to run down this hall to playfully demand her grandmother's attention; now, each step felt leaden.
She pushed open the door, and a familiar scent washed over her. The room was filled with antique furniture, and an old radio murmured the morning news. And there, sitting in a worn armchair, was Evelyn—the one person who had loved her unconditionally.
"Grandma... " Chloe's voice was a trembling whisper.
Evelyn turned. Seeing Chloe in the doorway, she froze for a moment, then scrambled to her feet and rushed forward. "Chloe! Is it really you? You are really back! I'm not dreaming... "
They clung to each other, as if trying to reclaim years of stolen time in a single embrace. Tears streamed down Evelyn's face as she stroked Chloe's cheek. "My dear Chloe, what they put you through... "
"I'm alright, Grandma," Chloe murmured into her shoulder, her own voice thick with unshed tears.
For the first time since her release, Chloe let the armor fall away, exposing the vulnerable girl she kept hidden. In the entire world, only Evelyn could still make her feel a moment's warmth.
"What really happened to you all those years?" Evelyn asked, her voice thick with pain as she settled Chloe into a chair and poured her a cup of tea. "How could they do this to you?"
"It's over now, Grandma. Let's not talk about it," Chloe said, her eyes downcast. Her voice was so calm it was almost cold. "All I want now is to stay by your side and take care of you."
At this, Evelyn's eyes grew misty again. "Oh, Chloe. It is I who failed you. If I had only noticed sooner, maybe you wouldn't have suffered so much."
"It wasn't your fault," Chloe insisted, giving her grandmother's hand a firm squeeze. "What's done is done."
As they were speaking, footsteps approached. Phoebe and Yolanda entered, both impeccably dressed and made up, as if for a special occasion.
"Evelyn, good morning," Phoebe said, beaming. Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second when her eyes landed on Chloe. "Oh, my... You're back, Chloe! "
"Chloe?" Yolanda feigned a look of wide-eyed surprise and rushed forward to link her arm through Chloe's. "You're finally home! We've all missed you so, so much!"
The touch of Yolanda's hand on her skin made Chloe's stomach turn. She knew they were playing the drama in front of Evelyn. She pulled her arm away without a shred of hesitation. "I wouldn't dream of troubling you to 'miss' me," she said, her tone dripping with ice.
The fragile peace in the room instantly shattered.
"That's enough!" Evelyn interjected, her brow furrowed. "We will not have any unpleasantness on this lucky day."
Then, her voice took on a pointed tone as she turned to Phoebe and Yolanda. "Since everyone is here, let's talk about the Lambert engagement. I hear Carlos has been making moves. I wonder, is he still willing to honor the marriage contract?"
Her words were a bomb dropped into the room. The expression on every face became tense and complex.
A few moments later, all eyes were on Chloe. Yolanda, in particular, watched her with a shimmering gaze that held a toxic brew of jealousy, resentment, and a flicker of deep-seated anxiety.
"Do you still love Carlos, Chloe?" she asked, her voice deceptively innocent, the question a poisoned dart.
"No." Chloe's answer was swift and brutal. "I haven't felt a thing for him since the day I was arrested."
Yolanda's face fell. Across the room, Hayden, who had been simmering in silence, shot to his feet. His eyes blazed as he stared at Chloe, "If that's true, then why are you still here?" his voice was low and furious. "And while we're at it, isn't it time we settled the issue of your last name?"
The atmosphere ignited. And from the hallway, just out of sight, Carlos watched the inferno he had helped create, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face.