Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 61: Chapter 61

The scenery whizzed by outside the car window as the familiar city lights were gradually swallowed by the darkness, Chloe's heart plummeting into the abyss.
Yael sat beside her, his legs elegantly crossed, fingers tapping rhythmically on his knee.
An unreadable smile played on his lips. His gaze never left Chloe, watching her with the patient yet dangerous intensity of a predator stalking its prey.
"You look tense," Yael broke the silence, his tone deceptively light yet sharp as a blade against the eardrum.
Chloe remained silent, her fingers clutching the bag strap so tightly her knuckles turned pale. 'Any word now could give him leverage,' she thought. Better to stay silent than speak.
Seeing her remain silent, Yael's smile only deepened. "What's wrong? Afraid of what I might do to you?" he asked, his voice low and deliberate, each word laced with menace. "Or is there something else you're afraid of?"
Chloe turned to look at him, her deep eyes utterly unreadable. "Mr. Foster, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Yael arched an eyebrow. "Do what?" he asked. Leaning in closer, his voice dropped to a low, menacing whisper. "Of course, I'm taking you somewhere special."
His words still hanging in the air, Yael suddenly reached out and pinched the earring dangling from Chloe's earlobe, rolling it back and forth between his fingers. The gesture was disturbingly intimate, sending chills down her spine.
"These earrings suit you perfectly," Yael said with a smirk that didn't reach his eyes. "Pity they weren't from me."
Chloe instinctively turned her head to the side to avoid him, but Yael only yanked harder, nearly tearing the earring from her ear.
The intense pain made her suck in a sharp breath, yet she gritted her teeth and refused to make a sound.
"Let go," Chloe finally snapped, her voice as cold and sharp as ice.
Yael released his grip, shrugging with feigned innocence. "No need to be so dramatic. I was just assessing its worth."
Once again, the car was plunged into an oppressive silence, broken only by the low rumble of the engine and the palpable tension crackling between them.
Suddenly, the car swerved sharply, jolting Chloe out of her thoughts. She looked up and gazed out the window—on both sides, the road was now flanked by desolation; not a trace of the city's hustle and bustle remained.
Chloe shot him a wary look. "Where are you taking me?" she demanded.
Yael gave no answer. Instead, he jerked his chin at the driver. The driver understood and stepped on the gas, speeding toward a shadowy building looming in the darkness ahead.
A few minutes later, the car slowly pulled up to a derelict mansion. Its peeling, cracked walls were choked by overgrown weeds that swayed ominously in the pale moonlight, casting eerie shadows across the desolate grounds and exuding an exceptionally sinister aura.
Yael was the first to step out of the car. Circling around to Chloe's side, he pulled open her door with exaggerated courtesy. Bending slightly at the waist in a mock-gallant gesture of invitation, his lips curled into a chilling smile.
"After you," he said, his tone dripping with mockery and derision.
Chloe didn't move. Her eyes stayed locked on the mansion as a chill shot up her spine. The place radiated an ominous aura, and every instinct screamed at her to run. But she knew—there was no way out.
"I'd advise you not to keep me waiting too long," Yael straightened up, his voice turning icy. "Or I can't guarantee Mrs. Stone won't meet with some unfortunate accident."
The words struck Chloe like a physical blow to the chest. Her head jerked up sharply, eyes blazing with fury—yet what shone through most clearly was helpless dread.
Finally, Chloe took a deep breath and reluctantly stepped out of the car. Her dress brushed the ground, picking up dirt—a detail no one noticed.
Yael nodded in satisfaction, then motioned for his bodyguards to follow. The group headed toward the mansion.
As soon as they stepped through the mansion's entrance, the stench of decay and dampness assaulted their senses. The furniture in the hall was covered in a thick layer of dust, some pieces broken and toppled over.
Most striking were the splattered bloodstains on the walls, their dark crimson hue glowing ominously in the dim light, like congealed despair.
Chloe stood frozen in place, every nerve in her body stretched to the breaking point. A place like this, if it wasn't a trap, it was definitely hiding secrets no one was meant to discover.
"Do you like this place?" Yael turned abruptly, his tone edged with mockery.
He walked over to a dilapidated couch, casually brushed the dust off its armrest, then looked up at Chloe. "I picked it out just for you."
Chloe stared at him coldly, offering no reply. She knew all too well that showing any fear now would only encourage him to push his advantage.
"Sit down," Yael said, gesturing to the chair opposite him. "Let's talk."
Chloe stood her ground, not even sparing a glance at the chair. She said coolly, "If you want to kill me, just get it over with. I have no interest in playing your pointless games."
Yael froze for a split second, then let out a wild, deranged laugh—madness and excitement mingling in every note, as if he'd just heard the world's greatest joke.
He closed the distance between them in a single stride, stopping just a step from Chloe, his predatory gaze locking onto hers like a hunter eyeing its prey. Tilting his head, he sneered, "Kill you? How could I? If you were dead, where would all my fun go?"
He grabbed her chin, forcing her head up to meet his gaze. "That attitude of yours pisses me off," he said coldly. "From now on, you'd better be a good girl, or else—"
His unfinished threat was enough to send chills down her spine. Suddenly, Yael lunged forward, seized the earring on Chloe's right ear, and yanked it violently.
A sudden, searing pain shot through her as her earlobe was torn open, and blood gushed out in an instant.
Chloe choked back a gasp, instinctively pressing her hand to the wound, but crimson kept streaming through her fingers, staining her pale, slender hand a shocking scarlet.
"Are you insane?" Chloe finally shrieked, her eyes blazing with fury and disbelief. But Yael remained completely unfazed.
Yale held the blood-stained earring up to his eyes, examining it closely, then broke into a smile of perverse satisfaction.
"Now, it's finally mine," Yael said, casually dropping the earring into his pocket. With deliberate slowness, he produced a silk handkerchief and offered it to Chloe. "Clean yourself up. I won't have your blood staining this place."
Chloe stared daggers at him, refusing to take the handkerchief. Through gritted teeth, she spat, "You'll pay for what you've done today."
"The price?" Yael sneered, lips curling in derision. "I'm afraid you're in no position to decide my fate. But—"
He paused deliberately, then leaned in so close only she could hear, his voice dropping to a barely audible, menacing whisper. "If I were you, I'd be worrying about your grandmother's safety right now—instead of trying to threaten me."
Yael's words utterly shattered the last of Chloe's psychological defenses. She stood there, frozen, her mind a complete blank. 'No matter what,' she thought desperately, 'I can't risk Grandma.'
Carlos's face became a mask of chilling fury when Sadie told him that Chloe had been taken by Yael.
He stood rigid by the window, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned pale, his tall frame shrouded in an icy, unshakable authority.
"When did this happen?" he demanded, his voice low and rough, yet carrying an oppressive force.
Sadie answered nervously, "About two hours ago, Mr. Lambert, I truly don't know where they were going."
Before Sadie could even finish speaking, Carlos spun around and strode out. He pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and commanded in a sharp, forceful tone. "Track their location immediately. Spare no expense."