Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 68: Chapter 68

A burst of screams and chaos erupted downstairs, the piercing shrillness stabbing at her eardrums.
Chloe's brows knitted, and she froze mid-step on the stairs.
A heavy sense of unease filled the air. Chloe turned toward the stairwell, where the piercing screams cut through her already frayed nerves like knives.
"Let go of me! What gives you the right to hit me?" A voice, laced with fury and panic, cut through the chaos. It was so familiar that it made Chloe freeze.
It was Demi's voice.
Her heart plummeted, as if a heavy blow had struck her chest, making her catch her breath. Then, her steps quickened.
The sharp, hurried clatter of her high heels on the wooden stairs echoed like a countdown in her ears. The cold banister slid under her palm, sending a chill straight to her heart.
The light at the end of the corridor was dim. From downstairs, a harsh glow from the living room filtered up through the banister. It was blinding, like the glaring spotlight of a courtroom witness stand.
When Chloe rushed into the living room, the scene before her hit like a thunderbolt, leaving her mind reeling.
The living room was an absolute mess.
Demi and Camila were locked in a fierce struggle. Their bodies were tangled, clothes twisted in disarray. Demi's face was contorted with rage, while Camila's was etched with terror. Camila flailed her arms desperately, trying to break free, but Demi had an iron grip on her.
The porcelain on the coffee table lay shattered on the floor, shards strewn everywhere. Coffee had bled into the expensive wool carpet, leaving a dark stain, like a throbbing wound.
Standing to the side, Yolanda clamped her hand over her mouth, a shriek tearing through the air. "Help! Someone's trying to kill me!"
Chloe stood at the top of the stairs, unsure of what to do next. The chaos, screams, and crashes washed over her like a frenzied drumbeat, making her temples throb.
She drew a steadying breath, forcing herself to stay composed. Her voice was low but laced with ice as she ordered. "Enough!"
No sooner had Chloe spoken than she strode into the center of the living room, the sharp staccato of her heels on the tile cutting through the air.
Chloe's arrival didn't stop them. Demi had Camila's wrist in a tight grip, while Camila thrashed like a cornered animal. Both were in a blind rage, fighting as if their lives depended on it.
Chloe narrowed her eyes, an icy glint flashing in them. "Stop this now!"
This time, she raised her voice. It struck like a sledgehammer, instantly silencing the entire living room.
Demi, gasping for breath, released her grip and stepped back, still eyeing Camila warily. Camila collapsed to the ground, clutching her wrist, and sobbed, "Stone, please! You have to get justice for me. This woman completely lost it!"
Seeing this, Yolanda burst into fresh, dramatic tears. She clung weakly to Chloe, her voice trembling on the verge of breaking. "Chloe, what on earth is going on? Why did Demi attack Camila? This is just too terrifying..."
Chloe shot Yolanda a frosty glance, ignoring her completely. Then her eyes locked onto Demi. "Tell me. What exactly happened here?"
Demi looked up at Chloe, her eyes flashing with hurt and anger. "Ms. Quinn, she started it. I was only trying to protect you, but she called me names and even shoved me."
"Bullshit!" Camila cut in sharply. "You're the one who suddenly lunged at me like a maniac and started hitting me. I didn't even fight back."
Chloe raised her hand, silencing their argument. She turned to Camila, her voice frigid. "You claim Demi hit you. Where's your evidence?"
Camila froze. She glanced down at her arm. Other than a few faint red marks, there was no real sign of injury. Speechless, she looked up at Chloe with big, innocent eyes, as if she were the most wronged person in the world.
A deep, icy male voice cut through from the doorway. "What the hell is going on here?"
As Hayden entered the living room, all eyes turned to him. Clad in a dark suit, he walked with deliberate, heavy steps. His piercing gaze swept over the clutter on the floor, and then shifted to the others, his brow furrowing. "Can someone explain this?"
"Hayden!" Yolanda immediately threw herself at his side. "You have to help me. Camila was treated so horribly. Demi practically tried to kill her."
Hayden glanced down at the sobbing Camila and then fixed his razor-sharp gaze on Chloe, who stood coldly to the side. His eyes narrowed. "What happened?"
Yolanda quickly cut in, her voice brimming with accusation, "Hayden, it was Demi! She suddenly went completely berserk, charging at Camila and scratching and hitting her. Camila didn't even fight back at all."
"Bullshit," Demi roared in fury. "It was clearly her who..."
"Enough," Hayden cut Demi off coldly. He turned to Chloe, his tone brooking no argument. "This is your assistant, right? Given what just happened, I think she'd better leave."
Chloe felt her temples pounding. She glared up at him in disbelief and demanded, "Ask her to leave? You're firing her without even hearing the full story?"
"Is there even a need to figure it out?" Hayden's voice was cold as ice. "This is the Stone family's residence, not a place for your people to run wild."
His words hit her like a bucket of ice water, sending a chill down her spine. But Demi held her ground, straightening up and declaring loudly, "Mr. Stone, I didn't run wild. I was just trying to protect Ms. Quinn..."
"Enough." Hayden waved a dismissive hand. "You're fired, effective immediately."
The air froze solid. The room was so silent that only a few ragged breaths could be heard. The tension was so thick that it was almost suffocating.
Chloe clenched her fists tightly, staring straight at Hayden's poker face. She could feel anger boiling inside her, threatening to break through her last bit of self-control. After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice low but carrying undeniable authority, "That's not happening."
Hayden arched a brow, a flicker of surprise crossing his gaze. "What do you mean by not happening?"
"Demi isn't going anywhere." Chloe stepped forward, standing toe-to-toe with Hayden. "At the very least, not until we get to the bottom of this. You have no authority to make that call."
The air crackled with tension between them. Even the onlookers held their breath, caught in the standoff.
Hayden narrowed his eyes, his voice dripping with menace. "Are you really trying to defy me?"
"If standing up for what's right means going against you, then so be it," Chloe said, meeting his gaze without a hint of fear. "But I'm warning you. This isn't over. I'll be taking this up with Dad and Mom."