Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 69: Chapter 69

Chloe glanced past Hayden, who had always been cold to her. His face was as hard and unyielding as a chunk of raw ice.
Chloe's eyes fell on Camila, who was holding her wrist and sobbing like the world's biggest victim. But nothing beat the sight of Yolanda, her tear-streaked face the picture of fake innocence.
"Now that everyone's here, let's get everything out in the open." Chloe's voice was low but razor-sharp, each word cutting through the silence.
Phoebe sat stiffly on the sofa, her face dark with barely contained anger. The cup in her hand trembled, spilling coffee over the edge and staining the carpet.
She looked up at Chloe, eyes blazing with accusation. "Chloe, are you second-guessing me? Or just trying to cover for your assistant? Camila could have been seriously hurt because of her."
"Facts?" Chloe raised an eyebrow, her lips twisting into a sneer. "Aren't you jumping the gun a bit, Mom? I haven't even heard the person involved explain herself yet."
Phoebe choked for a moment, her face instantly flushing crimson with rage. "What kind of tone is that? Are you implying we've falsely accused her?"
Chloe slowly turned to Demi, who stood trembling beside her. Her voice was calm, yet carried undeniable authority. "Demi, tell us the truth. Was it Camila who started this?"
Demi looked up, eyes rimmed red and glistening with tears. She gritted her teeth and nodded firmly. "Ms. Quinn, I'm telling the truth. Camila insulted me first and pushed me. I just... I just wanted to protect you."
"Nonsense," Camila shrieked, her voice piercing the air. "You're the one who suddenly rushed over, grabbed my hand, and tore my clothes. Everyone saw it."
"Everyone?" Chloe's gaze cut through the room like a blade, scanning the servants around her. "Alright then, let's hear from 'everyone' who threw the first punch."
The living room instantly plunged into deathly silence. The servants hung their heads, as if shackled by invisible chains. No one was daring to utter a sound. A suffocating stillness permeated the air.
Chloe narrowed her eyes, her voice icy, flat, and sharp. "What? Weren't there so many witnesses just now? Why is everyone suddenly too scared to speak?"
Finally, an elderly maid reluctantly gathered her courage and stepped forward. She spoke timidly, her voice barely above a whisper, "Ms. Quinn... at that time... it was indeed Camila who grabbed Demi's arm first."
As soon as those words left her mouth, the room erupted in an uproar.
Yolanda's expression froze instantly. She instinctively turned to look at the maid, a flash of panic in her eyes.
But almost immediately, she slipped back into her usual facade of delicate innocence and said softly, "Chloe, I'm sure Camila didn't do it on purpose. Maybe... maybe she just got a little anxious."
"Just a little anxious?" Chloe sneered, taking slow, deliberate steps toward Yolanda, her presence oppressive. "How sweet of you to defend your assistant, Yolanda. Too bad I've got some pretty solid proof right here."
She slowly rolled up her sleeve, revealing the dark bruises marring her slender arm for all to see.
It was a shocking sight.
Phoebe's face drained of color at the sight of those distinct finger marks. She parted her lips, but no words came. She simply couldn't bring herself to defend Yolanda.
"These are the marks Yolanda left when she grabbed me," Chloe said flatly, but each word hit everyone like a sledgehammer. "Mom, do you still think my assistant was unreasonable?"
Hayden frowned, looking at the bruises on Chloe's arm before turning to Yolanda, who bowed her head in fake distress. A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.
"Chloe..." Yolanda bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked pitifully at Chloe. "I truly didn't mean to. I was just... just too scared, and that's why I..."
"Scared?" Chloe scoffed, leaving Yolanda no room to retreat. "So scared you had to grip me that hard? Then tell me. What exactly are you so scared of?"
Yolanda was at a complete loss for words. All she could do was cast a desperate, pleading look at Carlos, who stood silently to the side. But Carlos deliberately averted his gaze, acting as if he hadn't noticed her at all.
Chloe caught that subtle gesture, and a pang of bitterness welled up in her heart.
"Enough!" Peter, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up and slammed his cup down with a heavy thud. His voice was deep and commanding. "This matter ends here today. Regardless of who's right or wrong, no one is to pursue this any further."
"Dad!" Chloe stared at him, disbelief etched on her face. "Are you just going to make peace?"
"Or what?" Peter shot her a cold glance. "Do you really want to turn this into a public scandal and let everyone in Dawnridge know about our internal strife?"
"But..." Chloe insisted.
"No buts!" Peter snapped, cutting her off. "Remember, you're still a Stone. There are things you just have to swallow, whether you like it or not."
Chloe's fists were clenched so tightly that her anger could overwhelm her. But then, Camila suddenly piped up from the corner, her voice shaking, "Mr. Stone, actually... Ms. Stone got physical too..."
The living room fell deathly silent once more.
Camila hung her head and mumbled, "I did grab Demi first, but Ms. Stone shoved me... I nearly fell..."
"Nonsense," Demi retorted furiously. "You tripped over the coffee table yourself, yet you dare to falsely accuse Ms. Stone."
Their heated argument plunged the room into chaos again, until Chloe suddenly smiled. It was a smile as chilling as a winter blizzard.
"What a brilliant accusation." Chloe advanced step by deliberate step toward Camila, each movement crushing the last shred of hope in Camila's eyes. "Since that's the case, let's lay all the facts bare."
Camila, in panic, stumbled backward and bumped into the coffee table. "M-Ms. Stone, I... I only did it to protect your reputation..."
"Enough excuses," Chloe cut her off and then turned to the other servants. "If anyone else saw what really happened, step forward."
After a moment's hesitation, a young maid whispered timidly, "It's true that Camila grabbed Demi first and then knocked over the coffee table to mess up the scene..."
Those words shattered the last shred of Camila's crumbling facade.
Carlos finally broke his silence, his voice flat. "Now that the truth is out, let's handle this by the rules."
Carlos's words snapped everyone back to reality. Chloe turned to face the crowd, her voice resolute. "Three years ago, when I was framed and jailed, I was told to 'protect our reputation' and take the blame. This time, I won't let anyone dodge responsibility for their own mess."