Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 70: Chapter 70

The moment Yolanda dropped to her knees, the living room froze, as if someone had hit pause. Time stood still in dead silence.
Yolanda's knees struck the marble floor with a dull thud, making everyone's heart skip a beat. Tears streamed down her cheeks, splattering onto the cold floor and spreading into dark, wet patches.
Her hands clenched tightly onto the hem of Chloe's clothes, knuckles white, as if she were grasping at her last lifeline.
"Chloe, I was wrong. Please forgive me," Yolanda sobbed, her voice trembling uncontrollably. Her cries were grating and heart-wrenching, each word dripping with sorrow.
Chloe looked down at Yolanda, who knelt before her. Her dark eyes were cold and impenetrable. She stood there, her gaze as sharp as a blade, making Yolanda feel completely exposed.
"Yolanda, what are you doing?" Chloe said, her voice as cold as midwinter frost.
"Chloe, I know I shouldn't have sent Camila to harass your assistant. I was so wrong," Yolanda sobbed pitifully, tears streaming down her face. "Please... for the sake of our sisterly bond, spare Camila this time."
Her words made the room even more suffocating. Phoebe sat stiffly on the sofa, twisting her silk scarf in her fist, her expression darkening. Peter frowned deeply, his eyes flickering with displeasure, but he stayed silent.
Off to the side, Camila stood pale and trembling, her head bowed low, barely daring to breathe. Her hands clutched the hem of her skirt so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She shook helplessly, like a leaf caught in a storm.
"Spare her?" Chloe sneered. "Yolanda, you're quick to plead for others, aren't you? But this isn't something your pleading can fix."
Yolanda shuddered violently. She raised her head, her large, tear-filled eyes brimming with desperate pleading. "Chloe, I know I was wrong. I'll take full responsibility for everything. Please let this go."
"Take responsibility?" Chloe narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice icy. "Fine. Then tell me exactly how you plan to do that?"
Yolanda parted her lips but found she had no answer. Chloe's words struck like a dagger to her heart, making it hard to breathe.
The tension in the room was suffocating. Suddenly, Camila, who had been silent, blurted out, her voice shaking, "Ms. Quinn, I... I swear I didn't mean to cause trouble. It was... it was Demi who started it."
Her words had barely left her lips when several complicated glances were immediately cast her way. A few servants standing in the corner couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"I didn't expect Camila would be so bold..."
"I heard Ms. Stone treats her well. Maybe she did it just to protect Ms. Stone..."
"Shh! Keep your voice down. It'd be terrible if we're heard."
Though barely audible, the whispers didn't escape Chloe's notice. She turned sharply toward the servants, her voice cutting like ice. "What did you say just now?"
The servants immediately froze in fear, lowering their heads one by one, not daring to make another sound.
Chloe looked away and turned to Yolanda, still kneeling, and the trembling Camila. Her voice was icy and deliberate. "Sounds like you two still have plenty to explain."
"No, that's not true." Camila shook her head frantically, her eyes darting to Yolanda in a desperate plea for support. But at that moment, Yolanda only hung her head, looking utterly lost and helpless.
Carlos, who had been watching quietly from the sidelines, gave a slight, knowing smile. Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, he watched the scene unfold with keen interest.
Hayden's brow stayed furrowed. He parted his lips a few times and then stopped, finally saying nothing. He knew so well that nothing he said could stop this farce.
"Enough!" Phoebe finally broke her silence, rising from the sofa. She walked over, took Chloe's hand firmly, and said earnestly, "Chloe, let's end this, okay? Sisters shouldn't hold grudges. Besides, Camila's just a maid. Even if she made a mistake, it's not unforgivable."
Chloe's gaze shifted to Phoebe, mockery flickering in her eyes. "Mom, have you already forgotten what happened three years ago?"
Chloe's words froze Phoebe. She stared at Chloe, eyes wide, as if a nerve had been hit.
"Three years ago," Chloe went on, "this woman, backed by Yolanda, schemed against me at every turn. Whenever Yolanda shed a tear, I was the one told to give in. Now they're pulling the same tricks, expecting me to fold again. I can forgive, but I won't let it slide."
"Enough!" Peter slammed the table and stood up, glaring at Chloe. "Do you want to embarrass our family in front of everyone?"
Chloe met Peter's gaze unflinchingly. "Dad, if someone insists on pushing things this far, then don't blame me for the consequences."
Standing off to the side, Camila trembled uncontrollably before suddenly collapsing to the floor, her face as pale as a sheet.
Just as everyone thought things were calming down, Yolanda, still on her knees, suddenly spoke again, her voice shaking, "Chloe, if someone has to be punished, let it be me. It's my fault. I didn't stop Camila..."
"Shut up!" This time, it was Hayden, usually the quiet one, who interrupted. He walked over to Yolanda, helped her up, turned to Chloe, and asked, "She's already admitted her mistake. What more do you want?"
"Admit her mistake?" Chloe scoffed. "If admitting her mistake could fix everything, then why was I never given that chance?"
Her single sentence struck the entire room into stunned silence.
The room fell into heavy silence again. From a quiet corner, Sadie stepped forward and spoke calmly but firmly, "Mr. and Mrs. Stone, I believe Ms. Quinn is right. If we can't even tell right from wrong, this family will tear itself apart."
Though Sadie spoke calmly, every word hit hard, like a hammer striking deep in their hearts.
No one spoke.
In the heavy silence, Chloe turned slowly and walked away, leaving behind a chilling warning. "This ends today. But if it happens again, I won't hold back."