Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Chloe's gaze shifted toward the far end of the parking lot, where a shadowy path lay ahead.
Although the path was desolate and pitch-black, Chloe decided she'd rather take the risk than stay here any longer.
She quickened her pace, making sure her footsteps stayed quiet. She didn't want to draw any attention.
She had barely taken a few steps when a familiar, mocking voice called out from behind her, "Chloe, where are you going at this hour?"
She froze mid-step, her fingers instinctively clutching the strap of her bag as a surge of unease prickled through her.
As night fell, an eerie silence enveloped the Stone Villa, with only the distant shimmer of city lights barely visible.
Chloe drew a deep breath to steady herself and then slowly turned toward the source of the voice.
Under the dim streetlight, a familiar figure approached her with a mocking smile.
She stopped dead in her tracks, her fingers instinctively tightening around the bag strap.
She knew it was Carlos. He always appeared at the worst possible moment.
"Since when do I need to report my whereabouts to you?" Chloe turned around, her voice icy but her eyes betraying wariness.
Under the dim streetlight, Carlos stood in front of her, a smirk tugging at his lips.
His perfectly tailored suit stood stiff against the biting wind, a sharp contrast to the bleak surroundings.
"Are you planning to marry Yael?" His words cut like a blade, each syllable heavy with an unspoken weight.
Chloe froze for a second and then quickly composed herself. "Even if I do, it's none of your business."
Carlos chuckled, his smirk full of mockery. "You really think marrying Yael will solve all your problems?"
"At least it's better than being under your control," Chloe shot back, her eyes cold and defiant.
The tension between them grew. Carlos narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark and dangerous. "You're underestimating Yael. He's not someone you can just walk away from."
"It's still better than having someone like you breathing down my neck," Chloe fired back. "At least I can still make a bet."
Carlos laughed, unfazed. He stepped closer, his presence so commanding that Chloe instinctively backed away.
"A bet?" he echoed, voice low and mocking. "Chloe, do you really think you've got anything left to bet with?"
His voice was cold and sharp, like a winter wind brushing past her ear, sending a chill down her spine.
But Chloe didn't flinch. She met his gaze head-on, her dark eyes burning with defiance. "As long as I'm still breathing, I've got a card to play."
Carlos stared at her for a moment and then broke into a sly, knowing smile. "Well then," he said, voice laced with dark amusement, "let's see how long you can keep that up."
With that, he turned and walked away without another word.
His figure vanished into the night, yet Chloe felt an invisible dread steadily closing in on her, making it hard to breathe.
She clenched her jaw and quickened her pace, leaving the hospital parking lot behind.
It was late when she finally got home. Her apartment was silent, except for the occasional whisper of wind outside.
Chloe dropped her bag on the couch and stumbled into the bedroom, exhausted. Without even taking off her shoes, she collapsed onto the bed.
But before she could close her eyes, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her. She gripped the edge of the bed, cold sweat dripping down her forehead. Her body felt weak, almost lifeless.
"No... I can't give in... " She gritted her teeth and forced herself up. Fumbling through her bag, she grabbed her phone and called her private doctor. "Come quickly... " she whispered, barely able to speak.
"Ms. Quinn, are you alright? I'm on my way." The doctor's urgent voice came through the phone.
Within twenty minutes, he arrived at Chloe's apartment. After a quick check, his expression turned serious. "Ms. Quinn, have you been overworking lately? Your health is declining. If this continues..."
"I'm fine," Chloe interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "Just give me medicine. I still have a lot to do."
The doctor sighed, shaking his head helplessly. "Ms. Quinn, if you keep pushing yourself like this, you'll burn out sooner or later. You really need to rest more. Don't always try to tough it out."
"Thanks for your concern," Chloe replied coolly, her tone leaving no room for further discussion.
Realizing it was pointless to argue, the doctor gave a few final words of advice and left the apartment.
At Azure Tide, under dim bar lights, Hayden slumped in a corner, one hand gripping a glass, the other propping up his head. He looked completely defeated and disheveled.
His face flushed crimson, clearly drunk. Yet he kept muttering, "Chloe... Chloe..." Then he let out a bitter laugh. "Just a gold digger..."
Carlos pushed open the door and spotted the drunken mess in the corner. Raising an eyebrow, he walked straight over and sat beside Hayden. He signaled the bartender for a drink to sober him up.
Crossing his legs with effortless grace, Carlos looked at Hayden with amused curiosity. "What's this? Drowning your sorrows over a woman again?"
Hayden slowly lifted his head, a bitter smile crossing his lips as he recognized Carlos. "Carlos, what brings you here?"
"Just passing by." Carlos shrugged with a faint, practiced smile. "But judging by the look on your face, something's clearly bothering you. Why not share it with me? Who knows, maybe I can help you fix it."
Hayden snorted and slammed his glass down on the table. "Help me? What the hell can you do? Unless... unless you can stop Chloe from marrying Yael."
"Oh?" Carlos arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Seems you have strong objections to this marriage arrangement."
"Objections?" Hayden scoffed. "Chloe is nothing but a gold digger! What's so special about Yael anyway? Does she even deserve to marry him?"
"In that case... " Carlos drawled deliberately, "let her marry him."
At those words, Hayden sobered up halfway. He shot up from his seat and grabbed Carlos by the collar. "Are you out of your mind? How could you say that?"
"Easy," Carlos said, gently pushing Hayden back with a calm smile. "Instead of letting her keep making waves, why not just send her straight to the Foster family? Then we won't have to deal with her anymore, right?"
"Ridiculous!" Hayden exploded. "That lunatic Yael will ruin her!"
"So what?" Carlos stayed calm, his voice tinged with quiet mockery. "Planning to play the knight in shining armor yourself?"
Carlos's words left Hayden speechless. He let go and slumped back onto the couch, his anger fading into a tangle of emotions. "I'm just... worried," he mumbled.
"What are you worried about?" Carlos fixed him with a sharp gaze that seemed to see right through him. "Are you afraid Yael might hurt her? Or that you're losing your hold on her?"
Hayden didn't answer. He just lowered his head, unable to deny the storm of conflicting feelings inside him. He wanted to control Chloe, feared losing her, and couldn't stand the thought of anyone else touching her.
Carlos smirked knowingly. He swirled his glass and said, "Actually, there's a way to solve all our problems."
Hayden looked up, wary. "What kind of solution?"
"There's a private sanatorium in Alveria," Carlos said slowly, "which specializes in certain male issues. If we send Yael there to 'recover', things might get a lot simpler."
Hayden frowned, his drunken skepticism showing. "A sanatorium? You really think that'll work?"
"How will you know unless you try?" Carlos replied with a faint smile. "Of course, it's just a suggestion. Whether you take it or not is up to you."
A strange silence fell between them. The dim, hazy lights cast shadows across their faces, making their unreadable expressions even more enigmatic.