Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 76: Chapter 76

The Foster family's car sped along Dawnridge's main road. Chloe sat in the front passenger seat, her fingers tapping a slow, steady rhythm on her knee. In the back, Yael kept glancing at her through the rearview mirror, only to find her eyes calm and cold each time.
"Ms. Quinn, where exactly are we heading?" Yael finally blurted out, his voice laced with unease.
Chloe didn't answer right away. She merely tilted her head, regarding Yael as if he were an insignificant object. A faint smile played on her lips. "So eager for answers, Mr. Foster? Aren't you afraid that'll spoil all the fun?"
Yael frowned. He hated being led around like this, but Chloe's attitude left him speechless. Suppressing his irritation, he stared out at the streets blurring past the window.
The car came to a halt before Pearl & Ivy's entrance. Chloe stepped out gracefully, her stilettos clicking sharply against the marble floor. She lifted her gaze to survey Dawnridge's most exclusive private club, a knowing smile curling at her lips.
"Pearl & Ivy?" Yael followed her out of the car, his voice laced with cautious suspicion. "What exactly are we doing here?"
"You'll see once we're inside." Chloe offered no further explanation. With confident strides, she headed toward the doors of Pearl & Ivy, as if she owned the place.
Inside Pearl & Ivy, soft lighting illuminated opulent yet understated decor. Every detail whispered of discreet, expensive taste.
Yael followed Chloe, watching as she exchanged familiar pleasantries with the staff member, his gnawing suspicion growing stronger.
"I always thought I knew Dawnridge inside out, so how is it that she can glide into a place like this with such unsettling ease?" he thought.
They were led into a private room where two people were already seated. One was journalist Oliver Lewis, quietly talking to his colleague. Seeing Chloe and Yael enter, he looked briefly surprised, then quickly offered a professional smile.
"Ms. Quinn, it's been a while," Oliver rose to greet her.
"Oliver." Chloe gave a slight nod and then shifted her gaze to Yael. "I'm sure you know this gentleman, don't you?"
Oliver hesitated for a moment and then quickly composed himself. His eyes briefly assessed Yael before he flashed a smile. "Of course, I know him. Mr. Foster is a big shot in Dawnridge."
Yael's expression darkened as he sensed an unreadable undertone in Oliver's gaze. A discomfort prickled at his skin. He turned to Chloe and demanded, "What exactly are you playing at?"
"Easy," Chloe said coolly, her tone calm and commanding. "Have a seat."
As they took their seats, a brief silence fell over the private room. Oliver exchanged a loaded glance with his colleague before pulling out his phone to scroll through it. The air grew thick with unspoken tension. Even the soft lighting seemed harsh.
"Cool it," Chloe said abruptly, her gaze locking onto Yael with glacial precision. "Unless you want to do something you'll regret for the rest of your life."
Yael clenched his fists. He'd never seen Chloe like this. She was so calm, so confident, and even intimidating.
She was nothing like the obedient girl who once hung on his every word. Panic stirred quietly inside him, but he kept his face composed. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, trying to sound unfazed.
"It doesn't matter if you don't know. I can walk you through it, bit by bit," Chloe said, leaning back in her chair, idly twirling a loose strand of hair by her ear. "For example, those shady little ventures you've been dabbling in lately."
She had barely finished speaking when Oliver slid his phone across the table. On the screen, a grainy, unclear video was played.
Though the footage was blurry, the figure at its center was clearly Yael, talking to several unfamiliar men whose tattooed faces and menacing expressions were obvious.
"What is this..." Yael's pupils constricted sharply. He reached for the phone, but Chloe blocked him.
"Patience. The best is yet to come." Her voice was deceptively gentle, each word a razor-sharp blade methodically slicing through his nerves.
The next video was even more shocking, showing highly compromising scenes and photos of illegal financial records. If any of this got out, it wouldn't just destroy his reputation. It could bring down the entire Foster family.
Yael shot to his feet, his face livid. "Are you out of your mind? Where the hell did you get this stuff?"
"Does it really matter?" Chloe arched an eyebrow. "The point is, I have them right here. And I can make them public whenever I want."
"What the hell do you want?" Yael's voice shook with barely restrained fury, clearly at his breaking point.
"It's simple." Chloe slowly rose to her feet, locking eyes with him. "Stand down. Whatever you were planning against me, it ends now."
"Or what?" Yael ground out through clenched teeth.
"Otherwise, this will become the hottest topic in the city." A faint, confident smile played on her lips, radiating unshakable certainty. "Trust me. This city devours high-society scandals."
A deathly silence fell over the private room. Oliver and his colleague wordlessly packed up their gear, knowing better than to interject at that moment.
After a long silence, Yael finally spoke, his voice tight, "Fine, I'll agree to your terms. But I demand to know who leaked these things."
"Does it really matter?" Chloe countered, turning to pick up her teacup with deliberate, almost taunting leisure. She took a slow, provocative sip before adding, "Or are you more interested in how this is all going to end for you?"
"Was it Qiana?" Yael demanded abruptly, his eyes boring into Chloe's face as if searching for confirmation. "No one else could've gotten their hands on this stuff except her!"
"No, it wasn't her." Chloe shook her head, calmly placing her cup down. Her voice turned sharp. "But I'm curious. Why did you immediately blame Qiana? Unless..." She paused meaningfully. "Is there something going on between you two?"
Her words stabbed into Yael's heart like a dagger, leaving him utterly speechless. His face flushed crimson, but with no retort, all he could do was shoot her a venomous glare.
Just then, a bolder suspicion crossed Yael's mind. He suddenly remembered his last meeting with Carlos. His thoughtful look and those carefully chosen words now seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
"Impossible..." Yael muttered, his voice barely audible.
But the weak self-comfort did nothing to calm his rage. He spun around and stormed out. As he passed Oliver and his colleague, he shot them a sharp glare, making them immediately duck their heads and busy themselves with their equipment.
As Yael stepped out of Pearl & Ivy, reporters swarmed him. Cameras flashed and microphones jabbed at him, blinding and overwhelming. He threw up a hand to shield his face, ducked into the waiting car, and sped away from the chaos.
Meanwhile, in a private booth at Pearl & Ivy, Chloe was leisurely sipping coffee. A faint smile played on her lips, and she looked like she was in a great mood. But her dark eyes revealed deep disdain and coldness. She had won this round without any suspense.