Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 77: Chapter 77

Inside the Stone Villa, soft light filled the living room. A golden chandelier hung overhead, its glow spilling across the marble floor. Chloe walked in, her heels clicking sharply on the polished surface as her eyes swept the room.
Phoebe sat on the couch, holding a warm cup of coffee. Her fingers trembled slightly, making the coffee ripple in the cup. Yolanda stood beside her, head down, looking pitiful and weak.
"Chloe, you're here," Phoebe was the first to speak, forcing a strained smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Something has happened at home recently. Yolanda and I have been quite concerned about you."
Chloe swept an indifferent glance over them without responding. Then she strode straight to the couch opposite and took a seat.
She crossed her legs elegantly, her hands resting lightly on her knees. The icy composure radiating from her instantly ratcheted up the tension in the room.
Yolanda finally spoke, inching closer to Chloe with cautious steps, her voice laced with hesitant concern. "Chloe, are you okay?" she asked, probing. "I heard you went to Pearl & Ivy yesterday, and I was really worried. After all, that kind of place..."
"Oh?" Chloe arched an eyebrow, cutting her off. "What's wrong with that place?"
Yolanda was taken aback, her expression freezing for a moment. But she quickly composed herself and forced a weak smile. "I just think a place like that really isn't suitable for someone like you, Chloe."
Chloe's lips curled into a cold smirk. "Not suitable? How odd. I find it quite fitting, actually."
"Enough. Let's not dwell on these petty matters," Phoebe hastily interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "Chloe, how have you been feeling lately? Any discomfort?"
"Thank you for your concern. Everything is fine," Chloe replied flatly, her voice imbued with a chilling aloofness that kept everyone at arm's length.
Phoebe was speechless and forced an awkward smile. Just then, Yolanda suddenly spoke up, "Chloe, I've been really worried about Camila lately. It seems like she's in some kind of trouble. Do you know how she's doing now?"
Her words instantly froze the air.
Chloe slowly turned to face Yolanda, her eyes seeming to conceal dangerous undercurrents. "Why this sudden concern for Camila? Afraid she might spill something you don't want heard?"
Yolanda's face paled for a moment, but she quickly feigned an innocent and aggrieved look. "Chloe, what do you mean by that? I was just worried about her health."
"Is that so?" Chloe tilted her chin up slightly, looking down her nose at Yolanda. "In that case, why don't we check on her together?"
Yolanda's face went pale at the words. Her lips trembled as she stammered, "I... I don't think that's a good idea. She probably needs to rest right now..."
"Rest?" Chloe sneered coldly. "Or do you mean you'd rather she take a permanent rest?"
The barbed remark made Phoebe's expression sour. She hastily interjected, "Alright. Let's discuss this later. Camila is just a maid. She's not worth quarreling over."
But Chloe didn't give her the chance. She stood up and said clearly, "Since everyone's so worried, let's go see her right now. I'm dying to know what makes this maid so special that Yolanda's so eager to protect her."
"No, you don't have to!" Yolanda almost blurted out and then quickly realized her reaction was too strong. She lowered her head to hide it. "I mean... Chloe, you just got back. You should rest."
Chloe narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp enough to pierce through Yolanda's soul. "Yolanda, you seem scared to see Camila, don't you?"
"I... I just... " Yolanda stammered, her composure falling apart.
Just then, a maid rushed in, her voice low but urgent. "Ms. Quinn, Mrs. Stone, Ms. Stone, Demi and Camila are arguing in the lounge!"
Yolanda jumped to her feet, panic written all over her face. Chloe smirked, "Well, looks like we don't need to go find Camila. She's brought herself right to us."
They hurried toward the lounge.
The moment the door swung open, the tension in the room hit them like a wall. Demi stood in the center, firing sharp accusations at Camila, whose flushed face betrayed her panic as she desperately tried to defend herself.
Phoebe frowned, "Demi, what's going on here?"
Demi turned to face them, her gaze sweeping over everyone. She stated icily, "Mrs. Stone, just now, Camila was here slandering Ms. Quinn, saying she doesn't deserve to be in this house at all. She even said that..."
"Enough!" Camila shrieked, cutting Demi off mid-sentence, her entire body trembling with panic. "I didn't do it! You're talking nonsense!"
"Nonsense?" Demi snorted, pulling out her phone. "Good thing I recorded it. Want me to play it right here, right now, so everyone can hear what you're really like?"
Camila's composure was completely shattered. She lunged to snatch the phone, but Demi deftly dodged her. To everyone watching, this only cemented her guilt.
"Enough!" Phoebe finally lost her temper, her voice trembling with rage. "Camila, you're fired, effective immediately! Pack your things and get out of this house now!"
"No!" To everyone's surprise, it was none other than Yolanda who stepped forward to stop her this time.
All of a sudden, Yolanda dropped to her knees and tightly clutched the hem of Phoebe's skirt, sobbing, "Mom, please don't fire Camila. I'm begging you. Just give her one more chance."
The scene stunned everyone. Even the ever-composed Chloe narrowed her eyes, carefully scrutinizing the girl kneeling on the floor.
"Yolanda, what on earth are you doing?" Phoebe was visibly shaken by Yolanda's sudden outburst. "She's just a maid. Is it really necessary to go to such lengths?"
"It's not like that," Yolanda sobbed, tears streaming down her face, but she clenched her jaw and offered no further explanation.
But right then, Chloe stepped forward, her voice icy. "Yolanda, why are you so desperate to protect this maid? Is there some secret between you two that you don't want anyone to know?"
The words struck like a thunderbolt, reverberating through the room. Instantly, every gaze snapped toward Yolanda, who was kneeling on the floor—she trembled uncontrollably, as if plunged into an icy abyss.
After a long, agonizing silence, Yolanda finally lifted her head, her voice thick with despair and sorrow. "Because... because she's my sister!"
"What did you just say?" Phoebe was the first to react. Her face paled with shock as she stared at Yolanda in utter disbelief, her voice quivering uncontrollably, barely holding together.
Meanwhile, in the Stone family's living room, Phoebe and Yolanda waited anxiously for any news. Phoebe nervously twisted her hands, her worry obvious. Yolanda tried to stay calm, but her trembling legs gave her away.