Semua Bab The Hidden Heiress's Revenge : Bab 11 - Bab 20

“Keep at it,” I said, my voice cold and steady. “Because I swear, all this will one day bring you unimaginable tears—not just to you, but to everyone around you.”Olivia smirked, unbothered. “Without the Ashfords, you’re nothing. This isn’t some fantasy movie, Selena.” With a flippant shrug, she turned her back on me and walked away.Her words didn’t sting. Not this time. My heart felt nothing—but my mind was racing. I knew it was time. Time to make a move, one that wouldn’t just set me free from the Ashfords, but would raise me so high that none of them would be able to reach me. I needed power—not revenge—and I was going to get it.With that thought, I retreated to my room to rest.The next morning, I awoke to a ping from my phone. A new email.I sat up groggily, rubbing my eyes. But when I read the contents, I gasped, then sighed in disbelief. I had been called for an interview. One of the job applications I had sent out late last night had responded.Finally… a real chance.A job

When we reached the room, I immediately knew, this was where someone sick had been living.The air was sterile, touched faintly with antiseptic and lavender oil, as though someone had been trying to mask the scent of illness. A medical monitor blinked quietly in the corner, and a tray with untouched soup sat on a side table. Despite the overall cleanliness, there was a hollowness in the room, like time had stood still here. The curtains were drawn, the lighting dim, and the atmosphere heavy with silence.On the bed lay a young woman, still and frail, her dark hair spread over the white pillow like a soft halo. She looked barely conscious, her skin pale, lips slightly parted. Even in this state, her beauty was unmistakable, and it pained me.This is who Olivia destroyed.My chest tightened. This girl had dreams. A life. And now… this.“She’s been like this for four years?” The question slipped out before I could stop myself.Petrov’s head snapped toward me. His eyes widened slightly. “

“What in the world are you doing on my bed?” I asked sharply, my brows furrowed as I stepped into my room.Olivia turned slowly, an insidious smile playing on her lips. Only then did I notice the cake resting neatly on my bed, its soft pink frosting far too innocent for someone like her.“Brought you a cake,” she said casually, like she hadn’t been plotting my ruin since the day she returned into this family.I stared at it, then back at her. “Thanks, but I don’t need a gift from you.”I couldn’t begin to guess what she was up to this time. A girl who openly admitted she got joy from my suffering didn’t just show up bearing gifts—not unless she planned to ruin me again.“You can throw it away,” she replied coolly and walked toward the door.I didn’t move, watching her with a guarded stare. I stepped slowly toward the bed, eyes flickering between her and the cake.“Leave,” I said firmly, seeing her hesitate at the doorframe.But instead of obeying, she turned back… and pulled out a kit

Despite my calm expression, a familiar ache pulsed faintly in my chest. I thought I had buried the pain, thought I had healed from Matteo’s betrayal four years ago. But seeing him again, hearing his voice, watching him drop to his knees, was like watching someone rip open a scar that had never fully closed.Still, I followed him silently into the house. The interior was surprisingly modest. Clean lines, neutral tones, and warm lighting gave it a lived-in feel.He led me to a room tucked away at the back of the house. It was dimly lit and smelled faintly of camphor and dried herbs. The wallpaper was faded in some areas, and beside the bed sat a nightstand cluttered with old pill bottles and a glass of untouched water. On the bed lay an elderly woman, her form thin beneath the covers, her breathing shallow but steady. She couldn’t see, her eyes clouded with cataracts, but her face turned toward me as I entered.“I’ll get the ingredients,” Matteo said quickly after I listed what I needed

I still couldn’t believe it—Dante Harrington had held me just now. He had wrapped his coats around me. It was surreal.He stood before me, watching me with unreadable eyes, then slowly released me. No words, just a flick of his fingers toward Petrov before turning and walking away into the shadows.I didn’t understand the signal he made, but the second he vanished from sight, my lungs began working properly again. I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath. But no amount of air could erase the image of him, chained and convulsing like a beast, from my mind. The mighty Dante Harrington—tied up, drugged, caged like a monster in his own mansion. Why? Who would dare? Who could even survive after attempting such madness?I had no answers. But if I wanted to stay alive, I had to forget what I saw. Or pretend I had.Petrov walked up to me, calm yet exuding danger like a loaded weapon with the safety off.“If not for Dante,” he said flatly, “your body would already be lying cold on that flo