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Home / Romance / SWEET REVENGE (He Betrayed Me, Now He Must Pay) / Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

All Chapters of SWEET REVENGE (He Betrayed Me, Now He Must Pay): Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

140 Chapters

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CHAPTER 21 Florida’s POV I stared angrily at the TV. My eyes burned from the endless stream of negative headlines. Negative headlines that should've been for that bitch. [Florida Anthony's Courtroom Meltdown] [Florida Anthony Loses Custody, Looks Unstable] [The Fall of Florida Anthony] My PR team was useless, spinning the news but only making it worse. Every statement they released was met with more ridicule and shaming from the internet. I was a laughingstock. I lashed out at everyone around me, my temper snapping at the slightest provocation. And then, at dinner, it happened. “Mommy Clara!” Rose squealed, looking up at me with big, innocent eyes. I froze, my fork freezing mid-air too. Mommy Clara? My gaze narrowed. “Who told you to call her that?” Rose took a step back, her eyes wide with fear. “I.. I just..” “You think you're smart, huh?” I sneered, my anger rising. “You think you can call her mommy? She's not your mommy! I am! I'm the only one who's ever taken care

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CHAPTER 22 Florida’s POV I frowned as I watched the aftermath of the interview on TV. Clara was getting sympathy; the public was practically eating out of her hand. But not on my watch. I picked up my phone, dialing my assistant’s number. “Is everything in place?” “Yes, Mrs. Anthony.” “When will the interview take place?” “This evening m–” I disconnected the call. Perfect. ~ I sat in the news studio, my makeup and dress done. The lights were blinding, but I was ready. The anchor, a sympathetic-looking woman, leaned in. “Florida, thank you for joining us today. We've seen the allegations made by Clara regarding your handling of Rose's finances. Can you tell us your side?” I took a deep breath, letting my expression turn to one of hurt. “Thank you for having me. I've been drowning in pain, watching my child suffer, and having my integrity questioned by someone who wants to take my daughter away from me.” The anchor nodded. “What do you want to say to those allegations?” I

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CHAPTER 23Clara's POVMy phone suddenly made a ding sound.I'd just been sent some images from the same phone number.I stared at my phone, my eyes widening as I processed the two pictures attached to the text.The first was a photo of Rose, her little face contorted in pain and fear, Florida's hand raised midair as she'd just slapped her.My grip on my phone tightened incredibly.Rachel's eyes were wide with concern. “Clara, what is it?”I couldn't speak, I just unclenched my fists, and I handed her the phone.Rachel's gasp instantly filled the room. “Oh my God.”The second picture was a medical report. I scanned it, and my rage began to grow with every line. Rose didn't have any “fat illness” like Florida had claimed; she had multiple concussions.Bruises all over her tiny body.My vision blurred with tears of fury...And two fractured ribs.“She's... she's been hurting Rose.” I couldn't even recognize my own voice from the rage building inside it.“Clara, we need to-”But I wasn't

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CHAPTER 24Clara's POVI woke up to a blinding light.A camera was shoved in my face, and I sat up immediately. Where was I? How did I get here?“Clara, Clara, can you tell us what happened last night?” A voice asked, the camera still pointed at me.I shook my head. My hair was disheveled, and my blouse was stained. I practically looked like I'd been through a war.“Get that thing away from me,” I growled, trying to shield my face.The man with the camera took a step back, but his colleague, a woman with a microphone, stepped forward. “Clara, I'm from Channel 5 News. We got a tip that you were involved in a scandal last night. Can you confirm or deny?”Scandal? What scandal? My mind was blank, but something was slowly coming back to me. Derrick.The bar.The fucking drink.Oh no.I stumbled to my feet, my eyes scanning the room frantically. Where was I? This wasn't my room.“Miss Laurent, what's going on?” The woman asked, following me as I stumbled towards the door.I pushed past he

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CHAPTER 25Clara's POVI excused myself from the table, taking Rose's hand as I stood up.As I did, I caught Mr. Anthony's eye, and for a split second, I saw a flash of anger directed at Florida. But it was gone in an instant, replaced with his usual smile.I ignored it, focusing on getting Rose to the bathroom.Once we were in the bathroom, I knelt beside Rose and took her hands in mine. “Hey, baby, are you okay? Did Florida hurt you?”Rose looked up at me, her eyes big and round, but also a little wary. “You're the bad one.” She pointed. “Mommy says you're bad.”My heart filled with sadness, but I kept my voice soft. “Sweetie, I'm not bad. Florida is trying to trick you. I'm your real mommy, not Florida.”Rose looked up at me uncertainly. “But.. but mommy says..”I took a deep breath, trying to sound as gentle and reassuring as possible. “I know, baby. Florida is telling you things that aren't true. She's not your real mommy. I am, and I would never hurt you. I love you so much.”Ro

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CHAPTER 26Clara's POVI'm about to leave when I suddenly hear a familiar voice behind me.“Good evening, Father,” Spencer spoke, his hands tucked into the pockets of his dark trousers. He had a long black coat draped over his shoulders.His eyes scanned the room, and when they landed on me, they stayed for a moment.I instantly broke eye contact.Mr. Anthony's expression was unimpressed, his eyebrow raised in an arch. “Ah, Spencer. How lovely of you to join us. Even if you're more than an hour late.”Spencer gave a light shrug, his expression blank. “Does it matter? I'm here.”Mr. Anthony's eyes narrowed. “It matters, Spencer. You were supposed to be here an hour ago.”Spencer's gaze drifted away. “I had business.”Mr. Anthony snorted. “Business? At this hour?”“Yes, Father. Business.”I watched the exchange, noticing the tension between them. Mr. Anthony's face turned a shade redder, but Spencer just calmly stood there.“Dinner is over.” Mr. Anthony said, finally. “But you should wa

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CHAPTER 27Clara's POV“What do you want to ask?”Spencer's eyes locked on mine as he pushed off the wall he'd been leaning against.I looked at him, my gaze drifting to the small stain on his collar. My eyes then snapped back to his, and I asked.“Is that blood on your shirt?”Spencer's expression froze for a moment, and I could see the wheels turning in his head as he tried to come up with an explanation. Then, he chuckled.“Oh, that?” He said. “I got into an accident on my way here. The driver got injured, and I helped him to the hospital.”I raised an eyebrow. Spencer wasn't exactly the selfless type, from how long I'd known him, and the idea of him helping someone in an accident was laughable.I looked at him, my eyes narrowing. “Really?”Spencer's expression changed. “It's nothing, Clara. Don't concern yourself with it.”“I'm not concerned, Spencer,” I said, my voice now firm. “I'm just curious. What's going on?”Spencer took a step closer to me, his voice taking on a stern ton

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CHAPTER 28Derrick's POVInside the room, I ducked back behind the door, landing on the bed.What had Spencer and Clara been doing metres away from this door?Did they... see me?Florida soon walked in, closing the door behind her with a soft click. She leaned against the door, her eyes sparkling as she pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.“Hey, handsome.”Handsome, huh?That's the first time she's complimented me in months.She approached me with a sway in her hips. “You were brilliant with the nanny plan. We would've lost that court hearing without you.”I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Just doing what's necessary.”Florida's smile widened, and she straddled me, her legs wrapping around my waist like a vice. She hugged me, her breath hot against my ear.“You know, if not for the fact that the nanny had family members who'd press charges...” She whispered. “I'd've hired people to kill her. Easier than just getting her kidnapped to shut up.”I froze. “What?”I

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CHAPTER 29Clara's POVI was lost in thought as I zipped up my suitcase.As I glanced around the room, my eyes landed on the door, and I couldn't help but wonder, again, why Alisha had suddenly dropped by after months of the court hearing.What did she want? Why had she actually come to my house, begging for forgiveness?I shook my head, dismissing the thoughts. It didn't matter now. I was leaving, and I wouldn't have to deal with her or anyone else who'd wronged me.I grabbed my suitcase and headed out the door, locking it behind me as I made my way to Spencer's car.I opened the door and slid into the passenger seat beside him. His eyes were fixed on the road as he smoked a cigarette, his left hand resting on his knee.I raised an eyebrow as I caught sight of the cigarette. “You still smoke?”Spencer paused, then looked at me. “You can see that everywhere, can't you?”The car fell silent for a while. I shifted, fastening my seat belt.“What about...” I started, but then slowly trail

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CHAPTER 30Clara's POVI stepped off the plane in Mexico.Spencer was by my side, his eyes fixed on something in the distance. I followed his gaze, but all I saw was the usual airport chaos.As we made our way to the exit, I noticed Spencer's phone had been glued to his ear the whole time, his expression darkening by the minute. I frowned. “What's wrong?”He turned to me, his eyes filled with frustration. “The penthouse I rented out, there's been a mix-up. It's no longer available.”I nodded. “We can just book a hotel room. No big deal, right?”Spencer's scowl deepened. “It's not just that. I had everything set up there. Now I have to sort it all out.”I gazed around, then back at him. “We'll figure it out. A hotel will suffice.”He took a deep breath and tucked a hand into his pocket. “Yeah. Let's just find a hotel for now.”We hailed a taxi and headed to the nearest hotel. As we walked into the lobby, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.We wouldn't be stranded.But as we approac

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