Karma Doesn’t Sleep: The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 105

“Of course!”

Amelia snapped straight into work mode.

She flipped open her laptop and went over the past five years of research projects with Rachel, syncing up on everything Kristen had supposedly accomplished.

There were some fuzzy details in the files Rachel had sent earlier, so Amelia asked her about them directly. Once Rachel finished explaining, Amelia saw the whole picture.

“Boss, all these pharmaceutical projects Kristen claims she developed—they’re just the ones you started, right? She only finished them because you didn’t have time!” Rachel grumbled. “Honestly, she’s shameless. She just stole your work, changed the title, and now everyone thinks it’s hers! Even Salmeron bought it. Why don’t you just tell him and blow her cover?”

Amelia just let out a silent, sarcastic laugh.

She was pretty sure Clive had handed Kristen those research files himself.

But that was her own mess to deal with. No need to drag Rachel into it.

“Kristen did add a few of her own touches,” Amelia said, keeping it objective. “She’s not completely useless.”

“So what’s her level, really?” Rachel pressed, still annoyed.

Amelia glanced at the data on her screen, her voice relaxed. “About where I was in my first year of high school.”

Rachel nearly cheered.

Amelia’s effortless, offhand confidence was just too cool. This was the Amelia everyone at Baybridge University talked about—the once-in-a-generation genius.

They chatted a little longer before wrapping up.

Amelia closed her laptop and leaned back on the sofa, her eyes thoughtful.

There was something she’d kept from Rachel: Kristen’s results were unremarkable and her lab skills were average, but her research data was almost flawless. Even if Amelia had done it herself, she wouldn’t have improved on it much.

That was the problem. There was no way Kristen had generated numbers like that. They were way beyond her abilities.

So who was helping her?

Amelia remembered how Clive had always been great with data. Back in college, he and a few friends had helped with a government project, and Amelia had pitched in for a couple of days. Even then, she’d noticed how talented Clive was at data analysis.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

Back then, she’d worked herself to exhaustion—literally passing out from overwork. Clive never once offered to help.

But she’d never asked, either. She’d always been soft when it came to him, never wanting him to tire himself out. She’d put him on a pedestal, protecting him at every turn.

Looking back, reality had slapped her hard.

“Got it, sweetie.”

Clive carried Penny upstairs. As he passed, Amelia noticed Penny was wrapped up in a blue cape—the perfect match for her princess dress.

She hadn’t been wearing that when they left. Kristen must’ve bought it for her. No wonder Penny had refused the jacket Amelia picked out earlier.

Amelia’s eyes dimmed. She turned and walked into the kitchen without another word.

She didn’t even glance at Clive. She couldn’t stand the sight of him right now.

She started prepping a simple, healthy dinner for the kids, slicing sausage and thinking about what else to make.

Footsteps sounded behind her.

It had to be Clive.

She ignored him, cutting even faster, her irritation showing in every movement.

But then, suddenly, she froze.

Clive—who almost never took the initiative—stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.