Karma Doesn’t Sleep: The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 144

The room went dead quiet for a couple of seconds, then the whispers started flying.

“Wait, is that woman Salmeron’s date?”

“But I thought Clive was with Kristen tonight?”

Onstage, Kristen’s smile froze as she watched Clive walk away from her—heading straight for Amelia.

Amelia just stared back, her expression icy. There wasn’t even a flicker of happiness on her face.

All she felt was disgust.

Slap her with one hand, offer her a treat with the other—did he really think she was a dog waiting for training?

She pulled out her phone, meeting Clive’s eyes as he came closer. Her voice was cold and clear, each word like a warning. “Let me out of here or I’m calling the cops and telling them you’re keeping me here against my will.”

“Amelia.” Clive lowered his voice, sounding apologetic and frustrated, “Don’t make a scene. I’ll explain everything when we get home. There are important guests here tonight—people I need to impress. Please, just work with me for a bit, don’t embarrass me, okay?”

He sounded gentle, but his actions said otherwise. He stepped right in front of her, tall enough to block her from everyone’s view, and grabbed her wrist—taking her phone away with a strength that left no room for argument.

Amelia’s knee almost jerked up on instinct—she wanted to teach him what humiliation really felt like.

But reason stopped her. If she totally blew up at Clive right now, there’d be no going back and she knew it.

And more than that...

She spotted Timmy and Penny in a corner. Timmy was holding Penny’s hand, both of them watching her with anxious, questioning eyes.

Amelia closed her eyes, forcing herself to swallow her anger.

“Clive,” she said, her voice small, “you’re hurting me.”

She made herself sound vulnerable.

Clive eased his grip right away and tried to take her hand, but she pulled away before he could touch her.

His hand hung in the air for a second, then he brushed it off and reached over to fix a strand of her hair, acting like nothing had happened.

He leaned down, whispering softly, “Just stand on stage for a little while. That’s all. I promise it’ll be over soon.”

Amelia’s eyes followed the waiters as they walked in, each holding roses in yellow, white, and red.

Clive leaned in, whispering, “Amelia, I need you. Please help me, just one more time. Whatever you want, I’ll make it happen.”

Amelia felt nothing at all. She’d moved past disappointment—numb was all she had left.

She suddenly reached out, grabbing Clive’s arm, locking eyes with him.

Clive’s eyes were ridiculously beautiful. She used to feel lucky every time he looked at her, like she was loved.

But now she’d seen those same eyes looking at Kristen, even softer, even more full of affection. The magic was gone.

“Clive,” her voice was calm, almost businesslike, “I’ll go up. But Timmy and Penny can’t see me. And I want a new machine—three hundred million.”

In other words, he could pay for her appearance.

Those kids were the only thing she cared about.

If Clive was willing to throw away her dignity tonight, she might as well get something real out of it.

Clive hadn’t expected her to bargain. He frowned, but nodded.