Karma Doesn’t Sleep: The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 167

Amelia stared at the two new messages that popped up on her screen, feeling a little thrown off.

That way of talking—no matter how she looked at it, it just didn’t sound like Diana.

And that last sentence... Was it just her, or did it come off kind of pitiful?

Then it clicked—Diana was filming a show right now, playing a character who goes from a doormat to a total powerhouse.

She was probably still caught up in her role.

Diana always dove headfirst into every part, living and breathing her characters.

Being an actor really wasn’t easy.

Amelia felt a pang of sympathy. Of course, she replied exactly the way Diana wanted.

She cradled her phone and said softly, “Goodnight.”

At the same time, at the end of a dark hallway, Ryan stopped in front of a pitch-black door.

Amelia’s gentle “Goodnight” was still echoing in his ears. He reached out, his fingers cold and slender, and pressed down on the old bronze handle. The door swung open.

On the far side of the room, the balcony doors were open, letting in the night air. The breeze swept through, carrying the cool scent of flowers from outside.

Moonlight streamed in, bathing the room in silver and casting just enough light to reveal the paintings covering three of the walls.

Dozens, maybe hundreds.

And every single one of them was of the same woman.

Amelia.

Amelia laughing. Amelia frowning. Amelia lost in thought. Amelia in the spotlight, turning heads. But the ones Ryan painted most often were from behind.

That was what he’d seen most over the years—her back, always turned away, never once looking back at him.

Right in the center of the wall was a single photo—Amelia in a wedding dress, from seven years ago.

She looked so pure, so beautiful, happiness and love shining in her eyes. But even then, her gaze had never been for him.

The room was silent, the sound of the wind outside sharp and clear.

He stared down at his phone.

But she’d really been pulled in too many directions lately.

Trying to juggle work and family felt impossible some days.

She could only deal with the most urgent things first. The Alzheimer’s drug research project she was working on was almost through the initial planning stage—just a few more details to iron out.

If she finished by Friday, she’d have the final version ready, and she could meet Ryan at West Medicine on Saturday morning without a problem.

She sat back down at the table, eating her breakfast while going over her notes from last night’s talk with Ms. Anderson, sending an update to Rachel as she finished.

She’d just wrapped up when she looked up and saw Clive coming down the stairs.

Amelia’s brow tightened, just a little. She’d thought Clive had already left.

She didn’t want to eat with him, so as soon as he pulled out the chair next to her, she stood up, ready to go.

“I’m done. I’m heading to the office.”

But Clive reached out and took her hand.

“Have breakfast with me. We’ll go to the office together.”