Karma Doesn’t Sleep: The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 293

“Yeah.” Kristen flashed her signature gentle smile, all soft edges and innocence.

She was always so considerate, never picking a fight, never making things difficult. That only made Clive feel more guilty. With a heavy sigh, he pulled Kristen into his arms.

“Kristen, I promise, I’ll have Amelia apologize to you.” His voice was low, the words a vow whispered just for her.

Kristen hugged his waist and nodded quietly against his chest.

…

Amelia sat in the back seat, her mind a chaotic mess.

Dr. Borgen would probably never forgive her for what happened today.

She closed her eyes, replaying the moment he’d looked at her with nothing but cold indifference. The memory made her chest ache.

Back when she was the youngest, Dr. Borgen always took care of her. During meals, he’d sneak an extra chicken leg onto her plate when no one was looking, telling her to eat more so she’d grow up healthy and strong.

Amelia’s nose stung, and she tried not to cry again.

She rolled down the window, letting the wind hit her face.

A red luxury car sped by in the opposite direction. The back window was half open, and inside sat a woman who radiated wealth and elegance. As their cars passed, Amelia caught a glimpse of her profile and her heart stopped.

That face. And that distinctive red mole on her neck. She’d recognize them anywhere.

Bianca.

The woman who’d destroyed her family twenty years ago.

The car disappeared, but Amelia stared at the red taillights vanishing in her side mirror, her mother’s weak, hopeful voice echoing in her mind.

“Amelia, is Daddy home yet? Can you tell him Mommy’s in the hospital? When will he visit?”

She was only seven then, soaked from chasing her father’s car through the rain, muddy and trembling as she watched him drive away with his mistress.

One hand clutching the phone, the other wiping away her tears, she told her first real lie.

“Daddy said he’s on a business trip. He’ll come home when spring arrives…”

She’d overheard her grandpa and the doctor talking in the hallway. The doctor said her mom probably wouldn’t make it through the winter.

Just like her mother never saw the spring, she never saw that heartless man come back.

Amelia always felt like a piece of herself was left behind in that rainstorm when she was seven.

Even now, in the middle of the night, her dreams dragged her back to that moment—drowning in rain, gasping for air, and the last thing she saw before slipping under was Hank and Bianca, safe and dry on the shore.

He leaned in, voice low and threatening. “You just wait. You’ll pay for this.”

She’d heard that line too many times to count. Without even looking at him, Amelia headed straight for the research center.

She’d barely reached the door when her phone buzzed—a message from Belle: Ms. Sadinton, come to my office after lunch.

Amelia skipped her own office and went straight to Belle’s.

Inside, Belle was behind her desk, another coworker from procurement beside her. Belle’s phone was on speaker, already in the middle of a call.

She glanced up, motioned for Amelia to sit, and kept her voice brisk as she spoke into the phone. “Mr. Denton, we’ve worked together for years. Last night I placed an order for lab supplies. You told me it was fine, we’d get them by the end of the week. Now you’re saying you can’t do business with us? Did someone from our team offend you?”

On speaker, Mr. Denton sounded miserable. “Belle, we’ve had a good relationship, so I’ll be honest. Right now, no supplier in the country will sell you any lab equipment.”

Amelia frowned, feeling a knot tighten in her chest.

Belle’s expression darkened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Mr. Denton hesitated. “Your project lead is Amelia, right?”

Belle shot Amelia a puzzled look. “Yes, so?”

Mr. Denton’s voice dropped. “Someone powerful—someone none of us can afford to cross—put out the word. Anyone who works with her is blacklisted. Nobody wants to risk it.”