Karma Doesn’t Sleep The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 392

A black Hummer H1 rolled up, its license plate alone making it clear this wasn’t the kind of car just anyone could drive.

Felix climbed out, followed by Mr. Russell from Mayfield Defense. Clive strode over to greet them, while Kristen slipped next to him and linked her arm through his. When Clive didn’t pull away, she just tightened her grip a little, making it clear she wasn’t letting go.

“Mr. Russell, Mr. Baker,” Kristen called out, her greeting warm and easy.

Clive and Cameron chimed in too.

Felix looked sharp but relaxed in a casual suit. There was something about the way he carried himself, a confidence that came from years in the military. He nodded slightly at Kristen and the others, his version of hello.

Mr. Russell’s eyes lingered on Kristen, a little amazed. “It’s been, what, almost twenty years? Look at you—so grown up now. Tell your parents I want to visit and catch up with them when they have time.”

“We’d love to have you over, Mr. Russell. Anytime,” Kristen replied with a smile.

“I’ve reserved a private room for us on the third floor,” Clive said. “Let’s eat and talk.”

The group headed upstairs. Even the staircase in this restaurant was a statement—artfully designed, no elevator in sight, just to make the experience special.

Clive, always the gentleman, stayed a step behind, letting the guests take the lead. As they passed the second floor, he found himself glancing around for no real reason.

A server was pushing a trolley out of a private room, the carved wooden doors folding wide to let it through. Out of the corner of his eye, Clive caught a flash of red—a woman in the corner who was suddenly impossible to ignore.

Amelia.

She was laughing, her eyes crinkled at the corners, the whole moment so alive she looked like a rose in full bloom. He froze for half a second. The word that popped into his head—breathtaking.

He couldn’t remember her ever smiling like that when she was with him.

Who was making her laugh like that?

He couldn’t see from this angle, and the not knowing made his chest tighten.

The doors closed again, hiding the scene from view.

“Amelia, what are you looking at?” Belle asked, catching her glancing toward the door. By the time Belle looked, the door was already shut.

“It’s nothing. Thought I saw someone I knew,” Amelia said, breezy and casual, taking a sip of her drink.

Inside she was thinking—no way she could be unlucky enough to run into Clive here, right?

At the table behind her, the company’s senior execs were sitting together. Ryan, sitting at the head, let his gaze slide over Amelia’s back as she turned away. From his seat, he could see the stairwell whenever the door swung open.

“Mr. Packman, this is the first time we’re officially sharing a table with you.” The deputy director was grinning, raising his glass and bowing a little to a man almost young enough to be his son. “On behalf of everyone in management, welcome to West Medicine. We’re glad to have you as our new leader.”

Ten minutes later.

Ryan was done with his call and on his way back. As he got close to the private room, he slowed down and then stopped.

The door was half open, warm light and laughter spilling out. In the hallway, bathed in moonlight, stood Amelia, shifting her weight back and forth, clearly bored of waiting. The red hem of her dress caught the light, making her look both striking and strangely distant.

Ryan’s eyes dropped to the two glasses in her hands. His brows lifted in surprise.

He crossed the hallway toward her.

Amelia heard footsteps and looked up, meeting Ryan’s eyes.

“Mr. Packman.” She stepped forward to offer him one of the glasses. The hallway was dim, and her heels made her walk a little unsteady. Whether it was the slippery floor or just bad luck, she lost her balance and stumbled forward.

Before she could fall, Ryan reached out and caught her, steady and sure.

At that moment, Cameron came down the stairs, on his way to the car to grab something. He stopped at the sight of them—Amelia apparently throwing herself into another man’s arms.

From where Cameron stood, all he could see was Ryan’s back and Amelia in what looked like a very eager embrace.

Cameron let out a cold laugh, his eyes full of scorn. So this was what Amelia was up to. She hadn’t come here for dinner. She’d just signed her divorce papers that morning, and now here she was, all dressed up and already trying to catch herself a new man.