Karma Doesn’t Sleep: The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 52

Amelia stood there, cool and unbothered, not the slightest bit rattled.

“Caroline, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t just say whatever comes to mind. You’re accusing me of stealing—do you actually have any proof?”

Caroline let out a snort of laughter, half amused, half exasperated. “Still pretending? Penny already told us everything!”

A flicker of pain crossed Amelia’s face. Her voice was soft, but you could hear the heartbreak. “Penny, are you saying you saw Mommy steal Aunt Caroline’s diamond bracelet?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Amelia spotted Penny curled up in Clive’s lap, burying her head in his chest like a little ostrich—too guilty to even look at her.

But to the rest of the Salmeron family, Penny just looked like a scared kid caught up in grown-up drama.

Mrs. Salmeron gently stroked Penny’s hair, her voice sweet as honey. “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. You’re home, surrounded by family. There’s no way my precious granddaughter would ever be scared by an outsider.”

She practically spat out the word “outsider,” glancing sideways at Amelia. The message couldn’t have been clearer.

It didn’t matter what Amelia did. In the Salmeron family, she’d always be an outsider.

Amelia stood silent, her face perfectly calm, not giving anything away.

There was a time when all she wanted was to be accepted by this family.

Now, she didn’t care at all.

Clive finally broke the silence. “Amelia, if you picked up Caroline’s bracelet by mistake, just give it back now. No big deal.”

So, even he thought she could do it.

“No need. I’ll do it myself,” Amelia answered, her voice steady.

She knew she was alone here, completely outnumbered in the Salmeron house. There was no point fighting.

Still, she clung to one last bit of hope and turned to Penny. “Penny, Mommy’s asking you one more time. Are you sure you saw me take Aunt Caroline’s diamond bracelet?”

If only Penny understood how serious this was, maybe she’d admit she was wrong and tell the truth. Then, maybe, this could all be over.

But Penny just curled up tighter in Clive’s arms, nervously biting her finger like she always did when she was scared. She glanced at the red mark on her aunt’s hand, thinking of Kristen’s injury, guilt flickering across her face. But her words stayed stubborn. “I saw it. I really did.”

Whatever hope Amelia had left completely shattered.