Karma Doesn’t Sleep The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 534

Kristen had never seen Clive this angry before. The way he slapped her—he didn’t hold back. Half her face was still numb and her ear rang like a siren.

But even through the buzzing, Kristen heard every word he spat at her.

He was blaming her because of Amelia…

Amelia, that wretched woman, had to be dead by now. The thought made Kristen almost happy—finally, the biggest threat to her happiness was gone. Suddenly, that slap didn’t matter at all. No one could get in her way anymore.

“Clive, I know you’re upset because something happened to Amelia…” Kristen slipped into her best performance, fighting not to grin. She looked small and heartbreakingly patient. “I understand. She was your wife once. Of course you’d be upset…”

“If taking it out on me helps, then I don’t mind.” Kristen reached up and wrapped her arms around Clive’s narrow waist, letting fat, glistening tears roll down her cheeks.

But this time, Clive didn’t melt like he used to. He didn’t even look sorry.

He just pried her arms off him, cold as ice. The gentle, watery eyes she loved were now flat with exhaustion and something close to disgust.

“Amelia was supposed to take Penny to the amusement park today. So why, when Amelia went missing, were you the one who brought Penny home?”

Kristen had her story ready.

“Clive, you’ve got it all wrong. I was just worried Penny was dressed too lightly and would get cold, so I brought her a sweater. When I got there, Penny was by herself. Amelia was gone. Penny said she wanted to go home, so I took her.” She sounded sure of herself. “If you don’t believe me, ask Penny. Kids don’t lie.”

Clive let out a short, bitter laugh.

“If it’s to protect you, Penny will lie.”

He’d seen it before.

When Amelia first came back, Penny thought Kristen was being treated unfairly. She wanted to help. The first thing she did was steal Caroline’s necklace and hide it in Amelia’s bag—trying to frame her as a thief.

Kristen had basically raised Penny, and the girl’s sense of right and wrong was easy to twist. In other words, Kristen could control her.

The only one who never lied was Jinx.

“Clive, what are you saying?” Kristen’s voice was high and trembling. “Are you blaming me for Amelia’s death? Are you saying I helped Levi take her? If I hadn’t taken Penny home, maybe something would’ve happened to her too—”

She didn’t get to finish. Clive’s hand shot out, wrapping around her throat.

She said all the right things, but deep down, her eyes were burning with rage.

Levi, that useless idiot.

He couldn’t even get rid of Amelia properly.

Clive stroked Kristen’s hair, his touch soft but his eyes cold and distant.

He let her go, studying her innocent face. His voice was low and close. “I’m tired. I want a bath. Will you run the water for me, future Mrs. Salmeron?”

That title—Mrs. Salmeron—even with the “future” in front, made Kristen’s heart leap.

“Of course, I’ll do it right away!” She kissed Clive’s cheek and left the study with a bright, lovestruck smile.

But instead of heading to the master bedroom, Kristen made her way to Penny’s room.

There was a calming lavender scent in the air. Penny lay curled up, her face streaked with dried tears. She twitched and whimpered in her sleep, like she was stuck in a nightmare she couldn’t escape.