Before Evan ever got around to wearing the things I bought for him, the Caldwell family imploded.
And I helped.
Once I saw Shen Yili clearly, revenge became inevitable.
He wasn’t the only son in the family. He was just the oldest, the most polished, the one everyone expected to win. But expectations are fragile things. Push in the right places, whisper to the right people, and a future can collapse overnight.
So I had my people approach the second son.
Quietly. Thoroughly.
By the time Shen Yili realized someone had undermined him, the damage was already done. His grandfather had shifted his support. The family balance had tipped. His position was no longer secure.
Then he found out it had been me.
He came to my house in a fury.
“Chloe Prescott, what exactly do you think you’re doing?”
He was stopped by my bodyguards at the gate, still shouting. “I protected you all those years. I indulged you. And this is how you repay me? By siding with Noah against me?”
I had the house manager bring a chair outside so I could sit comfortably and watch.
Evan stood beside me holding a plate of cut fruit.
He fed me a slice of peach.
Shen Yili’s face darkened further.
“Your feelings really are cheap,” he said bitterly. “I just—”
The house manager interrupted coldly. “Think before you speak to Miss Prescott that way. She may have lived under your roof once, but Mr. Caldwell, you are not your family’s only son. Miss Prescott, on the other hand, is her family’s only daughter.”
I almost applauded.
I took another bite of fruit and said mildly, “I heard your grandfather assigned you to a rural branch office. Such a shame.”
His hands clenched at his sides.
Then, to my surprise, he swallowed his pride.
“I know you’re angry,” he said, voice rougher now. “I know this is revenge. For not returning your feelings. For seeing someone else behind your back. Fine. I was wrong. Chloe… forgive me this once.”
I laughed.
He looked stunned.
“You really think that highly of yourself?”
His expression faltered.
I leaned back and smiled. “How did you convince yourself that if you softened your voice and admitted fault, I’d melt? I don’t want to forgive you. I want to bury you.”
For the first time, real fear entered his eyes.
“You should be grateful,” I said. “This isn’t Harbor City. If it were, the moment I found out you’d been playing me, you’d have disappeared.”
A car pulled up behind him.
Julia got out.
She was carrying a file folder and looked far too bright and pleased for the occasion.
“I came to make things worse,” she announced.
I liked her instantly.
She tossed the folder at Shen Yili. “There’s a project overseas looking for leadership. I suggested your name to Professor Caldwell. And he agreed you could use the experience.”
He snatched the papers and looked down.
Then all the color drained from his face.
In New York, if he behaved himself, he might one day find his way back into the center of the family.
Abroad?
That was exile.
He looked up at Julia in disbelief. “You—”
She cut him off sweetly. “You’re old, manipulative, inappropriate, and exhausting. If not for research funding, I wouldn’t have wasted another minute pretending not to notice how disgusting you are.”
I nearly choked trying not to laugh.
She stepped closer to me and added, “Besides, he offended the Prescotts. A family can survive without one eldest son. It can’t afford to lose real allies.”
That finished him.
Shen Yili lunged toward her in rage, but my bodyguards were faster. They seized him and dragged him back.
Julia clutched at her chest theatrically. “How terrifying.”
There wasn’t a trace of fear in her eyes.
I remembered then that one of her listed school activities was competitive martial arts.
What an actress.
When Shen Yili was finally thrown out, Julia turned to me with a bright smile.
“We should be friends.”
“We already are,” I said.
And just like that, the supposed heroine and villainess clicked into place beside each other.
The comments practically sang.
There we go. Girls helping girls.
Honestly the man deserved worse.
This story got so much better the second the women teamed up.
I couldn’t disagree.