THE BILLIONAIRE'S VENGEFUL WIFE RETURNS

"What are you talking about, Ava?" Elena’s brows furrowed in confusion as she broke the silence. Ava’s words didn’t make sense. They should be thanking Harlow for accommodating them for the night, not the other way around. By morning, they’d be gone.

"I’m talking about the owner of the villa who allowed Miss Harlow and me to stay," Ava explained, rising from her seat. Her voice trembled slightly. "I shouldn’t be sitting here with you. Thank you for showing mercy on us, b-but please... help us stay longer. We promise not to inconvenience you and will find our own place soon."

The room fell silent for a moment, before all three onlookers burst into laughter. Ava blinked, her confusion deepening.

"We’re not the owners of this villa Ava," Edward said, a smirk on his face.

"Boss is," Richie added, earning a pointed look from Harlow.

"What he means," Elena clarified, amusement still evident in her tone, "is that this villa, and everything in it, belongs to Harlow."

Ava’s jaw dropped, her eyes going wide. Her gaze flicked to Harlow, who looked thoroughly unimpressed.

---

Later that morning, Harlow adjusted her twilight fog coat, grabbed a nondescript bag, and left the villa without a word. The drive to the jewelry company, her father’s empire, was smooth and steady.

She hadn’t expected much fanfare after her short leave for the ill-fated marriage, but she also didn’t expect this.

The security guard at the gate, a man who once greeted her warmly every morning, was now cold and distant.

"Good morning Oliver." Harlow greeted enthusiastically, she didn’t want anything to ruin her day.

"Miss Blackwood, please submit your pass and ID card," he said without so much as a smile. Harlow complied, hiding her growing irritation. She paused for a moment, shocked at his words.

Did he now recognize her? But then he called her by his name.

"Is this how a CEO is treated?" she muttered under her breath, already planning to address the disrespect once she was inside.

But his next words stopped her cold. "Miss Harlow Blackwood, I’m afraid you’re no longer welcome here. Mr. Blackwood’s orders. Your pass and ID have been revoked."

For a moment, she could only stare. Humiliation burned through her like wildfire. "If my father wanted me out, he could have told me himself," she said through gritted teeth. "Not send a security guard to fire me. what right do you have to do such?"

"I’m sorry, Miss Blackwood," the guard said, his tone perfunctory. "Your belongings will be sent to you. Please leave the premises."

Harlow didn’t bother to argue further. Instead, she handed over a card with her address. "Make sure everything is sent to me without any mistakes."

As her car pulled away, she clenched her fists, rage simmering beneath her calm exterior. She already knew who was behind this. Elisa. That woman had overstepped her boundaries for the last time.

She has been the one manipulating her father, spewing lies and deciet in his ears against her.

---

At the Blackwood mansion, Harlow stormed past the butler and a startled Elisa who was about to step out of the mansion. According to Garth, Claudia’s engagement party was in a week and they needed to start preparations for it.

Harlow flung the door of her father’s office open, her voice icy with fury. "We need to talk, Father."

Frank Blackwood didn’t look up from the papers in his hand. "Ah, I see you’ve discovered my little parting gift."

Harlow’s hands trembled, but her voice didn’t waver. "I built that company from the ground up. I gave everything to ensure its success. And this is how you repay me? By humiliating me?"

"By sending a mere guard to fire me?

Frank finally looked up, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with cruelty. "This is what happens when you defy me. I can make or break you, Harlow. Don’t forget that."

Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "Let me guess. Claudia is the new CEO?"

"Who I appoint is none of your concern," he said dismissively. "You’re no longer part of this family."

The words stung, but Harlow refused to let him see it. "You’ll regret this, Father. I guarantee it."

"Claudia gave new refreshing ideas, something I’ve asked of you for months and you still have nothing." Harlow smiled. If only he knew those ideas were her outdated ideas.

"All you did was mess around with a man who didn’t even want you." She smiled even further, her teeth brightening.

"I and your favorite are probably sailing the same boat I guess." She laughed.

"Favorite? I punish you one time out of the other times and you dim me a bad father?"

"You’re not bad father, you’re the worst." Frank frowned this time.

"Your mother was right, you’re getting out of control." Frank said.

"Heaven knows i’ve loved you since your mother died and you know that, but since you’ve decided to be a menace, you can as well fend for yourself.

Frank smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Your only redemption is to apologize to me and your mother, and marry Mr. Eagle."

"That," she said, her smile cold and defiant, "will happen over my dead body. But don’t worry, Father. I won’t be the one coming to beg you. You’ll come to me. Let’s hope, for your sake, it’s not too late."

She turned on her heel.

"Come back here Harlow!"

Harlow...!

No one dared defys Frank the way she did. No one dared go against his words. Who’s the person making her disrespect him even more, who’s her sponsor.

"Lance." He called and his assistant rushed to his side.

"Find out where my daughter is living and who’s helping her."

"Yes sir." The man answered and walked away.

---

Back in the car, Harlow pulled out her phone. With a few deft taps, she hacked into a major system and crashed a prominent website. The surge of power and chaos was cathartic, a small but satisfying outlet for her frustration.

"The news will be in shambles today," she murmured, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Where to next, madam?" her chauffeur asked.

"Layla’s. We’re going shopping."

As the car pulled away from the Blackwood estate, Harlow failed to notice a shadow trailing her. Another car slipping into the flow of traffic behind her.