Karma Doesn’t Sleep: The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 30

Kristen’s smile froze in place.

Rachel’s eyes went wide, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. When it finally sank in, she almost squealed from excitement.

Amelia kept her voice steady and calm. “Seven years ago, I signed a ten-year contract with the company. Unless I choose to resign, I’m head of R&D for the next decade. I’ll be back at work in a couple of days.”

She raised her voice so everyone in the department could hear. “Of course, if you’d rather stick with Ms. Watts, go ahead. I’ll suggest to Mr. Salmeron that we set up a second R&D team. Stay or leave—it’s up to you.”

If everything she’d done before was for Clive, that ended today. From now on, she was fighting for herself.

She’d poured everything she had into earning the R&D manager’s seat—nearly lost her life for it, too. That career was hers. No one was taking it away.

Amelia didn’t waste another second on Kristen and her followers. She turned and walked straight to her office.

When she first moved in, she’d had a hidden safe installed. That’s where she kept her most important project files—the whole reason she’d come in today.

“Wait!” Lena’s voice rang out, sharp and angry. She grabbed Amelia’s arm. “Amelia, you’re just throwing your weight around as Mrs. Salmeron so you can get back at Kristen! You have no shame!”

That was too much. Aiden’s brow furrowed, and he stepped forward to break them up, but Amelia’s expression turned icy. She jerked her arm free and, in the same motion, slapped Lena hard across the face.

The smack echoed through the room. Silence fell.

Aiden stared at Amelia in shock. The old Mrs. Salmeron had always been gentle—never raised her voice, let alone her hand. But since waking up, she was a whole different person.

He snapped out of it and turned to the onlookers. “Don’t you all have work to do? Why are you standing around?”

As the executive assistant, his words carried weight. The crowd scattered fast.

Rachel kept glancing back at Amelia, grinning like she couldn’t help herself, practically starstruck.

That was amazing.

Kristen turned to her. “Mrs. Salmeron, don’t mind Lena. She never thinks before she speaks. That’s just how she is.”

Amelia was pretty sure Kristen had been spinning stories behind her back, but she had zero interest in hearing more.

She turned away, swept her cane across the door, and pushed it open. The door bounced back on its hinges.

“Amelia, wait!” Kristen rushed up, grabbing the doorframe—just as the door swung back and smacked her hand.

“Ow!”

Kristen yelped, pain flashing across her face.

Amelia turned, a little confused, and saw a bright red mark appearing on Kristen’s pale hand where the door had hit her.