Karma Doesn’t Sleep: The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 395

Ryan had actually met Amelia years ago—so many years it felt like another lifetime.

His memories of his mother were nothing but gray shadows. She’d lie on a filthy, broken bed while strange men came and went, cursing as they slammed the door. Ryan would stand quietly by the door, and sometimes that woman would throw whatever she could grab at him. Hunger was a constant ache in his belly, pushing him out to scavenge for scraps. It wasn’t courage that kept him going—it was just raw, animal instinct.

One day, by pure chance, he wandered in front of a house that looked like something out of a fairytale—pretty enough to be a castle in a TV show. Through the iron fence, he saw a little princess.

“Happy sixth birthday, Princess Amelia!” someone called.

The girl was dressed in a fluffy gown and a sparkly crown, her father tossing her high in the air while her mom watched, all love and adoration in her eyes. People gathered around, singing and celebrating.

The princess spotted him—a scruffy kid standing outside the fence. She told a servant to bring him a slice of cake.

Ryan was starving. He wolfed down half the cake right there on the curb, saving the rest for later. When he got home, his mother ate what was left, then smashed the plate over his head, yelling at him and wishing he’d never been born. He just wiped the blood from his face, curled up under the table, and fell asleep.

That night, he dreamed of the castle again—except this time, it was made of candy. The princess stood at the door, broke off a piece of chocolate handle, and offered it to him.

After that, Ryan started taking detours just to pass by the castle. He still dug through dumpsters for food, shoving whatever he found into his mouth, stashing useful things into a woven bag. But being near the castle felt like being closer to something he’d never had—a little bit of hope, a glimpse of warmth.

It was his own secret pilgrimage.

Eventually, he noticed food left at the castle gate—real, clean, fresh stuff. He knew it was for him. One day, as he stuffed bread into his mouth, he looked up and there she was—the little princess, standing behind the fence, big bright eyes blinking at him.

She reached out a hand, offering a carton of milk. “Do you want some? I’ll bring more next time.”

For some reason, anger and shame burst inside him. He bared his teeth at her like a scared, cornered animal.

It would take him years to understand that feeling. It was just crushing, raw insecurity.

There was a long stretch when he stopped going near the castle. Someone broke his leg, and by the time he could walk again, the yard was overgrown and empty. The princess was gone.

His candy princess had disappeared.

Life moved on. Ryan learned how to fight, how to hustle, how to stay alive on his own. Sometimes he’d still pass by the castle, but it was always empty, the place abandoned and decaying.

Later, he got into Baybridge University.

At the very first class meeting, Ryan was half-asleep in the corner when he heard the teacher call a name.

“Amelia.”

“Here.” The voice was soft and gentle. “Hi, I’m Amelia. My family calls me Mia.”

Ryan opened his eyes slowly, unsure—then looked up.

His candy princess had left her castle and walked into his world.

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