Revenge Wears My Ring novel Chapter 32

Gwyneth lifted her chin, frowning ever so slightly, but her eyes remained cold as ice. “Alright. Take care on the road.”

Julian strode toward the door but, as his hand closed around the handle, something made him glance back over his shoulder.

Gwyneth was still standing where he’d left her, sunlight now spilling across her face and outlining her delicate profile. Sensing his gaze, she turned and met his eyes, a gentle, almost tender smile curving her lips.

After the door clicked shut, Julian loosened his tie, feeling an odd surge of satisfaction swell inside him.

She really couldn’t do without him; she always obeyed without question. That sense of being so deeply loved almost made him forgive her for all her recent doubts and petty whims.

“Gwyneth, Mr. Locke asked me to come get the files,” Queenie’s sweet, syrupy voice chimed from behind.

The chill in Gwyneth’s eyes sharpened. She swiftly switched the screen on her computer, and by the time she looked up, her face wore a flawless professional smile. “They’re right here.”

She handed Queenie the folder. “It’s almost done—just a few data points I need you to double-check and update.”

Queenie flipped through a few pages, surprise flickering in her eyes. The proposal was perfect—market analysis, execution plan, every detail was impeccable.

She snapped the folder shut, a smug little smile tugging at her lips. “No problem. Leave it to me.”

As Queenie sauntered away, Gwyneth leaned back in her chair, gazing out at the city skyline. A cold, mocking smile—nothing like the one she’d shown Julian—played on her lips.

The next morning.

Conference Room, 36th Floor, Celestial Group Headquarters.

Queenie stood before the projection screen, her right hand—recently injured—now steady as she guided the laser pointer over the meticulously crafted design. The blue glow from the projector washed over her perfectly made-up face as she spoke confidently about the 3D renderings on display.

She’d dressed to impress today, donning the latest Chanel suit, diamond studs sparkling in her ears every time she turned her head.

“…This structural innovation will cut building costs by forty-two percent. That’s the biggest highlight of this proposal…”

Seated below, a dozen senior executives nodded in approval. Several Celestial Group representatives shot her looks of open admiration.

Catching their reactions out of the corner of her eye, Queenie’s glossy red lips curled upward. The honeyed thrill of triumph bubbled inside her.

That fool Gwyneth had slaved over this proposal—only for Queenie to present it as her own.

She felt her face flush hot with panic. She’d only received the proposal yesterday and barely had time to skim it.

“Well, this…” Queenie forced a perfect smile, her nails scraping faint lines into the podium. “We used a cutting-edge… dynamic equilibrium algorithm.”

She started flipping through the pages to stall, quickly regaining her composure. “The specific parameters are detailed in Appendix D…”

The sound of pages turning filled the room.

From the corner of her eye, Queenie saw the engineers from Celestial Group exchange puzzled glances, their brows furrowing.

“Appendix D is the market analysis data,” the technical director murmured.

An awful silence descended. For Queenie, that half-second felt like an eternity, every eye in the room a burning spotlight on her.

“What I mean is…” She forced herself to keep going, “those details are confidential—proprietary information, I’m afraid.”

At that moment, the conference room door swung open.