THE BILLIONAIRE'S VENGEFUL WIFE RETURNS-Chapter 210: A PLAYFUL ALANIS

This Chapter is dedicated to Mich34. Wow Mich, thanks for the golden ticket.

.

.

The week passed slowly, with Charlotte gradually recovering. Though her memory was still hazy, Ava stayed by her side, gently guiding her through the memory she had lost. It had been her top priority to care for the elderly woman and she did her job very well.

Meanwhile, George was also on the mend, the lashes on his back were healing and he could walk again. And just when things seemed to settle a bit, Claudia returned from the Juvie. She hadn’t lost her child despite the harsh training and discipline she endured but she had lost a lot of weight.

It’s almost like Alanis wanted to punish her, yet didn’t want her to lose the child still. At the moment, Claudia didn’t know what to make of the whole situation. She had no idea if this life was the reverse of the former. Maybe, just maybe, Alanis didn’t love her in this life and preferred Harlow.

But how could that be possible?

Elisa had been restless all week, desperately trying to figure out where Alanis had taken her daughter. She had checked every juvenile detention center in Halkhalls, but none of them admitted to housing Claudia. It infuriated her that Alanis had the power to make her daughter disappear without a trace. But now, she was finally home.

"Welcome back," Elisa said softly, her voice filled with relief as she took in Claudia’s exhausted form in a warm hug.

She reached for her daughter’s hand, holding it tightly as she led her inside the mansion. Claudia said nothing, her face unreadable, but Elisa didn’t care. She was just grateful to have her back. It was time they paid the Hamiltons back everything they did to her daughter.

At the top of the grand staircase, Frank stood watching his daughter step in. When he learned what Claudia had done to Charlotte Hamilton, there was little he could do to stop Alanis from punishing her. She had nearly killed a powerful figure in society, and Frank knew Alanis wouldn’t let that slide.

What disturbed him the most, however, was Alanis’s growing influence. Somehow, he had become even more powerful than Frank Blackwood himself in Halkhalls. The Hamiltons Corp has grown since his daughter took over and by each passing day, they were getting more and more powerful.

Frank wasn’t sure how it happened, but one thing was clear, Alanis was no longer someone to be underestimated.

Frank hadn’t shared the news about selling off the company that day with Elisa because his daughters were not around, but now Claudia was back, he could arrange for a dinner with the family.

"Claudia," he called his voice firm yet hesitant. But she barely spared him a glance before walking past him without a word.

Frank’s jaw tightened. It wasn’t his fault, there was nothing he could do to stop Alanis from punishing her. It was either her or everything he owned would be destroyed. He had no idea when he lost everything he owned. Money, power, the right connections.

It almost seems as if everything and everyone was going against him.

.

.

The morning sun slipped through the window, casting a warm glow over the bed where a familiar, slender figure lay curled up. The light curtains swayed gently with the wind, allowing the sunlight to brush against her beautiful face.

Harlow grumbled as her senses slowly came awake. Her eyelashes fluttered, her nose twitched as she inhaled the sweet scent of roses.

Her eyes snapped open. Roses?

She sat up, scanning the room, only to find it completely covered in them. Red, white, pink, even the rare blue roses. Alanis had filled the entire bedroom with flowers, just as she had written in her script.

Her fists clenched tightly, knuckles cracking as anger surged through her. What game was he playing now? She had told him over and over that the script was about her past, not the present.

Did he think a few flowers could change how she felt about him? Did he really believe he could buy her forgiveness with grand gestures?

No.

To her, Alanis was still the man who had taken everything from her. The man who had killed her son. No amount of roses, no matter how rare or beautiful, could erase that.

She swung her legs off the bed, careful not to step on the scattered petals, and stormed out of the room.

She was going to put him in his place once and for all.

.

.

"Where is Alanis?" she demanded, stopping a maid in the hallway.

The young girl bowed respectfully. "Master is outside with the gardeners."

Harlow turned on her heels and made her way toward the garden, her steps quick and determined.

Hamilton’s garden used to be her favorite place to walk around with Alex in the past. How the hell did she forget that so fast?

Back then during her free time, she had invited a few gardeners and planted her favorite flowers. She had been the best housewife anyone could find, but right now...

From a distance, she spotted Alanis in his usual black shirt, speaking with three men. The sight of him made her anger burn hotter. Her pace quickened.

Then, suddenly, his gaze landed on her.

The world seemed to slow down around her, her heart racing wild as his dark eyes locked onto her. His conversation halted, his expression shifting as his gaze roamed over her.

Then, slowly, he frowned.

Harlow almost forgot the reason she was here, forgetting her anger and built-up grudge for a moment as she stared at the way the wind scattered his disheveled hair.

As if snapping back to reality, she gritted her teeth and stood before him. She had a question, and she was going to ask it.

"What..."

"Why are there roses in my bedroom?" she demanded, her voice sharp, completely ignoring the men standing around him as she interrupted his words.

Alanis didn’t answer right away. Instead, his frown deepened as he took a step toward her.

"What are you doing out here in your underwear?"

Harlow blinked.

She followed his gaze downward and, oops...

She had stormed outside in nothing but her thin, transparent nightdress.

Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, heat rushing up to her ears.

"W-We can leave and come back later if you’d like," one of the gardeners offered awkwardly.

Alanis didn’t respond to him. Instead, he took off his black shirt and, without hesitation, wrapped it around her shoulders. The scar on his back visible to the people there.

"There," he murmured, smiling as he leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. "I knew the roses would work. I can see how hard you’re trying to seduce me, my villain. But now is not the right time." Harlow gritted her teeth.

"Leave us," Alanis ordered, and the men quickly retreated.

Once they were alone, he turned back to her, that infuriating smirk still on his face.

"Good morning, my villain."

Harlow’s fingers twitched. If looks could kill, Alanis Hamilton would be dead.

"What’s so good about it?" she snapped.

"Everything," he answered smoothly. "Especially you." He reached out and tapped her nose playfully and she slapped his hand away.

"Ouch," Alanis remarked, chuckling. "Hitting me again, my villain? How violent." He muttered

"Oh, how I love you," he continued dramatically. "First, you appear nearly naked in front of other men, and now, you’re hitting your poor husband. You seem to have a thing for punishment."

Harlow’s jaw clenched.

"I didn’t appear naked, and slapping your stupid fingers off my nose doesn’t count as hitting," she shot back. "If I really wanted to hit you, I would have."

Alanis chuckled. "Really?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "Tell me, what terrible thing has this innocent husband of yours done this time? Was it... buying you roses?" He tilted his head. "Even though they’re your favorite?"

Harlow refused to answer, and he took a step closer.

"Should I state your punishment now?" he asked, his tone shifting into something more serious.

From her window, Charlotte watched the couple with a soft smile playing on her lips. She had never seen Alanis like this before. So playful, teasing, so obviously in love.

Maybe, just maybe, she had made the right decision in letting him marry Harlow.

.

.

Evening came too quickly.

Harlow stepped out of her closet, dressed in the black, oversized mini dress Alanis had chosen for her. She looked furious.

This was her punishment. For the rest of the week, Alanis would be picking out her outfits, and she wasn’t allowed to refuse.

She stomped into the bedroom, barely glancing at him as she grabbed her phone.

Alanis, lounging on the bed with a book in hand, shut it immediately and looked up at her. A slow, amused smile spread across his lips.

"Wow," he murmured, eyes twinkling. "You look beautiful, my villain."

She ignored him, scrolling through her phone as if he wasn’t even there.

"Are you sure I shouldn’t come with you tonight?" he asked innocently.

She finally glanced at him, her glare sharp enough to cut glass.

"Stay out of my life," she snapped.

Alanis chuckled, leaning back against the pillows.

"Oh, my villain," he sighed, watching her with the kind of amusement that made her blood boil. "You’re going to have a long, long week ahead of you."