—
Vernon Phoenix Gray
President & CEO
Goldenstar Inc.
Office: (212) 193 - 1987
—
"19… 3… 1987? Isn't that…" Chloe frowned when she read the office phone number. But she shook her head quickly to dispel the thought. "No, that couldn't be. That's probably just a coincidence."
Chloe put the business card in her small purse and searched for Mackenzie. She didn't want anything to do with this goddamn family anymore, including Vernon.
She walked around the crowd, and she looked around to find her daughter, but she couldn't find her.
'No, Mackie visited her grandma a lot. She must've known her way around the mansion. There's no way she'd get kidnapped knowing she is definitely guarded by security,' Chloe thought as she kept searching.
Chloe felt her phone was vibrating from inside the purse, she checked the caller and rolled her eyes, but she still picked up the call;
—
"What now?" Chloe asked rudely. "I'm still searching for Mackie, don't bother me."
"Searching for our daughter?" the man across the phone call chuckled. "Well, she is with me. We're in my room, come and fetch her."
"… Fine, don't go anywhere. I will take Mackie and leave."
Beep.
—
"Shit, now I have to meet him in that room," Chloe cursed again. But she had no choice, so she braced herself and walked towards Vincent's old room in this mansion before they got married.
Chloe still remembered the path she needed to take because she had already visited that room often when she was in high school and university.
Chloe took a deep breath as she grabbed the door handle and opened it.
Vincent was on a sofa. He leaned on the backrest and crossed his leg as he saw Chloe open the door, "Why are you standing still like that? Come in and talk with me."
"Where's Mackie?" Chloe asked, straight to the point. She had a lot of memories in this room with Vincent, and despite it being a bunch of sweet memories, she had no intention of reminiscing about the past.
"Mackie is in another room, she's waiting for you, but I won't specify which room she is in right now," Vincent replied, knowing well that this mansion had a lot of rooms. "Come here. Let's talk for a moment before you leave."
…
Chloe advanced a few steps into the bedroom but dared not get close to Vincent.
"Close the door."
"No, I don't know what you're going to do if I close the door," Chloe said.
"HAHAHA!" Vincent laughed freely as if he had just heard a funny joke. "Chloe Gray, you know that I've fucked many women more beautiful than you. You're nothing compared to them, especially after you aged and got pregnant with Mackie! You know what they say, men aged like wine and women aged like milk."
Chloe clenched her fist again, Vincent had already said the same thing to her a lot of times in the past, but it still triggered her so much. Those kinds of words only made her question her self-worth.
"Just tell me where Mackenzie is, and I'll leave," Chloe said.
"Chloe, do you still remember this bedroom? This is the place where you and I fucked for the first time, a place where you lost your virginity," Vincent said.
"Vincent, if you're holding me here just to say bullshit like that, we can save our time and tell me where mhy daughter is."
"Oh, come on, I'm just reminiscing about the past. Have you forgotten who you were before you married me? You're the one who begged to marry you, since you've lost your virginity," Vincent got up from the chair and walked toward Chloe. "And I married you even if some of my family disagreed. You should be grateful. Don't ever forget that."
Chloe spontaneously took a step back, ensuring that she was unreachable for Vincent, "Step back, Vincent, or I will scream."
"Scream for what? This is my mansion, remember?" Vincent chuckled, but his eyes darkened as he started to lose his patience. "Do you not realize what an idiot you are, Chloe Gray? I'm being patient enough with you, especially you! Tell me what you want, and I'll get it, so you can stop being a bitch."
Chloe bit her lower lip, mustering her courage as Vincent's broad figure and scary gaze naturally scared her, "My… My decision is final, Vincent. I don't want to be with you anymore, not after you've ruined my life and our marriage that I desperately cling to. I am simply done with you."
Vincent took a deep breath. He didn't understand how a submissive woman like Chloe could become so erratic and stubborn. She used to be so accepting and tolerant about his cheating ordeal.
'She wants to learn the hard way huh?' Vincent thought as he raised an eyebrow.
"Fine. Mackie is in the next room. She already has big luggage full of her clothing and other necessities. Make sure that she is well fed, understand? Otherwise, you can always go back to me for money." Vincent looked down at Chloe, and his gaze became even more hostile, "This is the last warning, Chloe Gray. Don't think there won't be any consequences after you turned away from me."
"Anything is better to face than being with you." Chloe turned around and looked over her shoulder, "And it's Chloe Carlson for you. I don't need your surname or your money. You Grays can rot for all I care."
Chloe strutted out of the room and closed the door. She breathed in relief. She was under so much pressure under Vincent's hostile gaze.
She went to the next room and opened the door.
"MOMMY!" Mackenzie screamed.
"Mackie!" Chloe crouched as Mackenzie ran towards her, and they reunited with a warm hug.
Chloe checked on Mackenzie, hoping that nothing had happened after the whole day of not seeing her.
"I'm sorry, Mackie. Mommy had a problem yesterday, so I couldn't take you with me," Chloe said as she patted her daughter's head.
Mackenzie nodded, "It's okay, Mommy. Daddy took me to play in the mall! But I'm tired now. Can we go home, Mommy?"
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