"Ah, he is definitely disgusted with me…." Chloe lamented. She had a bitter smile on her face. "He doesn't want me to eat in front of him. Maybe he knows I'll vomit everything before him and gross him out…."
Chloe knew there was no use in lamenting since Vernon hired her only as a maid. She shouldn't involve emotion in this and work her ass off so she could leave to another state with Mackie.
Chloe's heart was heavy right now. But she resumed her duty as a maid before going downstairs. She checked on Mackie first, and after making sure that Mackie was already sleeping, she returned to her bedroom and sat in front of the vanity mirror for a while.
Chloe was already thin, at least thin enough that her cheekbone and collarbone were already protruding, a stark contrast to her body a year ago.
But this was achieved through a grueling and unhealthy diet that gave her an eating disorder in the long term.
Yet, Vincent kept calling her a fat bitch despite her constantly shedding weight at an unhealthy rate, which made her believe that she was. Even in her current condition, Chloe still believed that she was fat and had to lose even more weight.
"I don't know why I am so ugly and disgusting…." Chloe murmured. "Even my husband doesn't want me anymore, let alone other people…."
"What should I do to be likable?" Chloe asked herself. Yet, she didn't find an answer to that question.
After lamenting for a while, she lay on her bed, eyes open while checking on her phone, scrolling through a hidden album she treasured.
It was an album full of old photos, most dated about twelve to fifteen years ago, where she still dated Vincent. It was mostly fun and sweet memories. It was like an addictive poison— she knew she couldn't return to the old days when Vincent still loved her.
Yet, she still loved these old memories.
She also had a picture of Vernon when he was fourteen to fifteen. He disliked taking pictures when he was young, so it was rare that he stood there in silence when Chloe told him that she wanted to take her picture.
Vernon still had his baby face in the picture and was visibly shorter than Chloe, let alone Vincent. He was like this feisty young master who would bite anyone who dared to insult his height.
"Well, at least Vernon is in a good position right now," Chloe said, acknowledging all of Vernon's achievements.
"Hope he can make peace with this woman in his heart, so he would have a healthy relationship. I want him to be happy…." Chloe said. She closed her eyes, imagining the old days when she still dated Vincent and Vernon was still a teenager.
They did many things together, and Vernon often third-wheeled her date with Vincent. When he was fourteen to fifteen years old, Vernon never allowed Vincent and her to have free time together whenever they were in the Gray mansion. He was like a watchdog who would bark at his big brother if he dared to touch Chloe, which Chloe found to be funny and endearing.
"Good times…"
**
Vernon lay on his bed after taking a bath. He scrolled through his phone, checking a hidden gallery where he stashed a few pictures of him and his sister-in-law before she married his big brother.
She was always a ravishing beauty, and it wasn't surprising for the Gray brothers to like her.
Yet, he was severely disadvantaged, giving him no chance to win against his big brother.
So he left in heartbreak.
But now, Chloe was still disgusted with him even after his return with all the things that would make any woman turn their head and swoon. She still saw him as a filthy young boy, not as a man.
"So, what's the point of all this?" Vernon asked himself. "What's the point of me taking you in when you don't appreciate me at all?"
"I don't want to hurt you, but if you always underestimate me like this, I have no choice but to drag you down to hell with my big brother."
Vernon felt a sharp pain in his chest as he remembered the original plan to ruin Chloe and Vincent's life. Both of them deserve it anyway.
But he was always hesitating to drag Chloe into this. He was unsure if hurting her would make him satisfied.
"But I have no use in keeping someone who doesn't appreciate me. Chloe… after the plan has been executed, you'll never hear from me anymore."
"Because I will be on top while you beg on the street with my big brother, you two are a despicable pair who ruined my life."
**
Vernon woke up in the morning groggily. He stretched out his limbs first before going out of the bedroom.
"Uncle Vernon, good morning!" Mackie's loud voice rang in the living room. Vernon's eyes went down, and he saw the little girl greeting him before running around the living room, jumping on the sofa, and rolling on the carpet as if she was in an action movie.
Vernon watched in a daze until he heard Chloe's voice coming from the kitchen, "Mackie, come here and have breakfast! Don't run around like that. You might break something!"
"Okay, Mommy!"
Mackie approached her uncle again and grabbed his wrist with two hands, "Let's eat, Uncle!"
Vernon followed the little girl in a daze and sat at the dining table. He saw Chloe serving two plates of pancakes for breakfast.
She smiled at Vernon as if there was nothing wrong with them last night, "Good morning, Vernon. This is your breakfast. Eat it while it's still warm. I'll be downstairs, so you can eat in peace. Just call me if you need anything."
…
Vernon nodded and started eating his breakfast. After ensuring they ate well, Chloe went downstairs and sat at the last staircase.
"I hope he can eat well since he doesn't need to look at me while eating anymore."
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