"Mackie believes it because Vincent was often absent. He rarely came home since a year ago, and even if he did, he just stayed for a night or simply picked Mackie up so they could go to the mall and have fun before dropping her back to the mansion…."
Vernon raised one brow amusedly. He wasn't that surprised his Big brother did that. It was reasonable since their late father— Vaughn Gray, also did that when they were kids.
He was so busy with the growing businesses and also branching out to other businesses. So his life was filled with one business meeting after another. He would fly from one state— even countries for a night, then leave for another in the morning.
So he lived mostly in the five-star hotel the Gray family owned or invested in. Of course, with different women in his bed each night. It was his way to de-stress.
Meanwhile, their mother would drown herself in liquor or expensive diamonds.
She often said that she didn't need him because a man's worth was his money. As long as their father gave her money, everything else didn't matter.
So he didn't see a problem here, at least from his family's perspective. What Vincent did was justified, including him sleeping around.
But he didn't utter his opinion out loud since he knew it would probably incite Chloe's anger if he said that Vincent leaving to sleep around was normal for the men within the Gray family.
Besides, Vernon doubted that was the only reason his sister-in-law left his Big brother.
Chloe felt so guilty whenever she remembered her lie to Mackie. Her daughter was her only guilt and the only reason she was hesitant about leaving Vincent.
"Mackie… She has a great relationship with her father. She saw him as her hero, and a great father that is smart, rich, and powerful," Chloe said.
"And that's your reason for lying?" Vernon asked.
…
Chloe nodded weakly.
"I don't want to ruin the image of a great father in her eyes. She deserves to have the image of a great father figure, even if… even if I hate Vincent."
Vernon looked down at his sister-in-law. He was actually annoyed at her right now.
Because he wanted her to burn all the bridges between herself and Vincent Gray. Even if that meant he had to tell Mackie about the divorce.
There was a sense of crisis in him because his sister-in-law was so meek, the probability of her returning to his Big brother was high, and Vernon didn't want that.
'I need her here… I don't know if I will use her in the future to bring down my brother. But I need her here for now…' Vernon thought.
However, before he could say anything, he had to know about the root of the problem.
What happened when he was out for ten years?
"Honestly, I don't even know why you left my Big brother," Vernon said to the point. "Mind telling me what really happened with your marriage life with him?"
Chloe was stunned, and her body stiffened in an instant. She could feel Vernon's hawk-like eyes looking down at her with a prying gaze, waiting for her to spill the tea.
But she didn't want to. She still didn't know if Vernon was on her side or Vincent's.
Chloe could not trust him, and she was afraid that Vernon would eventually sell her out to his Big brother.
Also…
'How am I supposed to trust him about my secret when nobody in my life knows about the details except Vincent and me?' Chloe asked herself.'
'After all, he hires me to live with him as his personal prostitute becuase he wants to get the experience of fucking his sister-in-law. I have no worth in his eyes….'
'But, maybe… just maybe… I have more worth in his eyes? Will he actually help me, or use me instead?'
…
Chloe hesitated, trying to weigh the good and bad if she told him the truth.
Vernon got impatient with her long silence, so he added more incentive, "Come on, sister-in-law. Tell me the problem, you know that I can always talk it out with my family— even with my Big brother. Maybe you can get your divorce faster, or… maybe you want to reconcile with him instead?"
Vernon's gaze turned colder when he said, 'reconcile.'
There was anger surging from his heart. He wanted to crush something when he imagined his sister-in-law and Big brother reconciled to form a happy family.
'Fuck, I'm getting annoyed now.'
Chloe reacted after she heard reconciliation and lifted her head. She glared at Vernon and shouted, "I don't want to!"
"Then tell me what's the problem!" Vernon yelled. "Don't make me wait. You know damn well I can get annoyed pretty easily!"
Vernon's eyes glinted with coldness, and Chloe noticed the hostility in his hawk-like eyes.
She didn't know if the hostility was for her or someone else, but she just assumed the hostility was for her.
It was like a bucket of cold water poured on top of her head. She got clarity after realizing that she couldn't trust Vernon.
'He might have treated me fairly all this time. But I am still a prostitute for him,' Chloe thought. She clenched her fist. She was so close to telling Vernon about her problem, at least telling him that Vincent had abused her horribly.
But now, she became fully guarded again when she saw his dangerous eyes.
'I… I don't want to be tricked by another prince charming. Vincent is enough for me, I don't want to be trapped twice!'
Vernon thought his meek sister-in-law would finally give in and tell him about her life with Vincent as a married couple.
But, she actually got up from the chair and tried to leave without giving Vernon any explanation.
Vernon wrapped his hand around Chloe's waist to stop her escape. His gaze darkened, "Where are you going? You haven't told me anything yet."
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