"How about you, big brother? Are you doing well?" Vernon asked. He didn't usually ask this, but his Big brother seemed more exhausted than usual.
"Am I doing well?" Vincent scoffed. "Well, depends on what's your definition of doing well. But I had a threesome with two of my new secretaries. They're still in the hotel room right now. I don't need to listen to that bitch Chloe yelling at me whenever I return home, and my business is doing very well these days."
"Life is perfect, Vernon," Vincent said. But there was a trace of exhaustion in his face, even if his answer said otherwise.
"Are you sure, Brother? You don't look well," Vernon said bluntly. He wanted to test whether Vincent was actually affected by Chloe's absence. "Is it because sister-in-law left?"
"Me? Getting affected by her leaving? Hahaha! That's one funny joke, Vernon," Vincent laughed mirthlessly. In fact, he looked more pissed than before.
'So he is affected by Chloe's absence,' Vernon suspected in his heart.
Vincent's exhausted face turned stern as if he was only an inch away from exploding.
"Chloe is still out there, trying to escape. Does she not know that she is one ungrateful whore? After all, I did for her, I gave her all my money and told her to buy whatever. But it's still not enough," Vincent said. He turned his head towards Vernon again, but this time, he stared at his little brother with a dangerous gaze, "You rejected her job application, right?" fre ewebn ovel
"Obviously," Vernon lied through his teeth. He acted calm, even under the scrutinizing gaze of his big brother. "Why would I play with fire? I know you don't want sister-in-law to get any kind of job, right?" freew(e)bnove(l)
"Yes," Vincent replied curtly. "I want her to know there is a consequence when defying me. I've told my secretaries to contact almost all companies in New York, telling them not to accept her. If there is a sign of her applying for a job in other states, I want them to strike whatever companies hiring her as an employee."
Vernon had a thin smile on his face. That threat wasn't just a bluff. Based on Vincent's face, it was obvious that he wanted Chloe to die out there, crawling back to him and begging for forgiveness.
Which was weird, even for Vernon. He was the type of man who would forget whoever woman he ditched.
"I thought you don't love her, big brother," Vernon said.
"Who said I love her?" Vincent said. He got even more irritated when Vernon assumed that his action was based on love. "I just want her to obey me. She can't escape, not after using my money for 10 years of our marriage."
Vernon was absent during ten years of marriage between Vincent and Chloe. Thus, he assumed that Chloe was a gold-digging whore.
'So that's why she doesn't want to stay with me. Because I'm not rich enough for her, huh?' Vernon concluded in his head.
"Brother, what if sister-in-law came to me and begged for money?" Vernon asked, wanting to test Vincent even more.
"Then you kick her out, spit on her face if you want to," Vincent replied instantly. "Make sure she knows that she couldn't just lick the shoes of other Gray family members to help her."
"I see…" Vernon murmured. He wouldn't lie. There was a little fear in his heart. As bold as he could be, Vernon was still logical. He knew what kind of person Vincent could be when he got angered, Vernon also knew how powerful his family was.
Yet, this was the thrill that excited him. The thrill of losing everything because he offended the wrong people. The thrill of getting hunted to oblivion because he kept a woman owned by his brother.
He just couldn't wait to return home and touch his sister-in-law, making sure that Chloe had his marks around her body and knowing she was under his mercy now.
'This will be exciting,' Vernon thought.
"Brother, do you not have a plan to divorce her? Is it because of the divorce settlement?" Vernon asked. He also found this weird because Vincent was obviously so rich. Even with divorce, he would still be an ultra-rich billionaire.
"It's not about that. It's about the pride of a man," Vincent replied. He checked Vernon from head to toe and commented, "You're still young. You don't understand for now, but you will learn about this kind of pride eventually."
"Yeah, maybe I will understand later, Big brother," Vernon replied.
Vernon knew that he couldn't push his big brother with more questions. He seemed in a terrible mood now since Vernon kept asking about Chloe.
"Big brother, I have a meeting with someone in the late afternoon. I'm going to return to my apartment now," Vernon excused himself. He got up from the seat and patted Vincent's arms twice before walking away.
"Vernon—"
Vernon halted his step immediately, waiting for Vincent to continue his sentence.
"—You're part of the Gray family. We're blood brothers. If you're in any difficulty, just tell me. I will help."
"Thank you, big brother. I'll keep that in mind," Vernon replied.
After that, Vernon drove back to his apartment, the Phoenix Tower.
He rushed to the lift and tapped the lift floor with his shoes impatiently. He burst out when the lift opened at 21st floor.
He slammed the door open, searching for his sister-in-law.
"Sister-in-law, where are you?"
Vernon looked around his apartment. Everything had been cleaned, probably by Chloe, because this level of cleaning wasn't done by a professional. Even the small seats and couch pillows had been arranged in a more… womanly manner.
But the woman was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is she?"
Vernon looked around to no avail. He looked at the stair leading to Chloe's apartment on the lower floor.
Vernon decided to go down, checking whether Chloe was in her apartment.
Once he went down, he continued looking around until he heard the bedroom door click open, and Chloe walked out only wearing a towel that covered her body from chest to thighs.
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