"Okay, all served, boss," Chloe smiled at Vernon after arranging the lunch for Vernon.
Vernon sat in front of the table full of lunch and then looked up to stare at Chloe, "And where's yours?"
Chloe was already well prepared. She pointed at a plate filled with the portion of her food.
Vernon's lips perked up as he was satisfied with the answer, and he patted the spot right beside him on the sofa, "Sit here with me, let's have lunch first before we start."
'Before we start?' Chloe wondered if there was another problem between them. She thought they made up last night. After all, Chloe didn't want to see Vernon looking devastated just because he said the wrong thing.
'Though, I have to admit that there is a thorn in my heart because we simply swept the problem under the rug…' Chloe thought.
The argument between them happened yesterday when Vernon said something that Vincent usually said.
-
I know that all women are materialistic and only love their men because of their money.
-
It still offended her, and she was even more offended when Vernon didn't seem to understand what he said wrong.
'But all is well now, right?' Chloe thought. 'It's better to just act like nothing happened yesterday. I don't want to get hurt again because of Vernon's words, and I certainly don't want to stress Vernon out for something unnecessary….'
Thus, Chloe picked up her plate and sat right on the sofa.
But she was at the edge, as she found sitting beside Vernon while eating might ruin Vernon's appetite.
Vernon noticed the gap between them. He rolled his eyes and wrapped his hand around her waist.
"Ah— Vernon—!?" Chloe was startled when Vernon suddenly pulled her closer. So close that their thighs were rubbing on each other.
"Why do you need to distance yourself like that?" Vernon protested. "What's wrong with sitting close to me?"
Nothing wrong…" Chloe replied meekly. "It just feels… a little embarrassing…"
"Embarrassing?"
"Mhm…" Chloe pointed at their thighs and said, "At least put some gap between our thighs…."
"W—Well, that's because it's already autumn. The wind is very chilly, so it's better to share some warmth!" Vernon tried to justify his action, even though it came out as weird, Chloe.
"We're indoors, and you have a heater inside your room…." Chloe commented.
"J—Just shut up and eat! Damn, why are you so nosy about small things?"
"Um, okay… but you need to let go of my waist first. You've been holding it for a while."
Vernon grunted as he found that request to be against his will. But he reluctantly removed his hand from her waist and grabbed the plate.
He started eating his lunch and dared not look at Chloe.
Chloe smiled as she watched Vernon eat a big portion of food without a problem. It gave her a feeling of satisfaction to see him eating, and it also gave her an appetite.
Thus, she also started eating her lunch.
At this moment, two people sat close on the sofa, eating their lunch in silence, and it was a moment that felt precious for Chloe.
Because she had never had this kind of moment with Vincent. She always ate alone, and when she started suffering from stress and depression that led to an eating disorder, she began to eat in hiding.
She'd eat in her bedroom or bathroom if Vincent was at home. Because every time she ate even a pinch of bread, Vincent would ridicule her by calling her a fat fuck that should starve so she'd lose weight.
So she developed a fear of eating overtime…
Chloe glanced at Vernon, who was still busy with his plate. He ate so fast that he choked midway.
"Uk!'
Chloe put her plate on the table and poured a glass of water for him. She handed the water to Vernon so he could drink it.
Chloe rubbed Vernon's wide back and reminded him, "It's not good to eat too fast. Try to eat slower, okay?"
Vernon nodded absentmindedly. He glanced at Chloe's plate on the table and commented, "You're barely eating your lunch. Do you want me to feed you instead?"
"N—No need," Chloe refused. She was still unable to accept the fact that Vernon continuously spoon fed her.
No matter how often they did it, she simply couldn't get used to it.
"But promise me that you'll eat everything on your plate," Vernon pressed. "I will have to shove everything in your mouth if you don't eat them."
"Shove—" Chloe had a fleeting, perverted thought, reminding herself of what happened with them last night.
But she quickly warded off the thought and nodded, "I'll eat everything, I promise."
Thus, they finished their lunch until there were empty plates on the table.
Vernon slumped on the sofa while drinking his banana milk from a straw. He was satisfied with today's lunch because Chloe was here to eat with him.
He realized his mood would always improve when Chloe was near him. Everything would be alright if he could see her with his own eyes.
'Maybe this is what Shailene said about dependency…' Vernon thought while staring at Chloe, who was cleaning the plate. 'I am dependent on her. I want her presence in my life, and if she's away from me, I will feel like a lost kid….'
Vernon always claimed that he hated to be called a kid, especially by Chloe.
Because he was a grown-up now. He was a big man who could protect and provide the best for her.
But he had to admit that he wanted to be treated as one when Chloe was around…
'Urgh, to hell with Shailene and all of her bullcrap. She's trying to confuse me because she's jealous,' Vernon claimed. 'So what if I'm dependent on her? So what if I am obsessed with her? There is no point of feeling guilty over the obvious things in my heart….'
Chloe finished cleaning the table and was about to leave with a stack of plates. But Vernon held her, "Stay for a moment, Chloe. I want to talk to you."
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