"Ah, what should I do? Vernon cannot hear about this," Chloe mumbled while staring in the mirror. "If he knows I have a problem with my body, he might find me annoying…."
"Maybe he will even kick me out after finding me not suitable to work for him. He is very unpredictable after all…."
Of course, everything that she said just now was a mere assumption.
But knowing how Vernon could be so easily irritated and angry, she didn't want to take her shots.
All she wanted was to save a lot of money for her daughter, and maybe she could do another job, or open a store later, just any way to support herself.
She could get money from the divorce settlement, but Vincent refused to divorce her, and knowing his and all of his corrupt, powerful connections, Chloe would be the one in the wrong and suffer the most damage.
She had no plan to woo Vernon whatsoever. She didn't even believe in love anymore…
"Staying with Vernon is temporary," Chloe said to herself.
**
Vernon fixed his cuff as he got out of his room. He looked around to find Chloe and frowned when he saw the dirty plate still on the dining table.
"Where is she?" Vernon wondered.
"Sister-in-law?"
…
"Chloe?"
…
"Chloe!" Vernon raised his voice and finally got a response from a bathroom near the kitchen.
"Y—Yes!" Chloe opened the bathroom door and shambled to reach Vernon.
Vernon's brows scrunched when he saw the pale expression, wet face, and hair but didn't comment.
"I have a meeting until late at night with one of my partners. Restock the fridge and buy it in Grand Central or Citarella Gourmet Market. I always told Diamond to buy there. Use the card I gave you," Vernon instructed, hinting that the groceries in his penthouse were restocked by Diamond and also hinting at the fact that he tolerated her cooking, much to her relief.
Chloe nodded meekly and hesitated a bit as she asked, "Um… Vernon, may I know if I can take a little money from your card?"
"Huh?"
Chloe quickly explained her reason, "M—My daughter, Mackenzie. She has been through a rough time in her school. I want to treat her a little by going to her favorite restaurant— P—Please just cut my salary. I will save all the bills and give the total I took from your card…."
…
Vernon scoffed. He thought it was ridiculous— even downright insulting for him.
Did she not realize that she had Vernon's black card? Or this was a hint that she wanted her own card? Forcing Vernon to dump a lot of money into a new account under her name so she would be satisfied?
Whatever he didn't want to think about it now.
"You can do whatever," Vernon said. He walked away, and Chloe kept thanking him.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Tch…" Vernon clicked his tongue annoyedly. Chloe really liked to insult him, making it seem like Vernon was some kind of monster that would yell at her for spending on stuff.
'She is no different than the rest of them,' he thought.
**
Chloe waited until Vernon closed the door and sighed in relief. She was scared that Vernon would yell at her again.
She did the same when she was with Vincent, though. Because Vincent would always call her out and even mocked her for days if she spent something moderately expensive with his card.
Even if she bought a dress for 100 bucks, Vincent would ridicule her, saying she wasted a lot of money on something she couldn't use because she was fat and ugly.
"Vincent always told me to spend whatever with his card since he is rich. But always laughed and ridiculed me, even bringing up the fact that I spent his money whenever we have an argument," Chloe mumbled as the memories of Vincent ridiculing her over and over flashed in her head.
"The pattern happens so often, it makes me wonder if Vincent deliberately persuades me to buy whatever with his card, only to laugh at me, so I constantly feel guilty…." Chloe assessed.
She might not like Vernon for his mood swing, unpredictability, and his madness in general.
"But at least he is willing to be professional and subtract my salary to buy things. That's better, so I don't feel guilty spending his money…."
**
Chloe picked up Mackie from her math tutor and drove to the upper east side.
"Where are we going, Mommy?"
"We're going to restock our grocery!" Chloe replied.
"Wahh!" Mackie always loved going grocery shopping because Mommy would always allow her to buy any kind of snacks— ice cream, cookies, potato chips, and many more!
"And I know you must be very tired today, so we will go to your favorite restaurant!"
"WAHHHH! Is it in Uncle Daryl's The Brown Hut?!" Mackie asked— mentioning her favorite restaurant. They visited that place so much that they were recognized by Daryl, the restaurant's owner.
It was kid-friendly, and Mackie loved eating the strawberry shortcake and mille-feuille in that restaurant.
"Yes, we will go there for dinner! I will allow you to order not only one but two desserts!"
Mackie was so happy that she started making cute dances with her arms.
Chloe chuckled. She was happier whenever she saw her daughter happy, even dancing around. At some point, she was already suicidal with all the cheating, insult, and emotional abuse done by Vincent— she started being suicidal.
She had no idea why she had to live when the man she loved and devoted to used her as an emotional punching bag for his entertainment.
But she remembered that her daughter still needed her.
Vincent could go to hell for all she cared for, but Mackie needed her presence, and her daughter became her sole support system for her.
"Mackie, are you happy now?"
"Umm, yes! Mackie was sad before, but I'm happy now!" Mackie replied cheerfully. "Why are you asking, Mommy?"
Chloe shook her head as she continued driving, "It's nothing, dear."