Meanwhile, Chloe was happy that Vernon didn't seem to mind getting spoon fed. She wanted to feed him because it was the least she could do for him right now.
After she fed him a full plate of pasta, she murmured, 'Good boy,' in a very low voice. She thought her voice was low enough, but Vernon heard it and chuckled, "Should I ask for a tight hug too?"
Chloe jolted and laughed nervously, "Ahaha… s—sorry, muscle memory."
Vernon didn't know if this was all an act to put him in a good mood, so she could get what she wanted later. Nevertheless, he felt good, and Chloe seemed to be in a fine mood as well, so there was nothing to worry about, at least for now.
Vernon got up and ruffled Mackie's hair, "Eat your pasta, Mackie. I know it's not as good as your mother's but it's definitely better than any takeout."
"Mm… that's true…" Mackie pouted. She started eating despite her reluctance.
"Chloe…"
"Y—Yes, I know," Chloe grabbed Vernon's plate across the table and started eating it, much to his relief.
"I still have plenty of work to do. I'll be in my room," Vernon announced. He walked through the foyer towards his bedroom and gave his family a quick glance before going in.
Chloe and Mackie stared at each other, and Mackie asked, "Mommy, why did you feed Uncle like that? Did you feed Daddy too?"
Chloe smiled, "I took care of your Uncle when he was around your age. He was very cute and brave, just like you."
"Oh! Did he play with Barbie too? I have many barbies I could give to him!"
"Ahaha, no dear, he liked playing with a skateboard instead," Chloe recalled. "I bought him a skateboard once, and he skated around the house almost every day."
Mackie pouted, "Hmph, he was no different than the boys in my school!"
"Ahaha, of course, he was a kid too. He cried, asked, pouted, and threw a tantrum, just like you."
"I never throw a tantrum!" Mackie defended herself.
Chloe chuckled and patted her daughter's hair, "Sure, dear. Just finish your dinner, okay?"
"Urgh, I don't like it…."
**
Vernon sat on a rattan chair inside his bedroom with his laptop in his lap. He continued fiddling with his work.
He sighed and took off his glasses. He pinched his nose to let go of some of the tension. He refused to work in his home office because it would only stress him out even more, so he thought working inside his bedroom would make him feel more relaxed.
"Well, that doesn't work, apparently," Vernon scoffed.
He put on his glasses again and read some documents on his laptop. He was fully focused until he heard a few knocks at the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Vernon raised his head and stared at the door, "Who?"
"Vernon, may I come in?"
Vernon's expression eased when he heard his beloved's voice, "Sure."
Click.
Chloe stood at the door with a warm ginger tea in her right hand. She walked in and put the ginger tea on top of a drawer near the bed before drew near Vernon.
Vernon watched her movement from start to finish and wondered, "What do you want?"
"Um… nothing…" Chloe replied.
She stepped back and stood right behind Vernon, "W—Would you like me to massage your scalp?"
…
"Do you need something after this?"
"Nothing in particular," Chloe replied. "Um, I see that you're stressed out with so many things happening at once. So I thought of helping you to destress a little."
…
Vernon got even more suspicious of her kindness, but he nodded and closed his laptop.
He took off his glasses again, leaned on the rattan chair, and closed his eyes, ready to receive treatment from Chloe.
"Alright…" Chloe inserted her fingers inside his hair and started massaging his scalp.
Chloe's hand was soft, but she put pressure each time she massaged Vernon's scalp. It was a sensation that Vernon had never got before. He never liked to go to a massage parlor because he thought he could just destress himself with sex.
'I still don't want to go to any massage parlor, but this is not bad at all,' Vernon thought while enjoying the scalp massage. 'Well, Chloe will be the only one to do this to me.'
Vernon enjoyed the scalp massage so much that his body gradually relaxed and melted. He slumped on the rattan chair and was about to fall asleep, and then he suddenly jolted and opened his eyes.
"Vernon? What's wrong?" Chloe asked. "Did I accidentally hurt you?"
Vernon sat straight, and he looked over his shoulder. His eyes peered suspiciously at Chloe, "I know what's your true intention to massage my scalp."
"T—True Intention?" Chloe took a step back. "I don't know what you're talking about, Vernon."
"Oh, don't try to hide it. I know that you want me to fall asleep, so you can take your phone and call that old bitch, right?" Vernon accused. "Seriously, Chloe, knock it off. Stop trying to make things happen between Dorothea and I. She is a bitch and will always stay a bitch, case closed."
"You can leave now. Thank you for the scalp massage, but I have things to do," Vernon said curtly as he kicked Chloe out of his room.
Chloe stood like a statue behind the rattan chair. She was too shocked by Vernon's over-of-the-top accusation.
"I will never do that," Chloe said. "Even if I want to have my phone back. I won't do that kind of underhanded method to obtain it!"
"Then what are you doing feeding me dinner, and pleasing me by massaging my scalp? Just say what you want and we can get it done!"
"I don't want anything!" Chloe yelled back as she started to grow frustrated by Vernon's accusation. "I just want to make you happy! You look very tired these days and I want to help!"
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