"W—Wait—" Vernon was startled by Chloe's sudden outburst and rebuttal.
"Why can't you see that I feel so guilty? I can't use one of my hands. I can't cook, can't clean, can't even take care of Mackie by myself, and I can't take care of you too!"
"Chloe, I—"
"I see that you're so exhausted, and I understand that. You're doing many things right now and still have time to take care of Mackie and me. That's why I want to do something to please you for once!" Chloe's chest rose up and down as she exerted much power to yell back at Vernon.
Fortunately, it seemed to work in the end, because Vernon went silent immediately. His mouth opened once and twice, but no words came out.
He felt awkward because he actually kept accusing Chloe, thinking she had a hidden agenda behind her kindness.
Little did he know, he was actually projecting his own sin.
Because he was the one who always had a hidden agenda for anything he did, good or bad.
Even now, he was doing everything he could to help Chloe and Mackie because he wanted them to stay by his side forever. It was his version of happiness, and he would not give up until he achieved what he wanted.
"I—I'm so—sorry," Vernon stuttered as he tried to apologize. He got up from the rattan chair and turned around to face Chloe. "I was just too stressed out with everything happening around us, so I thought… I thought you wanted something."
"All I want is for you to rest for a bit!" Chloe yelled again.
"I—I know, I'm sorry…." Vernon kept on apologizing. He didn't know how to calm down an upset woman. After all, he had never been in this position before.
He never apologized nor tried to calm down his ex-girlfriends. If they were upset, Vernon would be ten times more upset to them, and his exes would yield as all of them were so in love with him.
Now the situation has been reversed.
He was so in love with Chloe that he didn't know how to calm her down, "Why don't we sit and have a little chat first, okay?"
"No need," Chloe replied curtly. "I don't want to disturb you. So, I'll just leave."
Chloe was about to pass Vernon when the latter suddenly grabbed her arm, "Chloe, please don't do this to me. I didn't mean to offend you just now."
Chloe looked over her shoulder. She glared at Vernon, but Vernon gave her those abandoned puppy eyes instead. He looked pitiful and vulnerable as if he'd break down in tears if Chloe decided to leave him alone right now.
"Please stay and talk with me. Let me apologize properly…." Vernon begged. "Besides, I do like getting spoiled by you as well."
Chloe tried to maintain her glare until she couldn't hold it anymore.
She sighed and lowered her head, "Fine, go sit on that rattan chair again."
Vernon nodded enthusiastically. He released Chloe's arm and sat obediently on the rattan chair. His eyes followed his beloved, who walked around the chair and stood behind him again.
"Lean back and let me massage your scalp and your temples. It'll help you relax," Chloe said.
Vernon did just that and soon felt the gentle massage on his scalp again. He released a long, relieved breath as he closed his eyes to relax.
"I'm sorry for accusing you just now. My mind has been occupied with so many things, including about our fight," Vernon murmured while he enjoyed the scalp massage.
"Mm, it's okay. I know that it's been hard for you," Chloe replied. "I don't know what I should do to help though. I feel really useless right now."
"You don't need to help, seeing you recovering— both physically and mentally is enough for me, really."
"You are too kind," Chloe sighed. "I'm used to work my bones off in the house so Vincent will at least spare my life for a day. It feels weird not to do anything like this."
Vernon opened his eyes slowly. He stared at his beloved woman's chin. Even from this angle, she still looked beautiful.
Every facial feature she had was so perfect that Vernon wondered if Chloe had a bad angle.
Vernon lifted his hand to reach Chloe's cheek and caressed her, "I don't want you to live with fear, so forget about that bastard, alright?"
Chloe and Vernon knew that it was almost impossible for Chloe to completely forget about Vincent. Vincent's abuse shaped Chloe's body and mind, and Mackie was still Vincent's biological daughter, so Chloe was forever emotionally tied to that bastard despite her reluctance.
Vincent had been immortalized inside Chloe's mind, but not in a good way, and that monster would be the source of her fear forever.
To say that Vernon hated Vincent was an understatement. He despised that monster so much he couldn't wait for all of this scheming to be over and for he could live a happy life with Chloe and Mackie.
'Probably with our babies too,' Vernon thought. 'I'd love to have at least two more….'
"I will try to forget about him…." Chloe smiled bitterly. "Sorry that I brought him up in our conversation. I just can't help to think that you're treating me way too kindly, it makes me uncomfortable. I'm not used to being spoiled."
"Well, get used to it," Vernon said. "Cuz' I will never stop spoiling you."
Chloe giggled. She found it funny because Vernon looked so serious about it. As if his life goal was really to spoil her.
"You really are the same sweet-toothed Little Vernon," Chloe commented.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Nope, not at all. You're so cute when you were young, and so handsome when you're an adult now."
"Well, I'm a big man," Vernon said seriously. His hand trailed down and pinched Chloe's cheek, forcing her to look down so their eyes could meet. "So you should trust me. I can protect you and Mackie."
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