Chapter 149: Chapter 147: What Spills from the Chest Is Despair (Part 3)
"Shit! I told you not to leave, and you just took off!"
Nora Ainsworth ran fast, putting a good distance behind her. When she realized no one was chasing her, she finally slowed to catch her breath. She left the residential complex, hailed a cab, and returned to her small apartment.
The apartment was cold and silent.
She lay on her bed, tossing and turning all night. Her dreams were a chaotic mess, a relentless string of nightmares.
When she woke up, it was only four or five in the morning, but sleep was now impossible. The moment she opened her eyes, her thoughts turned to Quentin Grant.
Nora Ainsworth twisted the cap off a water bottle and took several large gulps. GULP. GULP. GULP. She tossed the bottle aside and leaned back against the headboard.
As dawn began to break, she got out of bed and started packing. ’I’ve moved way too often these past two years,’ she thought. ’Life is so unstable.’
’I just bought this one-bedroom apartment, and now I have to sell it already.’
A wave of regret washed over her, followed by a profound sense of loneliness.
After packing two large suitcases, Nora Ainsworth gave Chloe Marshall a call. "Chloe, do you have room for me to stay?"
Upon hearing this, Chloe Marshall immediately asked, "Nora, did you get into a fight with Young Master Grant?"
"No. We broke up."
"What? Why? Weren’t things going great? How did you just break up like that? Nora, let me come get you. I have a motorcycle."
Nora nodded. "Okay."
About fifteen minutes later, Chloe Marshall arrived on her motorcycle. She hopped off and jogged over to Nora’s side. "Nora, what’s wrong? Tell me. Don’t keep it bottled up. I won’t tell anyone, I promise."
Nora hugged her. "Chloe, I want to move in with you. At least then I’ll have someone to talk to."
"Nora, my home has my messy dad and my teenage brother... If you don’t mind, I’d love for you to move in. I don’t really have anyone to talk to at home either. But what about your apartment here?"
"I’ll sell it."
Chloe Marshall’s face lit up. "Let’s go, Nora! Hop on, bring your bags, and let’s go home!"
The sun had not yet risen, and the morning air was hazy. The motorcycle carried Nora forward, toward a place of warmth that promised to banish her solitude.
The motorcycle pulled up to Chloe Marshall’s house.
Her home was a single-story house they had built themselves, with four main rooms, a separate kitchen, and a tidy little yard.
The layout was simple: a living room, a bedroom for her father, one for her brother, and one for herself. Nora followed Chloe into her bedroom. It wasn’t large, but it was incredibly neat and tidy, with a welcoming, cozy feel.
The bed was large, a comfortable-looking spring mattress.
Chloe Marshall cleared out a wardrobe. "Nora, you can put your clothes in here. I’ll go get you a fresh comforter."
Nora looked around the room and, for reasons she couldn’t explain, a sense of peace settled over her.
She sat on the edge of the bed, patting the mattress. She lay back, looked up at the ceiling, and asked, "Chloe, how much should I pay you for rent each month?"
Chloe Marshall put down a glass and said urgently, "Nora, what are you talking about? I was just bummed that I have no one to talk to. We’ll be company for each other. Don’t bring up money again. I honestly see you as my own sister. I don’t really have friends, and I consider you my friend."
Nora nodded. "I feel the same way. Alright, I’ll be your freeloader, then."
Only then did Chloe Marshall smile and nod. "Stay as long as you want. Nora, you just wait here, I’m going to make breakfast. My dad has to head to the construction site soon, and my little brother will be home from his morning study session."
Nora stood up. "Chloe, let me help."
"No, it’s fine. You just sit here and wait."
Nora tied on an apron. "There’s no way I’m eating for free and not lifting a finger. From now on, I’ll cover the cost of groceries. Your family is my family now."
Chloe Marshall’s smile was exceptionally bright. "Okay."
Working together made the task feel effortless. Before long, they had prepared a full breakfast and set it on the table.
When Chloe Marshall’s father saw a stranger in the house, he asked, "Chloe, who’s this?"
Chloe Marshall replied, "Dad, this is Nora, my best friend. She’s going to live here and keep me company."
Mr. Marshall had the look of a cheerful, simple farmer. He smiled, his expression kind. "Good, good. Now you’ll have someone to talk to."
The three of them sat at the table, eating the steaming breakfast. ’Having a family feels so nice,’ Nora thought. She took the initiative to place some food on Mr. Marshall’s plate. "Sir, your work must be very tiring. You should eat more."
Mr. Marshall sighed. "Tired or not, it’s all for the kids. Chloe’s mom died young, and Chloe had to drop out of school early on. This family’s been a burden on her."
Hearing this, Nora offered some comfort. "Chloe is a kind and wonderful girl. I’m sure she doesn’t see it as a burden. I don’t have a mom or dad... I’m all by myself. Sometimes I think how happy I’d be if I had a family."
"Well, from now on, just think of this as your home. I’m not a man of any great means, but you’re welcome to stay in this humble house of ours anytime."
"Okay. Thank you, sir."
Just as they were finishing up, they heard footsteps outside the door.
Chloe Marshall immediately said, "My brother’s back."
As she finished speaking, a boy appeared in the doorway. He had dyed-blond hair, was dressed all in black, and had an earring in his left ear. He was very handsome, with a cool demeanor that immediately suggested he wasn’t the studious type.
"Zeke, hurry up and eat," Chloe Marshall said immediately.
His eyes fell on Nora Ainsworth, and he froze for a second. "Sis, who’s this?"
Chloe Marshall smiled and introduced her. "This is Nora."
A smile touched the corner of Zeke Marshall’s lips. "Hey, Nora."
Nora nodded. "Hi. You’re tall. How old are you?"
Chloe Marshall answered, "Nineteen. All brawn and no brains. He doesn’t apply himself in his studies. At school, his strong suits are fighting and skipping class."
Zeke Marshall seemed very unhappy with his sister’s assessment. He frowned. "Sis, don’t I have any good qualities?"
"You do," Chloe Marshall chuckled. "Of course you do. Isn’t charming pretty girls one of your strengths?"
Zeke said as he ate, "Sis, you should be happy. If I bring home a wife for free, then you and Dad won’t have to worry about me getting married later."
Nora agreed. "Chloe, Zeke has a point."
"Sis, I don’t want to be in school anymore," Zeke said. "I didn’t get into any colleges last year, so I repeated my senior year, but my grades are barely any better."
Chloe Marshall could only say, "Talk to Dad about it."
Mr. Marshall put down his bowl. "Whether you continue school or not is your decision. Just think it through so you don’t have any regrets. Your sister and I have done all we can."
Hearing that, he said excitedly, "I won’t regret it! I’ll go to school later and pack up my stuff."
Chloe Marshall asked him seriously, "If you’re not going to school, what do you plan to do?"
Zeke Marshall said earnestly, "I want to get a job as an assistant, just like you, Sis."
Chloe couldn’t help but shoot him down. "I only landed that job as Ethan Ellsworth’s gofer by a total fluke. Where do you expect to find work as a celebrity’s assistant? The big stars have really high standards these days. Who’s going to hire you?"
