205 Chapter 205

"AW!" Chloe shrieked in pain when her bruise was touched.

"Eh—Ah, what happened to your forehead, homegirl?!" Diamond asked out of surprise.

Chloe separated herself from the hug and shook her head, "N—Nothing, it's nothing."

"Girl…" Diamond took a good look at Chloe's face and found out that Chloe had obvious eyebags and an overall haggard face.

She remembered that Mr. Phoenix Gray said that Chloe fell face first when she tried to break free from Vernon. If Diamond's guess was correct, Chloe's forehead might have been bruised badly, 'And she used foundie and concealer to cover the big purple bruise on her forehead until it looks cakey only around that part.'

…

"Girl, did something happen last night?" Diamond asked. "You look pretty haggard…."

Chloe forced a smile and shook her head, "It's fine, Diamond. Nothing's wrong. I was just a little sick, but I'm all better now."

Of course, Diamond knew that was an obvious lie. But she was sensible enough not to inquire more about what happened to her homegirl, knowing it was a sensitive topic that involved her trauma.

"Just let me know if you need anything, and what I mean anything is ANYTHING, okay?" Diamond assured Chloe that she wanted Chloe to know that she would always be there to help her.

"Diamond, you're so kind to me, I don't know how to pay you back…." Chloe smiled thin, feeling guilty because Diamond was the only one who was genuinely concerned for her.

"Girl— you can pay me by being happy, seriously," Diamond said sincerely.

"Haha, I'm already quite happy when I'm talking with you, Diamond," Chloe smiled. "I will bake you a cake later, as a sign of thanks from me."

"Girl— Well, I heard that you're a great cook, since that guy inside the office likes your food so much, so I wouldn't say no to that."

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"Haha! Sure, sure, I will bake one for you. I haven't baked a cake for Vernon yet, so you'll be the first one to taste!"

"Oh! Dang, girl— I will take a picture of that cake and send it to him just to make him jealous, hahahaha!"

Diamond and Chloe laughed freely until the laughs gradually dissipated, and Chloe's mood turned grim again.

"Anyway, he told me to come here, I'll have to face him…." Chloe said.

Diamond noticed the nervousness and fear in Chloe's eyes, and she patted her shoulder, "It will be alright, trust me."

Chloe nodded once, trying to act normal in front of Diamond before she had to face Vernon.

Chloe put the lunch bag on Diamond's desk and knocked on Vernon's office door three times before entering.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Click.

Chloe pushed the door open and saw Vernon sitting on the sofa. He was staring at the door, and their eyes automatically met once the door was open.

Chloe and Vernon were surprised at each other's gaze, and their heartbeats were racing simultaneously, but for a different reason.

Vernon's heartbeat accelerated because of shyness.

While Chloe's heartbeat accelerated because of fear.

"C—Come in, Chloe," Vernon instructed.

Chloe walked in. Her legs were trembling because she was scared, but she continued thinking about her daughter. She was the only source of strength for her.

'I did everything for Mackie, I did everything so she would have a good life despite not being with Vincent,' Chloe chanted in her head.

She stood in front of Vernon, but with her head lowered. She dared not stare at Vernon because she couldn't face him after what had happened last night.

Vernon noticed her reluctance. She even stood so far from Vernon that it was closer for her to run towards the door than towards him.

His heart cooled down. He really hated this kind of reaction from Chloe because he wasn't even trying to do anything to hurt her.

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But Vernon tried to keep his calm.

He knew that Chloe was nervous and scared. So he planned to follow Diamond's advice by acting gentle and trying not to intimidate her.

"Come here."

"W—What do you want, Vernon?" Chloe asked carefully.

'',

"Just come here first, I want to tell you something about last night," Vernon instructed, and Chloe took only a small step forward.

Vernon clenched his fist, trying not to show his displeasure, "A little closer."

Again, Chloe only took a small step forward reluctantly. Vernon repeated his instruction four more times and was met with the same small reluctant step.

"GODDAMN, YOU'RE TESTING MY PATIENCE!" Vernon finally lost his composure.

He got up from the sofa, and with his long legs, he easily took a big step forward and caught the woman who had been trying to avoid him the whole morning,

He gripped Chloe's wrist firmly, but he didn't gauge the difference in their strength. He accidentally gripped Chloe's wrist too hard and hurt her.

"AH!" Chloe screamed in pain, and Vernon instantly snapped out of his short rage.

He loosened his grip on her wrist but held her hand to ensure she didn't escape like last night.

Vernon saw his Big sis Chloe was on the verge of crying, and tears were already welling in her eyes.

"S—Sorry, I… I didn't mean to…." Vernon quickly apologized, but he knew that wasn't enough. He literally shouted at her a few seconds ago.

He knew he had scared her, so he followed what Diamond told him to do.

Vernon gulped. This was the first time he would do this.

'It's okay, Vernon, you did this because you want her to open up,' Vernon assured himself in his heart.

Slowly, Vernon lowered his body and kneeled in front of Chloe. He looked up and saw that Chloe was shocked by his sudden action.

"W—What are you doing, Vernon?"

'Well, I don't know, but Diamond said lowering myself in front of you will make you fear me less!' Vernon complained in his heart as he found this a very cringy thing to do, but it was better than not trying at all.