293 Chapter 293

"She's right…." Vernon murmured. "I seriously have no idea what I did wrong. But what should I do if she refuses to tell me? How can I correct myself?"

Vernon slowly put his palm on top of his chest and grasped it as he endured the pain.

He was experiencing the familiar heartache that he hated so much.

Usually, whenever he felt this heartache attacking him on an almost weekly basis, he would spend his time getting drunk and fucking his then-girlfriends.

But he couldn't do that now, and he didn't know how to ignore the pain without the use of alcohol.

He gritted his teeth while staring at the lunch served by Chloe. Knowing this was made by the woman he loved, he decided to grab the spoon and started digging.

First bite and his gaze got blurry again. He started tearing up and desperately tried to rub his eyes to ensure he didn't cry.

But he was heartbroken, like a child that had been scolded and reprimanded. He could only sob while eating his lunch.

"Ugh, so pathetic! Stop tearing up, Vernon!" Vernon yelled at himself for crying over a woman. But no matter how often he tried to man up, his eyes would eventually pool with tears again.

He had accidentally triggered his own fear. That one fear that could make a heartless devil like Vernon cry.

To be reprimanded, scolded, and yelled at by his Big sis Chloe. As if she saw him as a failure and disappointment.

Sob. Sob.

"Why can't you tell me my mistakes, so I can apologize, Chloe…." Vernon murmured. He was tearing up while eating his lunch, to the point that he tasted the saltiness of his tears inside the food.

'ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NovelB(i)n. ᴄᴏᴍ',

"Pathetic, don't cry, Vernon. Why are you crying just because a woman yelled at you?" Vernon continued cursing himself for being weak. "Aren't you the one who broke many women's hearts in the past?"

Sob. Sob.

"Y—Yeah, that's true. I am a man. I'm a playboy that breaks many women's hearts! I shouldn't be crying like a bitch!" Vernon chanted to strengthen himself.

But it didn't seem to be effective…

…

…

'.',

Sob. Sob.

Vernon finished his lunch. He cleaned everything and was currently drinking the banana milk from the straw. He slumped on the sofa, staring at the ceiling emptily.

He had calmed down after a while. But the guilt was still eating him up inside.

He wanted to apologize to Chloe, even if he didn't know what he had done wrong.

"Maybe I should ask Diamond how to apologize properly," Vernon thought. "I'm gonna buy her a lot of expensive gifts as a compensation, hopefully she'll like it."

Vernon finished his banana milk and checked his phone. He was about to text one of his friends who was directly connected with many expensive fashion brands' executives.

But he suddenly got a new text from someone he despised so much.

—

From: Shailene

I'm free this evening.

Do you want to go on another therapy session?

—

Vernon was staring at his phone screen for a while.

If this was a regular situation, he would just scoff or ridicule her for being so shameless.

She was slandering Chloe, insulting her by calling her a pedophile and accusing her of manipulating him since he was a kid.

She knew NOTHING about Chloe and was very unprofessional the whole time.

Vernon wanted to refuse, but she needed someone to talk to.

While Vernon was still deciding on whether he should go to Shailene or not. He got another text from her.

p —

From: Shailene

I will apologize for what I said yesterday.

I may have been a bit too rash in my judgment, so I will give you another therapy session, and this time, I promise I won't judge her.

—

…

'Maybe it's worth giving another shot,' Vernon thought. 'She promises not to slander Chloe. So it should be alright.'

Vernon didn't give a shit if Shailene called him out or insulted him. Because honestly, he was involved in a big part of her love trauma.

'',

He was such an asshole, and he admitted that.

But that didn't give her the right to insult his loved one.

Vernon took another minute to consider whether it was worth it to meet Shailene right now.

But he didn't want to talk to another psychologist and had to go through the process of opening up again.

Because truly, he really disliked the feeling of vulnerability.

Thus, Vernon texted;

'The latest_epi_sodes are on_the Nov elB i n website.',

—

To: Shailene

After dusk, around seven. I will be there.

—

Vernon sent the text.

He was thinking about contacting his friend who could net him a lot of limited edition branded fashion items, such as bags, shoes, dresses, et cetera.

He wanted to buy it all for Chloe.

But now he hesitated. He was afraid to make another wrong step. He didn't want to unknowingly hurt Chloe even more…

"Alright, I'll buy those stuff after I talk with Shailene. Maybe she will give me good advice, though I doubt that….'

Vernon went to the bathroom to wash his face and washed all the traces of tears. He might have had a moment of vulnerability just now, but he absolutely refused to show that kind of tears to anyone. Not even Chloe was allowed to see him cry.

Because he had pride as a man. And as a man, to show your weak side in front of the woman you loved was the worst thing you could do.

"I want her to see me as a powerful and rich man, worthy of her love. So better not show that kind of tears in front of her," Vernon reminded himself in the mirror.

Vernon fixed his hair and tie and stood straight. He had another meeting soon. So, he returned to his imposing self.

He was ready to face his business partner. He went out with his chest puffed out proudly, showing the world that he was the intimidating Vernon Phoenix Gray, the devil CEO you shouldn't mess with.