Chapter 433 433

"Do you still love him?" Vernon blurted out the question that had been staying in his mind.

Chloe stopped munching her tacos and swallowed them hardly. She went silent for a while and then turned her head at the window, staring at the fluorescent lights in a daze.

The perfect atmosphere was shattered instantly, and Vernon continuously cursed himself for being so stupid by asking a stupid question.

'Fucking idiot! Why are you asking that?' Vernon blamed himself. 'Are you even ready for the answer? What if she says that she's still in love with Vincent? You'll only hurt yourself, dumbass!'

Vernon always wondered what'd he do if Chloe was still in love with that bastard. He might say it was alright, and Chloe would eventually move on from him.

But deep down, he knew he'd be hurt.

Because by confirming that Chloe was still in love with Vincent, Vernon had become the second choice, and no man wanted to be the second choice for the woman he loved.

He wanted to be the one and only, and he'd even take drastic measures to ensure he had no competition.

'Even if that means I have to cut his head….'

Dark thoughts started swirling in his head as his insecurity grew worse. He had fantasized about ruining his Big brother's life for a long time.

He just didn't have the exact motivation at first.

But now, with the love of his life on the line, he would hesitate no more.

Vernon continued driving through the city aimlessly. He was still waiting for Chloe to open her mouth since she seemed engrossed with the question.

As if she was also conflicted about the answer she'd give, and that only gave Vernon even more anxiety.

"Chloe," Vernon called her name to check if she was still with him.

"Mmm…" Chloe responded, signaling Vernon that she was still thinking about it. "I don't know, Vernon…."

Vernon's heart dropped when he heard that. He clenched the steering wheel, trying so hard not to give in to his anger, or they might crash this car somewhere.

He took a silent deep breath and asked, "And why so? I thought after experiencing all the abuse from him the answer would be very clear."

"Do you still want to stay with him? Even after all he did to you?" Vernon got agitated with the scenario playing in his head. He imagined Chloe returning to Vincent after all this, leaving Vernon alone and stranded in this world.

Vernon thought he could live his life without the woman he loved. After all, he became a successful young CEO when Chloe was absent from his life.

But now that he had tasted the sweetness, he refused to let it go, even if it'd hurt him.

"Let me tell you, Chloe. You will not live a happy life with him! He will not change for you, he's just using you to fulfill his fetish! Do you really want to get back to him?" Vernon started raising his voice while Chloe went silent the whole time.

Vernon translated Chloe's silence as an affirmation that she still wanted to return to Vincent.

Vernon clenched his jaw so hard that the veins around his neck started popping, "You're unbelievable. Why would you return to that bastard?! Do you lack something with me? Just tell me, I will give it to you!"

"Vernon—" Chloe gently placed her palm on top of Vernon's hand on the gear stick. "Lower your voice, Mackie is sleeping in the backseat."

Vernon's chest heaved up and down, and Chloe's hand was cold— a stark contradiction from his always hot hand.

Her voice was also gentle, like a soft feather tickling his heart.

Usually, Vernon would soften when Chloe acted so gently toward him.

But not now.

He was so worried that Chloe would eventually leave him. His mind was chaotic, and so did his heart.

"I just don't understand," Vernon said. His voice was hoarse and trembling as if the big guy would cry anytime soon. "Why would you leave me for him? Did I hurt you somehow? Just tell me what I did wrong, and we can work it together…."

Chloe sighed and patted Vernon's head gently before lifting her butt a little. She gave Vernon's jaw a quick kiss, so quick that Vernon was left stunned.

"Why—"

"You're such a worrywart," Chloe commented. She smiled at Vernon and continued caressing his hand with hers. "I never said that I want to get back together with him. That will never happen."

Vernon gradually cooled down after Chloe confirmed that, at least, she would never return to Vincent.

Though it still left him confused, "Then what's with the silence? Just say that you don't love him anymore, isn't that easy?"

"It's not easy," she stopped caressing Vernon's hand and looked away toward the window for the second time.

She leaned deeper in her seat and let out another sigh, "I never said I want to return, nor do I want to give him a second chance. He already got countless 'second chances' for the past ten years," Chloe said. "I was just unsure of my own feelings."

"Unsure?"

"Mhm, you see… I've been with him for the past ten years. I really thought I could endure all of his horrible treatment as long as I can raise my daughter."

"But the more I tolerate him, the more he starts testing boundaries," Chloe recalled the first time Vincent cheated on her. It wasn't when she was pregnant, actually. It was during their honeymoon in Greece.

They were newlyweds, and they were supposed to be in love.

"I caught him kissing one of the resort staff during our honeymoon. He kissed her in our hotel room, and I was shocked when I saw that."

"The staff left immediately, while Vincent simply scratched his head and apologized half-heartedly," Chloe said. "I was heartbroken, we were newlyweds and not even two months of our wedding vows, he was already kissing another woman."