Chapter 445 445

"Oh, thank god," Chloe let out a relieved sigh. "I was so worried that you won't like it. Since Diamond said that you're a picky eater."

'Diamond's right. This is fucking disgusting,' Vernon wanted to curse at whoever cooked the lamb shanks because it felt like he was chewing a rubber dipped in soy sauce.

'How could an amazing cook like Chloe have a terrible taste at picking restaurants?!' Vernon wondered. 'Surely, she knows what tastes good and what not, right?'

"This is the restaurant Mackie and I often visited because it's directly beside the usual grocery store I go to," Chloe said. "I thought if I should order it somewhere else, but you know—" Chloe lowered her head and whispered in Vernon's ear so Mackie wouldn't hear what she was about to say next, 'Vincent had always tracked my spending. It took me a while until he allowed me to eat in a restaurant with my daughter. So I can't find you another restaurant because I've never ventured somewhere else. I know that you don't like it, don't force yourself, Vernon. I'll try to cook something.'

Vernon listened to Chloe's story, and his hand that clenched the fork trembled out of anger until he accidentally bent the fork in half.

He took a deep breath and then picked another fork, and nodded. He ate the lamb shanks despite the food being so gross in Vernon's mouth.

"V—Vernon?"

"This is tasty," Vernon insisted as he kept chewing. "Anything that comes from you is tasty. So you don't need to beat yourself over this."

Chloe was speechless by Vernon's dedication. She was just telling the truth. She could read Vernon's expression easily and knew that Vernon must've disliked this food a lot, so she tried to make it less awkward by whispering instead.

Who would've expected that Vernon would eat the lamb shanks even faster?

Vernon had to admit that the taste didn't get any better, but he didn't want to make Chloe feel bad, so he finished and burped a little after dinner.

"It's good," Vernon smiled. "But I'd prefer to be the one who cooks dinner while you're still recovering, got it?"

"G—Got it…." Chloe nodded. Her cheeks reddened, feeling ashamed to see Vernon had to eat something he disliked.

Vernon got up and whispered in Chloe's ear, 'I have something important to talk about with you. Meet me after nine, alright? Make sure that Mackie is already asleep before you meet me.'

Chloe's reddish cheek turned even redder after listening to Vernon's invitation. She didn't know what kind of 'conversation' they would be having. Nevertheless, she wouldn't lie that she felt excitement in her heart.

"O—Okay…" Chloe mumbled and nodded bashfully.

Mackie watched her Mommy and Uncle whispering at each other, and Mommy's face getting redder each time.

Thus she pointed, "Uncle, you make my Mommy's face so red! You're bad!"

Vernon laughed as he swaggered out of the kitchen and went inside his bedroom.

Mackie continued pestering as she got worried, "Mommy, are you alright? Are you going to explode? Your face is soooo red now, like a tomato!"

"N—No, Mommy won't explode," Chloe cleared. 'I'd probably explode tonight though, depending on what he'd do next….'

**

Chloe continued staying by her daughter's side to make her sleep faster. And after she made sure that Mackie was asleep, she tiptoed and walked out of the bedroom.

Chloe let out a relieved breath. She didn't know why she acted like a teenage girl about to sneak out of the house to find her boyfriend. But she felt extra sneaky today.

She often beat herself, saying that it was inappropriate for an old lady like her to think of something sexual to a much younger man.

But she couldn't help it.

Ever since Vernon touched her body a few times, she realized that she shouldn't be feeling gross when being touched.

That sex should be a feeling of being wanted, not an obligation she had to do, or else she'd get beaten or insulted for being a useless wife.

So she had been secretly wishing for Vernon to do more… though she didn't dare to say it out loud, it was too embarrassing.

Chloe passed the mirror as she walked through the corridor. She halted and took a step back to check on herself in the mirror.

Like a girl about to meet her handsome boyfriend, she combed her long-wavy chestnut hair with her fingers and tried to make a few expressions to loosen herself.

Her heart was beating so fast right now. She was afraid she'd look too awkward in front of Vernon.

"Cute."

Chloe turned her head right when she heard a man's voice near the staircases. She saw Vernon standing in his night robe, watching her amusedly. He leaned on the wall and crossed his arms, "Go on, I'd love to see you making another cute face. It's entertaining."

Chloe gasped and quickly lowered her head, "W—Why are you here?!"

"Uh, because this is my apartment?" Vernon shrugged. He swaggered towards Chloe and stood beside her. He wrapped his hand around her waist. "I got a little tired waiting, so I came to pick you up instead. Is that wrong?"

"N—Not wrong at all, but… it's embarrassing…."

"Why? Because I saw you making funny faces?" Vernon chuckled and lowered his head to kiss Chloe's cheek. "You're cute, and I like that you are starting to loosen up around me."

"Now let's go up, I have something important to talk about with you."

Chloe nodded shyly. She had a lot of expectations tonight, but truthfully, spending time with Vernon was something she had come to like. It was honestly pleasing when they were just sitting in the living room, staring at each other or watching random TV shows.

'Strange. I've never experienced this kind of craving in my life,' Chloe pondered. 'His absence makes me anxious, and each time we meet and spend time, I only crave for more, even though we live together.'