Vernon could finally take a relieved breath after he left Vincent's mansion. He really thought that his Big Brother would call all the security guards to surround him and trap him inside the mansion so his Big bro could get instant revenge on him.

He was confident with his fighting skill. After all, he practiced kickboxing for years as self-defense. But he didn't know how many men would surround him. Logically speaking, it would be difficult for him to fight ten men at once.

Fortunately, it seemed that his Big bro didn't want that instant revenge.

Vernon entered his car and drove out of the mansion. His mind floated as he wondered what his Big bro would do next.

"He is definitely planning something nefarious on me," Vernon murmured while his eyes were on the road. "I mean, it's obvious after what I did to him. But I just can't control myself to fight back once I realize that he is going to treat me like his dog, just like what he did to me when I was young."

Vernon still remembered his younger days, when his Big bro truly treated him like a pet that would be given treats as long as Vernon did a trick. He even told Vernon to bark like a real dog in exchange for some of Vincent's time to play, just because Vernon was so starved of attention back then. 

Vernon gripped the steering wheel tighter, his eyes peering at the road in front of him, "I am done playing dog with him. I don't care what he will do next. I am ready to take anything from him," Vernon claimed boldly. "After all, we're on equal terms now, he just hasn't realized it yet."

"I can even go public with Chloe right now. But I know that wouldn't give Chloe the true security she deserves," Vernon murmured. He was thinking about Chloe again. His heart was aching whenever he remembered all the abuses Chloe had endured under Vincent's hand. It made him want to return to the mansion and finish his Big Bro for real. "I swear he will suffer for all the things he did to my woman."

**

Diamond was done with the work today. She had already met with the landlord and already told some of Vernon's men to start filling the room with furniture to make it more believable that Chloe was living there. 

She planned to return home after she was done with work, but she missed her homegirl so much. It had been a while since the last time they met. Her boss didn't allow Chloe to come to the office anymore because she might get recognized, so he always bought his lunch, or Chloe would ask the bodyguard to send the food to the office.

"I'll visit her now, maybe I can help her with something," Diamond said. Instead of turning to the left, she went straight because she intended to visit Chloe. "Hmm, do I need to call her, or should I just make it a surprise visit?"

Diamond was thinking for a moment before shrugging, "Oh well, I'll just give her a surprise visit. I bet she'll be happy with me around."

Diamond parked her car in the basement of the Phoenix Tower. She headed straight to the penthouse and knocked on the door.

Knock. Knock!

"Homegirl, it's me!" Diamond yelled to make sure that Chloe heard her. 

The door was opened not long after, and Chloe was greeted by the sight of Chloe wearing a pink apron. She smiled cheerfully as she hugged Diamond, but Diamond could see the exhaustion in her eyes.

"It's been a while, Diamond!" Chloe said. 

"Yup, I've been missing you a lot! What are you doing anyway? Baking something?" Diamond guessed as she sniffed a sweet scent coming from the kitchen.

"Mhm, I'm baking a cake for the kids," Chloe said. She looked tired as she mentioned to the kids, "Actually, can you help me with something, Diamond?" 

"Sure, what is it?"

"Can you accompany my daughter in her room? She's been sulking all day because I don't have time for her," Chloe said. "As you see, I'm still baking cakes for her and the other boys to improve their moods, but Mackie kept on sulking, demanding me to accompany her play."

"Why don't you just bring her to those boys? I thought you said that Mackie is very close to her cousins," Diamond suggested.

"Yes, but I can't do that right now. The boys are still in shock after what happened last night, and I don't want Mackie to find out about the evil thing that Chelsea did," Chloe explained. She remembered Aaron again and all the things he had to go through. "One child already suffered from PTSD, and I'm sure he needs to be professionally treated by a child psychologist. I don't want Mackie to be in too much shock in case one of the boys told her about the truth."

Diamond sighed. Her homegirl hadn't changed at all.

She was still the same woman who'd hide things from her daughter. Though it was done with good intentions, it would create a misunderstanding that might damage Mackie in the long run.

But Diamond fully understood that Chloe was right.

Mackie should not know about the news yet, especially not from the boys. Because the boys might say something that was absolutely horrifying because they recalled past trauma, and it could damage Mackie too.

"How about I bake and you talk to her instead?" Diamond offered.

Chloe shook her head, "Mackie is still upset with me, you should go and talk to her, really."

"Mhm, alright then, but don't expect much from me. I'm not a mother yet," Diamond said. Chloe smiled and nodded. She gave way for Diamond to go downstairs to meet Chloe.

Diamond stood in front of Mackie's room, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door a few times.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"I'm not opening it unless you're playing with me, Mommy," Mackie sulked inside.

"It's Diamond. I'm here to accompany you instead."