97 Chapter 97
'Wait, why am I still thinking about it? I told myself not to fall in love twice,' Chloe snapped out of her crazy idea. She told herself to wake up because she didn't live in a novel.
There was no young CEO with a powerful background that wanted her. It was all nothing but a fairy tale. So she had to wake up and face reality.
Chloe checked at Vernon, who was irritated, ready to lash out for the second time.
So she quickly took preventive measures;
"I—I never said I like them…." Chloe replied. "They approached me when I was preparing your lunch. I tried to push them away, but they… they keep pestering me until one of them wanted to touch me."
"Then what's with the fuss? I beat them, maybe broke a rib or two. They can go to the hospital for as long as possible since I've fired them," Vernon replied.
Vernon scanned Chloe from head to toe and started scolding her;
"You're an idiot, sister-in-law. You can scream sooner, so I'll be notified much faster! Do you not realize how pathetic you look? You're cowering like a rat in front of those two bastards! Shit, thinking about it makes my blood boil!"
"A—Are you angry because they're trying to touch me?" Chloe asked with hesitation. Based on Vernon's character, he shouldn't be mad when someone touches her. Since he did the same to her, just with payment.
Or so she thought…
"What the—" Vernon's eyes widened for a millisecond before he looked even madder than before. "I don't fucking care about you! I'm just pissed because you're like acting like a cornered rat! That's why I vent out my irritation by beating the shit out of those two!"
…
'That doesn't make sense…' Chloe started pondering. 'If he is pissed off with me, why would he beat someone else?'
Chloe had this image that Vernon wouldn't be someone who hesitated to beat a man or woman as long as he could vent out his anger. So him not unleashing his rage towards Chloe was a little out of his character.
Vernon sensed that Chloe doubted his reason, so he added, "Don't think too much about it, sister-in-law. I don't give a damn about you. I bought you with money, and that's all it will be."
"I understand," Chloe replied curtly, sensing nothing was wrong with his statement.
Again, Vernon should be happy that Chloe knew his place. But he was displeased, "And why are you asking me not to beat them out? Shouldn't you be thankful instead?"
"Ah— of course, I'm thankful!" Chloe nodded seriously. "But I don't want you to get sued. You've helped me more than enough. I don't want to be your burden…."
Vernon went silent instantly. He was ready to yell at her again, but his inflating rage popped and disappeared like it never happened in the first place. He slumped on the executive chair and looked away;
"Ridiculous, you're underestimating me, sister-in-law," Vernon said. "I am much more capable of taking care of you and your daughter. Let alone handling two nobodies who want to sue me. The only thing they would get is jail time. Law is for the rich to play with."
'I know that one…' Chloe thought. 'It's also why I can't process my divorce paper with Vincent. Because without Vincent's agreement, he could just twist the law until the judge would declare me as the wrong party during our divorce court.'
Chloe knew that she was always under the grasp of Vincent. No matter where she goes.
She could live alone in the middle of nowhere as long as he could get away from him. But she didn't want to give her daughter to Vincent. That bastard will only corrupt her beloved daughter.'
"That's relieving. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me," Chloe said softly. Vincent always told her that she was a burden. A woman was always a burden for that guy, especially when she was fat, ugly, and undesirable.
Vernon might also think the same of her. That was why she tried hard not to be a burden more than she was an eyesore.
"Y—You're a promising man. You have a lot of things ahead of you. A setback like getting sued is not good," Chloe said anxiously.
Vernon stared at Chloe, trying to sense her true intention. He knew that his sister-in-law was a snake. She acted like she cared for him, but all she truly cared about was money.
It was the true nature that Chloe showed to him when he was young. She was willing to play a long game if she got the money she wanted.
Yet, Vernon wouldn't lie that Chloe's acting was top-notch. It almost convinced him.
Vernon turned around, so he wouldn't have to see her face, "Stop acting like you're some kind of pure maiden. I have no problem dealing with them, and I also have no problem with the law. Leave me alone now. You're irritating me."
Chloe was a little sad that Vernon called her irritating. But it was given, knowing she was just a placeholder for the woman in his heart.
"Okay, thank you, Vernon. Can I return to our home instead?" Chloe asked, then she realized her mistake and quickly fixed her question, "I—I mean, can I return to your apartment instead? I haven't cleaned your bedroom…."
"… You can do whatever."
Chloe thanked him once more before leaving Vernon's office.
Vernon was alone now, sitting in a daze as he clenched the armrest.
"That woman, she is dangerous," Vernon murmured. "She really knows how to play. No wonder my big brother got hooked until he married her."
Vernon wouldn't lie that he got swayed by his sister-in-law's words. Even if he knew that Chloe was a venomous snake, he felt his heart beating faster when she acted caring and attentive towards him.
Vernon took a deep breath and warned himself, "Pull yourself together, Vernon! That woman is just a pawn for your plan! She will seduce anyone remotely rich for money!"