Asher was speechless.
Since Michael saw Lucy’s true colors, he had become a devoted husband.
Every day, he was either with his wife or on his way to find her.
Asher thought he should join Owen in hiring an exorcist.
Chloe arrived at the hospital and saw the nurses and the attending doctor, who regularly took care of Wendy, bustling around.
She was nervous.
“Ms. Nelson, you’re finally here. When I did rounds today, I found your mother missing. She only left this on the table.”
The nurse handed a letter to Chloe as she spoke.
Chloe opened it and the contents immediately brought her to tears.
Wendy knew!
She knew everything.
From her taking the six hundred million from Admas to her agreement marriage with Michael, to Michael having no feelings for her and always planning to divorce. She knew all these things.
[Chloe, I always thought you found your happiness, unlike me back then. But I didn’t realize I had always been your burden.]
[If it weren’t for me, you should have had a better life. You shouldn’t be trapped by the Shawn family, not bullied by them.]
[Chloe, I’m leaving. I’ve dragged you down for so many years. It’s time to give you freedom. Once mom is gone, you can do whatever you want. Chloe, it’s all my fault. I’m useless.] Chloe was already sobbing uncontrollably. She was clutching the letter, noticing the shaky handwriting.
There were also dried tear stains.
Wendy must have been in great pain while writing this letter.
“Go, go check the surveillance. Take me to the control room!”
Chloe clenched the letter and shouted at the nurse.
“Ms. Nelson, the surveillance cameras broke last night. The repair crew is still fixing it.”
It broke last night, and today Wendy had an incident.
Chloe knew that.
All of this felt like a huge conspiracy.
Without surveillance cameras, Chloe could only search on her own.
But the hospital was enormous, she had no idea where to start.
When Michael arrived, he ran into Chloe who was coming downstairs.
Seeing her disheveled hair and tear-streaked face, he also felt his breath catch.
“Chloe, what happened?”
“My mom! My mom found out about my deal with the Shawn family. She’s gone. She said she’s leaving!” Chloe cried as she spoke. Since the surveillance cameras were broken, she had to search floor by floor.
She had to find her.cháPtéRSFLOW.COM owns © this.
“Chloe, don’t worry. I’ll help you search!”
Michael made a call and his assistant sent people over to help search.
The entire hospital was filled with people in black suits.
But despite searching all the floors, Chloe still couldn’t find any trace of Wendy.
She collapsed again, kneeling in Wendy’s previous ward. Her face was full of despair.
“Mom, don’t leave me…”
Wendy was all she had!
“Mr. Shawn, we’ve searched everywhere. There’s no sign of her.”
The people Michael had called stood respectfully behind him. Their voices were full of helplessness. “Keep searching!”
The nurse was also standing beside Chloe at this point.
“Ms. Nelson, she can’t leave without a doctor’s order. Your mother must still be in the hospital.”
Chloe was in a daze.
She was still in the hospital, but they had searched everywhere and found nothing.
“Ms. Nelson, think if there’s any place we missed. I’ll have the hospital staff help search too.”
Any place?
What other place could there be?
Chloe closed her eyes in pain, trying to recall if there was any place she had missed.
Suddenly, she thought of something and stood up abruptly. She pushed the people behind her and ran outside.
Worried about her, Michael, immediately chased over.
Chloe ran all the way to the morgue.
This was the only place she hadn’t searched.
Doctors and nurses caught up, hesitating at the doorway.
“Ms. Nelson, here… might not be the place?”
But Chloe’s eyes were determined. “This is the only place I haven’t looked over.”
The hospital was big. She and Michael’s bodyguards combed through every inch, yet this was the sole location they had not yet explored.
They probably thought it was ominous and hence hadn’t considered it initially.
But now Chloe had no other choice but to place all hope here.
The doctors and nurses exchanged glances and finally approached to open the door.
However, due to its nature, only staff could enter. Chloe and Michael could only wait outside.
The morgue door opened, and soon the lights inside turned on.
In an instant, Chloe heard a scream from within.
Her legs gave out, completely drained of strength.
Michael held her tenderly, carrying her away from the morgue door.
Chloe cried hoarsely, refusing to leave.
She wanted to go inside, to see what had happened to her mother.
But the nurses and doctors wouldn’t allow it.
They held off until Wendy’s body was presented and ready, prior to allowing her to check it out.
Wendy was lying pale on the cold bed by then.
Chloe lifted the white sheet, breaking down again at the sight of Wendy’s closed eyes.
She knelt by the bed, her voice ragged. “Mom, it’s Chloe. Please wake up, open your eyes and look at me. I’ve cried so much, my eyes are swollen. Mom, please look at me!” Wendy had always been the one who loved her the most. When she was little and shed a tear, Wendy would always come to comfort her.
But now, there would be no one to comfort her again.
No one to buy her snacks when she cried.
“Chloe…”
Michael wanted to comfort her, but all he could do was hold her close at this moment.
The only thing he could do was stay by her side, not letting her face this alone.
Wendy had died from cutting her wrist.
She used a nail clipper, slowly cutting open her wrist and veins.
The nurse screamed when she entered the morgue because blood covered the floor.
The stark white light made it all the more eerie.
Wendy chose the morgue because she didn’t want to be a bother to anyone.
She thought everyone ended up in the morgue after death, so she went in first to save the hospital trouble.
She didn’t want to trouble Chloe one last time after death.
She wanted to leave quietly, to make it easier for her daughter.
Wendy was quickly cremated. Chloe remained dazed, but managed to select a burial plot.
It rained heavily on the day of the funeral.
Chloe stared at the raindrops outside, her mood as bleak as the weather.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
Admas approached her with a cane, patting her shoulder. “Chloe, my condolences…”
Chloe’s eyelashes trembled, but she didn’t speak.
Candy, Quinn, and Jessica also came, their faces somber.
When Lucy and Tiffany arrived, Michael’s bodyguards stopped them at the door.
“Michael, Chloe, Mom and I just wanted to come and see Wendy off.”
Chloe stared at the two at the door with red eyes and slapped Lucy mercilessly.
“Get out! Don’t dirty this place.”
“Chloe, why did you do that? We just came here with good intentions.”
Tiffany smirked, feeling happy that Wendy was gone from this world.
She just wanted to see Chloe embarrassed.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll have my mom’s soul go find you and take you and your daughter away.”
Chloe glared ominously at them.
Wendy had been gentle when she was alive, but who could tell if she would become a vengeful ghost after death.ChaPtê/r/$FLOW.COM owns © this.
Tiffany and Lucy had done something wrong, and Chloe’s words made them feel guilty.
“If you won’t let us in, we don’t care!”
Tiffany snorted and left with Lucy.
After the funeral, Chloe sat alone in front of Wendy’s grave for a long time.
Michael wanted to accompany her but was driven away.
Candy and the others wanted to stay with her, but she persuaded them to leave.
She sat there alone, with Wendy’s last letter still in her pocket.
“Mom, I never thought of you as a burden. Why couldn’t you wait a little longer for me? Just a little longer, and I would have divorced, taken you abroad, and ignored the troubles here.” A tear fell on the paper, followed by countless others.
She kept asking over and over again why her mother couldn’t wait a little longer.
They had agreed to go out and sunbathe!
Michael, worried about Chloe, waited downstairs and went up immediately when he saw her coming down. “Chloe, let me take you home.”
Chloe looked at him suspiciously. “I have no home left.” Her mother was dead, and her home was gone forever. “No, you do. Lotus Manor will always be your home!”
Michael felt a trace of panic he didn’t understand.
He felt Chloe was like a bird about to leave him.
Chloe didn’t speak anymore and went back to Lotus Manor with him.
Back home, she went straight upstairs, closed the bedroom door, and stayed there for two days.
Except for checking if she had done anything silly, Michael hardly spoke to her.
On the third day, he returned from Paramount Airlines unexpectedly and saw Chloe sitting in the living room, seemingly waiting for him on purpose. “Chloe, there’s progress on your mom’s case…’
He changed his shoes and walked over, intending to say that he had been investigating Wendy’s suicide these days.
And today, the hospital surveillance was fixed, and someone was seen entering Wendy’s room in the middle of the night.
But before he could finish, he heard Chloe say, “Michael, let’s get a divorce.”
Michael froze on the spot, forgetting what he was about to say.
Afraid he hadn’t heard clearly, Chloe looked at him and said word by word, “I said I want a divorce from you.”
“Chloe, this is not the time to throw a tantrum!”
Michael was a little angry.
Why didn’t she admit she was pregnant with her own child even now?
Seeing him angry, Chloe remained calm.
But her hands clenched in her sleeves.
“I didn’t throw a tantrum with you, Michael. We’ve been talking about divorce for so long. Do you remember the last time we had sex? Since every time we take precautions, do you think this child could be yours?”
She said this because she knew it was true.
From the beginning, he would supervise her taking the pill every time, to the later trust in her that he didn’t supervise her anymore.
So Chloe knew very well that he wouldn’t suspect she had forgotten to take her pill.
Michael’s face was getting paler as she spoke.
“It’s useless to say more now. I’m willing to leave with nothing but my own Porsche. I won’t take a penny from you. Get it done!”
The staff originally followed the professional ethics and advised a bit.
Who would’ve thought they would spill such private matters?
Her face also showed some embarrassment as she handed over the divorce form to both of them. “Take a look at it. If there are no issues, then sign it.”
Chloe quickly wrote down her own name without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Michael was still feeling apprehensive.
He couldn’t believe Chloe was really carrying someone else’s child.
“Chloe, are you lying to me?”
“I have no reason to lie to you.”
Chloe once again shattered all his illusions.
He was lost for words.
In his mind, he went through all the hardships Chloe would face after divorcing him.
He thought again about what benefits staying married would have for her.
But he couldn’t figure it out.
The hand holding the pen trembled slightly.
Finally, with some difficulty, he wrote down his own name.
The divorce certificate came out quickly.
When she got that, Chloe felt a wave of relief.
The two of them left the county court together. Michael watched her, feeling uneasy compared to her carefree steps just now.
By the roadside, she turned to look at Michael, showing him a rare, sincere smile.
“From now on, our paths won’t cross, Mr. Shawn. Goodbye!”
Candy approached at this moment. Seeing the divorce certificate in her hand, she also looked delighted.
“Congratulations, Chloe, you’ve finally escaped from misery! To celebrate your new beginning, we must go out for a nice meal today!”
Chloe smiled at her, her face glowing with newfound freedom.
Michael standing nearby looked very desolate.
“Chloe, if you ever need help in the future, just go to Paramount Airlines. If you want to remarry…”
He turned slightly away and said something, but before he could finish, Chloe had already left with Candy in the car.
His heart sank, his fingers gripping the divorce certificate tightly.
That night, Michael went to drink.
Asher found him just as he was rejecting the advances of an attractive girl.
“Hey, care for a drink together?”
“Get lost.”
Michael’s eyes were icy, staring at the girl as if he wanted to kill her.
The girl was frightened and turned and ran away.
Asher was speechless and walked over.
“Michael, what are you doing?”
Didn’t he dislike drinking?
At these words, Michael “slapped” his divorce certificate out of his pocket onto the table.
“I got divorced today; can’t I be happy?”
Asher was speechless, wondering if that was really what happiness looked like for him.
His mouth was drooping, and he really squeezed that wine glass hard. Like, if it hadn’t been for those fancy imported ones that could take a beating, he would have crushed it already.
He had just raised his voice, and this was a quiet bar; everyone around looked over at him.
Asher immediately felt embarrassed and quickly put the divorce certificate away in his pocket.
But he was also shocked. Chloe really divorced him?
In the past three years, Chloe had been almost like Michael’s lapdog.
Whatever he said, she would do, without a word of protest.
Asher even made a bet with Owen back then, betting on whether Chloe would give up first or Michael would be moved by her first.
They both unanimously chose Michael to be moved first.
Because they thought the intense love in Chloe’s eyes for Michael back then would never fade.This belongs to CHã-p-T/ēR_SFL-ōW.Com – ©.
Besides, Chloe’s conditions were not bad.
She was beautiful and had a great figure.
As it turned out, Chloe was the one who withdrew first in the end.
Asher struggled to carry Michael out of the bar.
But when they got to the roadside, he refused to budge, insisting loudly that he needed to find his wife.
Asher was at a loss and ended up using Michael’s phone to call Chloe.
The result? Chloe blocked the number directly.
The screen showed the call was still ongoing.
Asher glanced sympathetically at Michael and dialed with his own phone again.
Today, Chloe had dinner with Candy, Quinn, and Jessica.
They were celebrating her finally getting her divorce done.
When Quinn saw the divorce certificate in her hands, his eyes suddenly lit up with admiration.
“Chloe, congratulations!”
Candy raised her glass to toast her, but Chloe, being pregnant, had to settle for water instead of alcohol.
“When will you go pick up your things from Lotus Manor?”
“I don’t need them anymore.”
Actually, there wasn’t much there.
“You can’t just leave it. You left with practically nothing, and you even took the blame for cheating and getting pregnant. You should at least take back what’s yours, and your car is still at Lotus Manor.” Chloe thought it made sense.
She didn’t care about Paramount Airlines’ shares or the Shawn family’s stuff, but her personal belongings had to come back.
She also remembered Wendy’s photos were there.
“Let me know when you’re going back. I’ll hire a few top-notch go-go dancers to accompany you. We can’t let it be anything less than grand!”
Chloe glanced at Candy, not entirely approving of her suggestion.
“Thanks, but I don’t need go-go dancers.”
After dinner, they went out, shopped, and watched a comedy movie.
It was already dark outside.
“Are you going back to Urban Lane?”
Chloe nodded.
“Then go back with Quinn; it’s on the way.”
Candy pushed Quinn out, and he shyly touched the back of his head.
Chloe didn’t feel awkward; she turned to him after saying goodbye to Candy and Jessica. “Let’s go, and we’ll catch a taxi.”
On the way, Quinn naturally positioned himself on her left, closer to the road.
“After your divorce, is Michael giving you a hard time?”
He was worried Michael might seek revenge.
“He did everything he could before I got the divorce done. Now we have no relationship.”
There were even no benefits involved, so what could he do?
Quinn sighed in relief upon hearing this. “What are your plans for the future?”
Chloe wasn’t worried about the future.
“I’ll have more time with the team, Bright Moon International is still going strong, and I have projects with the Opal Group. Don’t worry about me being short on cash.” Chloe smiled brightly.
Quinn had initially thought she was forcing herself to smile at dinner.
Now he realized he had been worrying for nothing.
“And the baby in your belly…”
Chloe touched her still-flat stomach.
She hadn’t fully accepted being pregnant yet; the news had come too suddenly.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
But now that she was divorced, she would definitely have the baby.
“I’ll raise the child myself, and I can register as a single parent now. It’s not a big deal.”
Before, it was troublesome to register a child as a single parent after a divorce.
“As your belly grows, won’t he suspect something if you stay here?”
Chloe chuckled softly. “No, he thinks it’s someone else’s child.”
She had considered the future trouble of showing her pregnancy and had smoothly claimed it wasn’t his child during the county court hearing today.
Quinn saw that she organized and handled everything very well. She felt somewhat relieved but also felt like he wasn’t really needed.
“But there’s a project over in Alscia in a couple of days that I can’t attend. I might need to trouble you, Candy, and Jessica to go.” “What project?”
Chloe smiled, “It’s related to the royal family, but it’s nothing confidential. Just think of it as getting paid to tour Alscia.”
She couldn’t go because she had promised James to accompany him to an event that day.
And she trusted Quinn and the others!
Just as they were about to get into a taxi, Chloe’s phone rang.
She picked it up and saw it was Asher calling.
She had Asher’s number from two years ago when Michael had gone on a business trip for several days and couldn’t be reached internationally, so she had to contact Asher at Shawn Heavy Industries. But they hadn’t been in touch since then.
It was rare for him to call her today.
She answered the call, hearing Asher say, “Chloe, Michael has had too much to drink. He’s on the main road calling your name, refusing to leave. Can you come over?”
Just then, a gust of wind outside signaled an imminent rainstorm.
“Chloe, get in the car; it’s about to rain.”
Quinn’s voice came through to Asher. “Is there someone next to you?”
She was just divorced today, and she was already rushing off to find another man?
“Who’s next to me has nothing to do with you. If he’s not coming home, what use is it for you to call me? I’m not the police. Besides, once he’s done making a scene, he’ll naturally go back.” Chloe didn’t believe Michael would really make a scene drunk on the street.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
He wasn’t that kind of person at all.
He carried more baggage than anyone else when it came to maintaining his image.
Asher was surprised by her cold tone; he didn’t remember Chloe being like this towards Michael.
“Chloe, you’ve changed. You used to care a lot about Michael.”
Mentioning the past made Chloe momentarily flustered.
“You said it yourself, that was the past. You don’t need to tell me anything about him from now on.”
Without hesitation, she hung up and bent over to get into the nearby taxi.
They had just thought to leave when suddenly, it started pouring rain outside.
If Michael stubbornly stayed on the street at this moment, he would probably end up soaking wet.
At the thought of this, she suddenly found it somewhat amusing.
“Who called you just now?”
Quinn couldn’t help but ask.
“No one, just someone I used to know. Not close.”
Asher dragged Michael back to the bar; it was too rainy outside.
“Chloe… Chloe, Chloe…”
Michael was still murmuring, and Asher rolled his eyes.
“Stop calling her. Before the divorce, you had no feelings left for her. Now she’s moved on to someone new, and you’re still here acting all sentimental.”
What a scene.
He didn’t know if the drunk Michael understood, but he frowned uncomfortably.
He called a cab on his phone, and by the time it arrived at the door, he dragged Michael out.
The taxi couldn’t enter the parking garage, so it stopped at the entrance.
Asher cursed under his breath, then pulled him out of the car, wanting to quickly get inside.
Little did he know, as soon as they stepped out, an umbrella was held over their heads.
He paused, turned around, and saw a stranger’s face.
“I’m Mr. Shawn’s nutritionist. It’s raining heavily, and he might catch a cold like this. Let’s get inside quickly!”
Asher was somewhat surprised. Did Michael hire such a beautiful nutritionist?
Inside, Emma saw the soaked figures and immediately went to get dry towels from the bathroom.
Rosie, acting as if Lotus Manor were her own home, went straight to the kitchen and started making lemon juice for Michael.
Emma had some objections in her heart, but she thought Michael must have agreed to it, so she didn’t say anything and stepped aside.
The lemon juice was quickly made, and Rosie hurriedly brought out two cups, handing one to Asher. “Sir, have some too.”
With that, she took the remaining cup and personally fed Michael.
Asher couldn’t figure out what was going on between these two, but he didn’t neglect his health and took a big sip of it. His pupils dilated slightly; it tasted quite good.
The nutritionist was indeed competent.
Michael woke up the next day in the master bedroom’s bed.
He had a bad headache from last night’s hangover.
Luckily, he hadn’t blacked out; he remembered Asher bringing him back.
He threw off the covers and got out of bed, only to find himself in dry pajamas.
Did Asher change him?
Since when had that kid become so thoughtful?
As he descended the stairs, Emma watched him with a strange expression.
He scanned around but didn’t see Asher.
“Where’s Asher?”
“Mr. Cooper went back last night.”
After Emma finished speaking, she hesitated as if she wanted to say something.
Just then, a graceful figure emerged from the kitchen, carrying a nutritious breakfast. Upon seeing Michael, she smiled.
“Mr. Shawn, you’re awake. Here’s breakfast I made for you, with honey water to ease your headache.”
She spoke naturally, but Michael frowned unhappily.
“What are you doing here?”
Wasn’t she dismissed already?
Emma intervened cautiously, “Ms. Baker said she brought you back, and that you weren’t feeling well, so only she could help.”
Rosie looked at the now awake Michael, feeling a bit uneasy.
“Mr. Shawn, I apologize for my previous mistakes in not fulfilling my duties as a nutritionist. I hope you’ll give me another chance. I’ll definitely fulfill my responsibilities this time!” Rosie bowed deeply, her eyes sincere.
But Michael remained frosty. “I don’t need a nutritionist.”
He had hired a nutritionist initially for Chloe.
Now that Chloe wasn’t coming back, he didn’t need this useless servant to cater to him.
Emma’s expression softened upon hearing this.
“Ms. Baker, thank you for bringing Mr. Shawn back yesterday, but now that he’s awake, you can leave.”
Lotus Manor wasn’t a place just anyone could enter.
Even if Chloe was gone now, she would definitely return.
This Rosie looked haughty, but she was just trying to take advantage!
Rosie’s face darkened.
“Mr. Shawn, you knew when you hired me that I needed money urgently. Please give me this chance.”
Michael frowned and pulled out a bank card from a nearby cabinet.
“There’s a hundred thousand in here for you, for all the work you did bringing me back yesterday. Emma will take you to get it.” Rosie stiffened; she hadn’t expected that even after saying all this, Michael still wouldn’t let her stay.
She felt unwilling, but there was no other way now.
She could only take a deep breath, bow, and say, “Thank you, Mr. Shawn.”
Today, Michael went to Paramount Airlines. As soon as he entered, he said to Ethan, “Find out whose child is in Chloe’s belly.”
Ethan was stunned. “Mrs. Shawn is pregnant?”
Pregnant? Shouldn’t it be Michael’s child?Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
Unless…
He suddenly realized something and his eyes filled with shock.
Just then, Michael’s cold gaze swept over, sending a shiver down his spine. “Understood, Mr. Shawn.”
Ethan went downstairs, holding a tablet, to find Michael.
“Mr. Shawn, we can’t determine whose child is in Mrs. Shawn’s belly for now. We’ll need a paternity test after the child is born.”
He wasn’t a mind reader; he couldn’t determine the child’s parentage from thin air.
“But on the day at the hospital, Mrs. Shawn and Mr. Dale spent some time in the ward.”
This was discovered through surveillance footage.
Michael’s expression darkened. Lucy had told him that there were definitely other people at the hospital that day.
James even taunted him in front of him.
“Mr. Shawn, Ms. Xander’s engagement banquet is tomorrow. Will you attend?”
Ms. Xander?
Michael was already irritated. He had just divorced himself. Why should he attend someone else’s engagement banquet?
Was he bored stiff?
Seeing his expression, Ethan knew he was angry again.
But he still braved it out and said, “Mr. Dale will also attend.”
With just that sentence, Michael changed his mind.
“Then prepare a big gift for Ms. Xander, and I’ll personally deliver it tomorrow.”
After Chloe checked in at Bright Moon International today, she returned to Lotus Manor.
Michael wasn’t there, just Emma and the rest of the staff, plus Rosie who hadn’t gone out.
Chloe was slightly stunned when she saw her.
Did Michael invite her back?
When Emma saw her and immediately said, “Ms. Baker, Mr. Shawn has already given you money. Why are you still here? Now Mrs. Shawn is back, you should recognize your status.” Rosie looked at Chloe, her eyes burning with anger.
“Emma, I just came back to get something, and I’ll leave soon.”
Emma was taken aback. “Mrs. Shawn…”
“You don’t need to call me Mrs. Shawn anymore. Michael and I got divorced yesterday.”
Emma was shocked by her words and couldn’t recover.
Rosie beside her was ecstatic.
Divorced?
That meant if she pursued Michael now, it would be reasonable and not intruding into someone else’s relationship?!
Chloe didn’t bring much; she just packed away a few clothes she often wore and put away Wendy’s photo.
When she reached into the coat pocket, she unexpectedly touched the wedding ring she had when she married Michael. Because they didn’t have a wedding ceremony, he just bought a random diamond ring for her.
Later, she sold it to Lucy.
She hadn’t worn it since he bought it back last time.
She casually put it in a coat pocket and didn’t notice it was missing.
It turned out to be in a coat pocket she rarely wore.
Sure enough, things that didn’t belong to her would never belong to her.
She took it out and examined it carefully.
She had to admit, even though it was bought randomly, it was very beautiful.
She sighed lightly and placed the ring on the bedside table, considering it returned to its rightful owner.
Emma saw Rosie off and came up, feeling very sad when she saw her packing.
“Mrs. Shawn, are you really leaving?”
Chloe turned around. Emma had always been kind to her and never looked down on her in the villa.
“Emma, it’s agonizing to prolong an unhappy marriage. You should be happy for me.”
Seeing Chloe’s smile, Emma couldn’t force herself to smile and felt mixed emotions.
“Actually, Mr. Shawn has changed a lot. Why not give Mr. Shawn another chance, Mrs. Shawn?”
Chloe’s head shook as she spoke, “Having the heart means not needing to be taught. But if they don’t have it, teaching won’t make a difference. I waited for him for three years, but I can’t wait any longer.” Emma took a deep breath, knowing that the situation was irreversible now, and she couldn’t persuade her anymore.
“Then, Mrs. Shawn, have you found a place outside? After divorce, you can’t suffer yourself…”
Chloe’s eyes were slightly moist.
Emma was older than Wendy and hearing her caring words made her feel like she was seeing Wendy again.
She sniffed and controlled her emotions.
“Don’t worry, everything is arranged. Emma, I’ll leave first!”
Emma shed two tears but could only watch her leave with a small suitcase.
The door closed, and everything returned to calm.
The next day, Chloe was awakened by James’ phone call.
“Chloe, get up for work. Don’t you remember we have an event to attend today?”
She rubbed her hair and sat up, somewhat annoyed. “What event starts at seven in the morning?”
“I’m outside your place. Come out.”
Chloe paused. “Which entrance?”
“Lotus Manor.”
James spoke straightforwardly.
“You’ve got the wrong place. I don’t live at Lotus Manor. Give me the address, I’ll come over.”
James muttered under his breath, then moments later, the garage door of the villa opened, and a Rolls-Royce slowly emerged.
The two cars aligned and Michael lowered his window.
“Didn’t Chloe tell you she moved?”
His tone carried a hint of provocation.
“I know, I just wanted to annoy you. I’m leaving!”
James retorted, gunning the engine and speeding away.
Michael fumed with anger.
He wondered if Chloe’s unborn child truly belonged to James.
So he picked up his phone and messaged her.
But he was blocked by her online, so he resorted to texting.
He realized his number was blocked too.This belongs to cHáPTèr.sfLO.W/cóm – ©.
By the time he arrived at Shawn Heavy Industries, Michael was visibly upset.
Asher observed, remembering Michael’s tears over his wife the day before. He felt discomfort.
“Michael, are you and Chloe… really divorced?” Asher asked cautiously.
The question struck a nerve with Michael, earning him a cold glare.
“I thought Chloe was hesitant before. Why is she so determined this time? Should you… try to appease her?” Asher suggested.
Michael slammed his phone on the table. “Appease what? She’s blocked all my contacts.”
“Maybe try PayPal comments?” he suggested tentatively.
“If she’s determined to divorce me like this, why should I go and appease her? Do I really need her?” Michael saw a glimmer of hope now, but he tried to save face. Asher kept his head down, agreeing repeatedly.
He wondered if he had recorded Michael crying for his wife yesterday, whether Michael would still sound so confident now.
Asher left the office, prompting Michael to quickly pick up his phone and try PayPal to contact Chloe.
Feeling that a minimal transaction might not show enough sincerity, he hesitated, then typed a quick transfer of 20,000 dollars, adding a note below: [Whose child is it, after all?]
But just before sending it, he hesitated again.
Deleting it, he revised: [In for a chat today?]
He stared at the message for a long moment, feeling it should be fine, and pressed send.
As expected, just one exclamation mark.
She even blocked him on PayPal.
Michael stared at the failure message, hands trembling with anger.This belongs to chãpTErs-Flòw/cøm – ©.
At that moment, Asher pushed open the glass door. “Any luck with PayPal?”
Michael grabbed a folder from the table and threw it at him. “Get out and get to work!”
Asher shrunk back, silently cursing.
“How could that be? Blocked on PayPal too?”
Damn heartless!
After leaving Lotus Manor, James went to a styling salon, where Chloe was waiting at the entrance.
Seeing him get out of the car, she looked a bit reproachful. “What are you doing here?”
“At the styling salon, of course, to get styled. Or did you think we’d come for breakfast?”
Chloe paused. James indeed had a way with words.
She thought he needed styling for today’s event.
But upon entering, two female attendants stood on either side of her, like guardians.
“Sorry, he’s the one getting styled.”
She smiled at the two of them, and they nodded politely but showed no intention of leaving.
James sat on the sofa, habitually crossing his legs.
“Get her a change of clothes.”
Chloe pointed to her own nose with her finger. “Who? Me?”
Taken into the dressing room, Chloe fiddled around in the clothing store and finally emerged from behind the curtain.
Her clothes weren’t too fancy, just a moss green satin halter maxi dress.
It shimmered under the light.
“I’ll take this one.”
It must be said, James was quick with clothes shopping.
Before she even changed, he was already satisfied.
Exiting the styling room, she turned and asked, “So what’s the event today?”
James took out an emerald ring from his pocket and handed it to her. “Put it on.”
“Hey, wait, can you at least tell me what we’re doing?”
James glanced at her and slid the ring onto her ring finger.
“It fits perfectly.”
He pursed his lips, lost in thought.
Chloe sighed and could only follow him into the car.
It wasn’t until they arrived at their destination that she realized it was a wedding venue.
Clues flashed through her mind, and she quickly caught on. “Today is Maggie’s wedding, isn’t it?”
James paused for a moment. “Don’t mention what shouldn’t be said later.”
Chloe thought she didn’t want to get involved in this mess.
But before she could turn away, she saw the familiar Rolls-Royce.
Michael’s long legs stepped out from the back seat, locking eyes with Chloe.
James also saw him and raised an eyebrow at Chloe. “Not going in?”
Gritting her teeth, Chloe said, “Let’s go.”
She hadn’t forgotten that her child with Michael belonged to James.
Michael’s heart sank when he saw Chloe standing next to James. The urge to pull her away from James surged.
But just as he was about to reach out, Asher grabbed him from the side.
“What are you doing? You’re divorced. Chloe’s single now. If you act now, it’ll be a messy situation!”
While Asher held him back, Chloe had already linked arms with James and walked inside.
Standing by James’ side, Chloe watched as men around him tried to strike up conversations, but he ignored them all, fixated on something.
“Are you a glutton for punishment? She’s getting married, and you’re here.”
James choked, staring at her. “I bet Michael doesn’t know your baby belongs to him, does he?”
Chloe glared at him. “Petty!”
The wedding was scheduled for noon, and it was now ten-thirty, about to begin.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
The guests who came were somewhat notable in the city, and Chloe recognized a few faces.
Wesley spotted her and walked over.
“Ms. Nelson.”
“Mr. Jenkins, I’ve talked to Candy about that.”
Wesley looked slightly nervous but nodded politely. “Thank you, Ms. Nelson.”
“Ms. Nelson, the Opal Group’s collaboration requires your personal signature.”
When it came to work, Chloe was serious. “Alright, Mr. Jenkins, I’ll make time to come over.”
Michael stood nearby, eyes fixed on Chloe, almost burning a hole through her.
Asher stood in his way. “Stop staring!”
Once divorced, go find your mom; once the shovel breaks, go eat.
When the wedding march began, both Chloe and James looked towards the stage.
Maggie already had elegance, and now in her couture gown, she looked stunning.
James couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Chloe stood beside him, feeling like a sculpture, utterly superfluous.
The two newlyweds walked to the front, where the host was already asking them to recite their wedding vows.
Everyone present turned their gaze towards them.
The host ask, “Through poverty and wealth, sickness and health, do you pledge to spend your life with him, to be his wife till death do you part?” Chloe thought of her marriage to Michael.
They had never had a wedding; they had just shared a meal at the Shawn Manor.
This feeling of being witnessed by everyone was something she had never experienced before.
She couldn’t help but feel moved.
Meanwhile, Michael was lost in his own thoughts.
He had never seen Chloe in a wedding dress…
She was already beautiful, with a great figure; she would surely look stunning in a wedding gown.
Michael instinctively glanced over at Chloe.
Seeing James beside her, his gaze turned somewhat cloudy.
James felt a bit stiff all over even when Maggie came down to toast.
Chloe sat with him, chatting with the friends from his school days at their table.
“James, it’s been years! Your taste has really improved!”
James just nodded.
Maggie happened to pass by; he put his arm around Chloe’s waist and stood up to join her for a drink.
“Ms. Xander, you look absolutely gorgeous today!”
Chloe met Maggie’s eyes and offered a sincere blessing.
Maggie smiled and thanked her.
“Oh my, James, did you really give your girlfriend your family heirloom?!”
Amid the exclamations from those around, Maggie glanced at Chloe’s finger.
When she saw the emerald ring, her eyes widened slightly.
Just then, the groom from another table walked over and took her hand. “What’s wrong? Your hand is so cold.”
Maggie snapped out of it and showed him a gentle smile. “It’s nothing.”
As they sat down, their table of friends continued to ask James if he was also planning to get married soon, especially since he had given away a ring.
It was only now that Chloe learned the ring was something his father had given him, meant only for his future wife.
It wasn’t just some jewelry; it was like an old antique, maybe from some real old dynasty and worth a lot.
Chloe couldn’t help but glance several times at the ring on her own finger.
James had no interest in eating; seeing Maggie move to another table only worsened his mood.
It was Chloe who enjoyed her meal thoroughly.
This was the best banquet she had ever attended in her life.
After dinner, as everyone began to leave, Chloe could tell James wanted to stay and speak to Maggie.
