chapter 4
1014 Words
Time makes us fragile yet strong--"
The following day, Chloe isolated herself in her room, diligently preparing the draft.
"A Wealthy Man Burns the Incense Street." She understood Ethan's intentions very well.
The incident was perceived by Ethan as a form of humiliation, but for Chloe, it had long lost its impact. Strangely, each attempt to resume writing seemed to encounter an obstacle.
A ringing interrupted her thoughts- a call that caught her attention. Glancing at her phone, she saw her father's name, Henry Hollis.
"Dad, what's going on?"
"Chloe, do you have any money?" Henry asked cautiously.
Chloe's heart tightened, "Have those people found you?"
Following the Hollis family's bankruptcy, several debt collectors had been showing up. However, Chloe's parents couldn't endure the harassment, prompting Chloe to send them back to their hometown, Greenwood.
"No," Henry quickly denied. "It's about your mom; she was hospitalized two days ago and needs a minor surgery. Don't worry; it's not a big problem. I have no choice but to call you..." Towards the end, Henry's voice lowered.
Listening to her once tough father speaking with such caution, Chloe's eyes welled up with tears. She spoke in a hushed tone, concealing her emotions, "I have money; I'll transfer it right away."
Chloe heard her father breathe a sigh of relief, and her eyes quickly reddened. After ending the call, she promptly made the money transfer.
When she resumed sketching the draft, the earlier doubts about Ethan seemed to dissipate.
After completing the draft, Chloe sent it to Elijah, the bar manager she had collaborated with before. Shortly after, Elijah messaged her, stating that the boss wanted to inspect personally and instructed her to bring the items to the bar. Chloe, in haste, readied herself and headed to the bar.
During the daytime closure, only Elijah behind the bar and a stylish lady with long hair, dressed in Chanel, were present. Ethan was not there.
Chloe walked toward the bar, and immediately, Elijah started explaining to her. "Miss Hollis, the boss got delayed on the way; we have to wait for a while," he said, gesturing towards the lady at the bar. "This is our boss's fiancée, Miss Skylar Kenyon."Hearing the words "boss's fiancée," Chloe froze for a moment. She looked at Skylar, feeling a sudden familiarity with the name, but couldn't recall where she had heard it.
Just as she was puzzled, Skylar took the initiative, extending her hand and greeting Chloe. "Chloe, your reputation precedes you. I'm Skylar from the Finance Class 3."
Chloe remembered. Back when she was in a relationship with Ethan, there was a persistent girl from the same year named Skylar Kenyon, who relentlessly pursued Ethan. Later, Ethan and Evelyn dealt with Skylar together, and Chloe never actually met her. Unexpectedly, the tables had turned, and now Skylar was the person Ethan intended to marry.
Suppressing her complex emotions, Chloe forced a smile and extended her hand for a handshake. However, just as she was about to shake hands, Skylar withdrew her hand, leaving Chloe's hand hanging in the air.
Skylar maintained her smiling face but spoke in a cold tone. "The day at the bridal shop when Ethan suddenly left, he went to find you, right?" It was a statement rather than a question.
Chloe, her smile gone, responded calmly, "Between him and me, the ties were severed long ago."
A sudden sound behind her grabbed Chloe's attention, prompting her to turn her head. Ethan had arrived, and it remained uncertain whether he had overheard her words. Chloe paused for just a moment before facing forward again.
Ethan approached, directing his gaze at Skylar. "How did you get here?"
"Your mother asked me to tell you that we're having dinner at the old house tonight," Skylar replied softly.
"You can just send me a simple text." Ethan's voice was soft. "You've been occupied with the wedding; there was no need for you to come personally."
Skylar casually responded and moved forward, wrapping his arm around Ethan, "I just wanted to see you."
Ethan chuckled and then turned towards Chloe with an icy tone. "Where's the draft?"
Observing the seemingly 'affectionate" exchange between the two, Chloe felt a mix of discomfort and a heaviness in her chest. She lowered her eyes, suppressed her emotions, and handed over the draft.
Ethan took it without a glance and spoke coldly, "You can leave."
Chloe hesitated, pursed her lips, and turned away. As she approached the door, she caught fragments of the conversation between Ethan and Skylar.
"Pick us up after your mother finishes her hair."
"Okay."
Although just one word, Chloe could discern the warmth and indulgence in that voice. Without pausing, she hurriedly returned to her car.
The next day, right after Chloe finished breakfast, her phone suddenly rang. It was Mr. Winslow, the manager responsible for the wedding venue at the hotel. "There's been a little problem with the wedding venue you booked. Could you come over now if you have the time?"
Chloe rushed to the scene, where Mr. Winslow had been waiting at the entrance.
"What happened?" she inquired.
"Just now, Mrs. Blackwood from Blackwood Group brought her daughter-in-law to inspect the wedding banquet venue. Somehow, they took a liking to the one you booked last time, but their wedding is on the same day as yours..."
Chloe's gaze turned slightly cold. "What do you mean?"
Mr. Winslow explained, "Miss Hollis, as you know, we really can't afford to offend the Blackwood family. I suggest you consider changing the venue." While it was framed as a suggestion, the underlying tone was assertive.
Chloe's expression darkened. "I won't change the venue," she said firmly. "We've already signed a contract. If the hotel breaches it, paying compensation is not a problem, but tarnishing your reputation would be an irreparable loss."
After saying this, Chloe paid no attention to Mr. Winslow's possible reaction and left without looking back.
Seated in her car, she felt the weight on her chest intensify- heavy and stifling. She took out her phone and called Evelyn, "Same place?"
- Writer
