REFUSING THE CEO'S LOVE

Chapter 6

and said, "15% of Hollis Group's shares as part of the dowry, a mansion in the city, and Hollis Group will allocate 30% of its projects to Tinsley Group each year..."

Listening to Elizabeth slowly listing the terms, Chloe's expression became increasingly grim.

"Miss Hollis, where would a bankrupt Hollis Group get shares, a mansion, and projects? You must have put quite a bit of effort into fabricating these so-called dowry!" Elizabeth sneered and continued. "Look at you, so pretty and delicate. A young lady, yet unexpectedly shameless! Your lies flow so easily, it's unbelievable!" The more she spoke, the angrier she became. She forcefully tossed the documents in front of her towards Chloe! The hard case of the documents hit Chloe like a slap.

Chloe, who knew nothing about this, blushed instantly, feeling embarrassed and indignant. She abruptly stood up, apologized to Elizabeth, grabbed her bag, and rushed out.

Aiden's expression changed, and he quickly got up to follow. He grabbed Chloe's wrist. "Chloe, please listen to my explanation."

Chloe's eyes reddened slightly, and she turned around forcefully, shaking off Aiden's hand. "Are all of these lies you made up? Why would you do this?! My family is bankrupt, but I've never relied on anyone, nor did I ever think I'd become a liar!"

Aiden hurriedly explained. "I'm sorry; I just... I just wanted us to get married smoothly!" He sighed, "I thought you understood. If I didn't say those things, you wouldn't be able to marry into my family..."

Chloe was taken aback. She looked at Aiden, a sense of disappointment overwhelming her. Though there were many things she wanted to say, she didn't want to continue.

"Let's take some time apart. Let me think about it," she said, and then walked away.

Aiden stood there momentarily, surprised by Chloe's unexpected response. He wanted to explain further, but he realized that she had already walked away.

Chloe walked along the road, forcing herself to take deep breaths, preventing the tears from falling.

Felt exhausted, she wrapped herself in a blanket at home, attempting to shut out everything. She just suddenly wanted to escape from this place.

Early the next morning, she boarded a car back to her hometown in Greenwood. When the car arrived in Greenwood, it was 3 in the afternoon. She took a taxi directly to the hospital.

As she approached the receptionist, she overheard the nurses discussing a patient in bed 18. "She's already in the Stage IV cancer. If she goes for treatment, it'll cost at least one million."

"Hello, I'd like to ask, where is Lucy Hollis's room?" Chloe interrupted the nurses' conversation.

The nurses looked at her with a hint of strangeness. "Go forward, the third room on your right. Bed 18."

Chloe froze on the spot.

Bed 18, Stage IV cancer!

Chloe rushed to the hospital room but hesitated at the entrance. Inside, her mother lay with closed eyes, hooked up to a breathing machine. Henry, with his back turned to her, was adjusting the IV drip.

Chloe could hardly believe the figure in the room was her own father. The last time they met, he was still vibrant. Despite being deceived by friends and plummeting into a deep abyss overnight due to bankruptcy, he remained indomitable.

However, the current sight of her father, with a head full of silver hair and shoulders weakened as if on the verge of collapse, was a stark contrast. Hunched over in a chair, he held his wife's hand tightly, his face filled with reluctance.

As a breeze came through the window, Henry gently brushed away the stray strands of hair from his wife's forehead, displaying a tender touch. Chloe didn't know how she managed to enter the room. She gazed at her father's frail figure, called out, "Dad."

Her voice was soft, tinged with a hint of tremor. Henry turned his head, his movements sluggish. The moment he saw Chloe, his face registered astonishment.

"How is mom?" Chloe forced herself to speak through the sorrow as she approached her mother's bedside.

Henry recovered from the shock of Chloe's sudden appearance. "She's fine, just too tired."

Hearing her father's reassurance, tears welled up in Chloe's eyes.

Afraid of waking Lucy, the father and daughter went outside. Henry raised his hand to wipe away the tears on Chloe's face, his own face displaying a smile.

"Your mom is really fine; it's just a matter of lacking money," he assured.

Chloe's heart tightened, thinking about the phrase she overheard at the nurse's station – 'one million."

She said, "Dad, don't worry. I'll figure out a way with the money."

Back in the hospital room, Chloe began calculating how much money she could gather. Even with the funds intended for debt repayment, she only had tens of thousands in hand.

Suddenly, she remembered the extra fifty thousand she added to the mural design fee for Ethan while working on the bar project.

She took out her phone and opened the chat with Elijah. His reply came quickly, "You can transfer the money anytime, but I need to get approval from the boss."

"Okay, thanks."

Ten minutes later, Elijah sent a Snapchat contact, saying, "The boss said after you add him, speak to him directly."

Chloe stared at the contact for a while before finally adding it. The request was swiftly approved.

"So, is Aiden not giving you any money to spend?" came Ethan's voice message, sounding light, mocking, and malicious.

"This is the money I deserve." Chloe wasn't provoked and calmly typed her response.

"Your job isn't finished yet, so you won't get the money," Ethan coldly sneered.

"Ethan, don't go too far!" Unable to hold back, Chloe sent a voice message.

"Are you in the hospital?" Ethan asked.

Chloe froze; how did he know? She replayed her voice message and discovered someone in the background calling for a doctor. Gathering her composure, she began typing, "It's none of your business. The draft has already been given to you. What more do you want?"

"There are still modifications needed. Come to the bar, and I'll tell you," said Ethan.

Chloe was getting impatient. Ethan could make any excuses if he wanted. It was clear he didn't want to transfer the money now!

"I have urgent matters and need this money," Chloe said, suppressing her anger.

She sent the messages, but Ethan's reply never came. She sent a few more messages, but it seemed like Ethan had vanished, not bothering to respond to her at all.

In the evening, Chloe insisted on escorting her father back home. After ensuring her mother had fallen asleep, she stood up and left the hospital room. As she opened the door, she was momentarily stunned by the sight of the person in front of her. Before she could fully process the situation, Ethan suddenly embraced her tightly!