Chapter 6:
1148 Words
Caleb abruptly grabbed her wrist and shoved her against the wall, his grip crushing her.
Chloe’s eyes widened, her blood freezing, forgetting to breathe as she stared at him in disbelief.
Caleb’s sharp eyes glinted with malice, his teeth grinding out each word: “I’m warning you, I don’t want to hear that again. If you dare spread such lies, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
His slender fingers mercilessly squeezed her wrist, hitting the fresh bruise from Nathan. His full strength made her bones feel like they were shattering, the pain searing through her.
Cold sweat broke out on Chloe’s forehead, her nostrils flaring with each breath. She faced the unconscious man with a bitter expression: “I just want to be with Lily. I won’t say anything to her or have any illusions. Mr. Wilson, please trust me.”
Caleb’s temple veins throbbed, his cold features exuding a terrifying aura: “Trust you? I’m not a fool.”
They were too close, and he vaguely saw her clear eyes welling up with tears, holding back something.
He didn’t want to investigate, nor did he want to understand what it was. Curiosity kills the cat, and this woman wasn’t worth his effort or sympathy.
Caleb’s gaze darkened, and he harshly flung her wrist away.
Chloe’s body slackened, leaning against the wall, gasping for breath.
-
“Caleb?” Henry opened the office door and saw the man and woman in a tense standoff, surprised: “What are you doing here?”
Caleb didn’t answer immediately. He shot Chloe a warning look before wiping his fingers with a handkerchief and calmly responded: “Just picking up some medicine for Old Tam.”
Henry still looked suspiciously at Chloe, who was avoiding his gaze.
Henry frowned and told Caleb to enter.
Caleb ignored Chloe and walked in.
Henry sat properly behind his desk, pushing the pre-prepared medicine boxes towards Caleb. He pondered and then inquired, “Are you acquainted with Chloe?”
Chloe?
Caleb looked up sharply, throwing the handkerchief into the trash. He casually clasped his hands and observed Henry: “What? Interested in her? Is that the type of woman your taste?”
Henry pursed his lips, adjusting his glasses: “Don’t get it wrong. I just feel sorry for her situation.”
Caleb’s lips curled into a smile, but he said nothing, playing with the medicine box on the table. Chloe could easily deceive a sentimental person like Henry. She only needed to act like a “fragile little rabbit” to capture the hearts of gullible men.
Henry noticed Caleb’s strange attitude. As old friends, he had never seen Caleb treat a woman so harshly.
“Come on, tell me the truth. What’s happened between you and her?”
Caleb lazily leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs: “Why, are you really interested? As a longtime friend, I’ll warn you sincerely. She is not as simple as you believe.”
Henry’s smile faded. He looked seriously at Caleb: “I trust my instincts.”
She appeared frail, but was incredibly resilient. Despite being abused by her brother, she bore it silently. She, a woman like that, couldn’t possibly be rotten.
Caleb fell silent, unwilling to argue further.
-
When Chloe opened the door, Nathan immediately stood up from his chair, his face showing panic and avoiding eye contact: “...You’re back?”
Chloe nodded, placing her keys on the shoe rack. She bent down to change shoes, but the movement tugged at her rib injury, causing her to gasp in pain.
Nathan rushed to her side, nervously supporting her: “Are you okay?”
Chloe kept her head down, not speaking, just shaking her head in response.
Her treatment of Nathan was unprecedented. In the past, even when he lost control and accidentally hurt her, she would always endure the pain and say it was okay. But this time...
“Chloe, I’m sorry. I was out of my mind then, lost control. I... I didn’t even know what I was doing. You understand, right? You’re the last person I want to hurt.”
Nathan struggled to explain coherently, his heart filled with agitation, fearing Chloe would never pay attention to him again.
Chloe slowly raised her eyes, the wound on her lip stretching with her sad smile: “I don’t blame you.”
Nathan pressed his lips together, looking at the marks on her face, his heart aching. He reached out but hesitated, afraid of hurting her more, and spoke sorrowfully: “Does it still hurt? Let me apply some ointment for you.”
He pulled Chloe to sit on the sofa. Nathan bowed his head, carefully reading the instructions for the ointment and cotton balls. His face was filled with melancholy, and his breath carried a sense of loneliness.
Chloe remained silent, not in the mood to comfort or advise Nathan. Each sharp word from Caleb had brought her back to reality, stripping away all her illusions. She deserved it; the distance between her and Caleb was insurmountable. She had known that since her teenage years. How did she become increasingly foolish as she got older?
Nathan’s actions were meticulous as he warned her: “This might hurt a bit. Try to endure it.”
“Okay.”
She looked away, the wound stinging as the ointment touched it. Whenever his hand pressed on a bruised area, her heart ached.
She thought physical wounds could be treated with medicine, but what about the wounds in her heart? If only there was a specific remedy.
Nathan continued to look at her with downcast eyes. He remembered when Chloe was a young girl. Her figure was a bit plump, but well-proportioned. When she smiled, she showed two cute canine teeth. How did she look back then? It seemed she used to smile a lot, her eyes curving like crescent moons in the sky.
But now? Even when her mouth smiled, her eyes always carried a hint of sorrow and sadness.
She was only 25 years old.
“Chloe,” Nathan said, gripping the cotton ball tightly. With a serious tone, he mustered the courage to say, “Take me to the hospital. I understand my condition is severe. I don’t want to burden or harm you anymore. You deserve a better life.”
Chloe looked at him, a bit confused, while Nathan’s eyes struggled intensely: “You’re still very young. Don’t waste your youth on me. Find a suitable man and get married.”
He loved her but couldn’t selfishly hold on to her. He didn’t have that right.
Chloe remained motionless, looking at him. After a while, she gently took his hand: “I’ll find a psychologist. You only need therapy once a week. Let me handle the rest of the time for you. Nathan, be brave. You will get better.”
- Writer
