The Billionaire’s Prodigal Wife

Chapter 7:

She knew Nathan’s heart was full of inferiority and guilt. She still remembered his 27th birthday when they went to a nearby shrine. Outside, there was an old wishing tree where people wrote their wishes on red ribbons and hung them up, hoping they would come true.

Even though they knew it was unlikely, they still held on to hope.

She wrote: “I hope Nathan recovers soon.” But what Nathan wrote differed completely from what she expected. She quietly approached him and was stunned: “I hope Chloe doesn’t abandon me and still cares for me.”

At that moment, her tear ducts filled with sadness. Chloe understood that Nathan, since he was six years old, had always been insecure about life. Even though her father treated him well, he would always be just a stepfather, and Nathan’s actual mother, his only blood relative, had left this world. He lived with deep-seated inferiority and guilt.

Chloe squeezed his hand tightly, stroking his knuckles: “I’m not afraid of death, and I am afraid of pain, but I still firmly believe that one day you will be healthy again.”

Nathan’s eyes were complicated, filled with emotions he couldn’t express: “I—”

The door was forcefully knocked at that moment. The old house had a broken doorbell. The door’s “thud thud” sound was harsh, hitting their eardrums.

The two looked at each other. They rarely had visitors, and the person knocking seemed furious and impatient.

Chloe composed herself and walked to the door.

When she opened it, she was stunned. Caleb’s heavy face greeted her. It seemed his eyebrows never relaxed when he saw her.

“Lily is missing.” Caleb threw a piece of paper at her. Chloe hurriedly caught it and read it. The handwriting was messy, with many words phonetically combined and some incorrectly. It was clearly Lily’s handwriting.

“I’m going to find Auntie. She won’t lie to me.”

After a long time, Chloe finally looked up from the note. Caleb’s eyes were filled with disgust and contempt: “I really underestimated your abilities.”

Chloe shook her head anxiously: “Lily didn’t come here.”

Caleb didn’t believe her. He pushed past her and entered the house. In the living room, Nathan’s gloomy aura made Caleb uncomfortable. He shot a sharp glance at Nathan and continued toward Chloe’s bedroom.

“Caleb!” Nathan clenched his fists and stepped forward to stop Caleb from searching: “On what grounds?”

Caleb, always handsome, smiled with a hint of arrogance and deeper meaning. He raised an eyebrow provocatively: “On what grounds? Do you really want me to spell it out?”

Nathan’s brows furrowed tightly, veins bulging in his hand. Chloe hurried over to stop him, shaking her head at him and then turning to Caleb: “Lily really isn’t here. If you don’t believe me, check. Once you’re done, we need to hurry and find her. Waiting too long might put her in danger.

Caleb frowned suspiciously, but still walked over and pushed open Chloe’s bedroom door. Inside, it was quiet, with only the sound of the curtain rustling in the breeze.

Caleb stood in the doorway, his face heavy: “She really isn’t here?” He calmed down and considered. Chloe wouldn’t dare to hide Lily even if she had a hundred lives.

Chloe nodded calmly: “Mr. Wilson, I think I know where Lily went.”

Caleb stared at her, while Nathan, unhappy, whispered in her ear: “What does it matter to you? She’s his daughter. Let him find her.”

Chloe looked at Nathan with pleading eyes. Nathan sighed irritably and waved his hand: “Fine, do whatever you want.”

-

Caleb drove Chloe away, the black SUV speeding through the streets. The car window was wide open, and the icy wind hit Chloe’s injured cheek. But she felt no pain, only silently stealing glances at him, like a sick child yearning for a sweet medicine that could save her.

He was different now, the contours of his face sharper. He had changed from a warm, innocent young man to a cold man. Whenever she looked at him now, her heart ached.

He twisted his head, and Chloe quickly looked away. Caleb didn’t care about her awkward, fearful expression. He asked coldly: “Are you sure she’s at Lenox Hill?”

“Yes.” Chloe replied, “I promised to take her there before. Lily believes I won’t lie to her, so she probably thinks I’m waiting there.”

Caleb scrutinized her for a few seconds, then stepped on the gas, heading straight to Lenox Hill.

They built Lenox Hill in New York long ago. Throughout the drive, they were both tense. Lily was still too young, and they worried she might run into trouble.

Caleb remained silent, looking calm on the surface, but Chloe noticed the sweat on his temple. She knew how much he cared for Lily, more than anyone.

They walked along the narrow path in the park. The summer sunset was beautiful but carried a melancholy feeling. The evening sun filtered through the tree leaves, casting scattered beams of light on the ground.

Caleb’s tall figure, a soldier, moved with the precision of a march, taking large strides. Chloe, petite, had to jog to keep up. Fortunately, she wasn’t wearing high heels today, or she would have sprained her ankle long ago.

Finally, Caleb noticed her struggling, slowing his pace but still keeping half a meter away from her.

Chloe watched his broad back, her lips curling into a smile. Just a minor concern from Caleb made her feel dizzy with happiness, becoming the sweetest memories of her life.

Unrequited love always seems destined for a sad ending.

Throughout their walk, they passed many young couples and parents with their children. As they neared the closing time of Lenox Hill Children’s Hospital, Caleb became irritable and glared at her: “If Lily isn’t here, you’ll see how I deal with you.”

Chloe was used to his gruff, harsh demeanor. He never spoke to her kindly. Yet whenever he threatened to “deal with” her, she found it amusing.

Chloe tried to suppress her laughter, but her emotions were evident in her glistening eyes. She responded softly, “Okay.”

Caleb, displeased, shot her a sidelong glance. Chloe looked into the distance: “Lily may be young, but she’s very smart.” Because of Caleb’s work, he was rarely home, so Lily developed a strong sense of independence and high vigilance compared to other children her age.

Caleb gave her a sharp look, disdainfully withdrawing his gaze: “Of course, my daughter would be.”

“. . . . . .”

They arrived at Lenox Hill just as the staff was closing up. They split up to search, with Caleb striding ahead. Chloe called out to him: “Mr. Wilson.”

Caleb turned, his expression losing patience.

“I’ll give you my phone number. Should you discover her before I do, please inform me.”