Chapter 2 Silent Tears
756 Words
Chloe's mind was a whirl of confusion as the reality struck her. The uniform she just wore actually belonged to another woman!
Her vision blurred, and she stumbled slightly, clutching the edge of the dresser to steady herself.
How could Simon be so cruel, forcing her to wear something so intimate that had been someone else's? The thought of him comparing her to other women sent a shiver down her spine, a bitter cocktail of shame and sorrow.
Not wanting to endure more, she retreated to bed, yanking the blanket around her like a shield.
Her thoughts spiraled back to her past with Simon, the memories flooding in unbidden.
Chloe had always come from modest beginnings, and meeting Simon had upended her world.
She loathed the idea of becoming a rich heir's plaything and tried, in vain, to distance herself from him.
Yet Simon persisted, courting her with daily gifts as if she were a prize to be won.
After one of her many refusals, Simon had unraveled.
That fateful night, he downed several bottles of alcohol and staggered onto the university rooftop, threatening to leap if Chloe didn't accept his affection.
She almost walked away, but the wisdom of her father, Mark Stone, echoed relentlessly.
"Be kind, always, a force for good."
Staring at Simon, teetering on the edge, her heart clenched with fear, and she feigned agreement to save him.
Though she intended to break things off once he was safe, she found herself caught in love's unexpected snare.
Later came the car accident, a hit-and-run that devastated Chloe.
Her injuries were severe, and by the time her parents and Simon arrived, she was teetering at death's door in the ICU.
The doctor predicted a grim future, possibly a life trapped in a vegetative state.
For three days, Simon remained awake, driven by desperation, scouring his connections to find the driver and make him atone at the ICU threshold.
While her parents urged him to break ties, believing she might never awaken, Simon stood resolute. He even purchased wedding rings, keeping vigil outside her room in a groom's suit.
His vow was unyielding. Regardless of her fate, he vowed to marry her.
Perhaps miracles do manifest, for Chloe not only awoke but steadily mended.
From that point onward, she held no doubt in Simon's love.
Even her father, Mark Stone, smiled approvingly, stating, "If you can marry Simon, that will put my mind at ease."
Yet how had everything disintegrated into this mess?
Beneath the covers, Chloe's tears brimmed, shattering her feelings for Simon into countless shards.
Simon, fresh from his shower, slipped into bed, oblivious to Chloe's turmoil.
He reached instinctively for her hand, a nightly routine in their nearly 5-year marriage.
Chloe turned away quietly.
"I'm sleepy. Let's just sleep."
Simon hesitated, puzzled but undeterred.
Soon his steady breathing filled the silence, a sign of his descent into slumber.
Chloe bit down on her lip.
During those hospital days, Simon's relentless vigil outside the ICU lasted fifteen agonizing days.
Red-eyed and weary, he clung to the hope of her recovery.
Thus, even in the face of Simon's betrayal, Chloe resolved not to walk away.
Not yet.
She desired first to repay those fifteen days. Once repaid, she would then sever their ties.
The following day was her father's birthday.
Simon had vowed long ago to accompany her home for the celebration.
As they were about to leave, a notification flashed on Simon's unattended tablet.
It was a message from Wild Mature Woman.
Heart pounding, she opened the message to unveil a provocative image.
A sultry woman in red stockings and a pink nurse uniform, tongue playfully extended to reveal a piercing.
Wild Mature Woman: To spice up yesterday's dullness with your wife, Nurse Naughty has a special treatment for today.
Chloe swiftly shut the tablet.
Simon had previously accessed the tablet for work, neglecting to sign out of his messages.
With turmoil in her heart, she glanced at Simon, engrossed in his phone, clearly entranced by the tantalizing photo.
"Let's go. My parents have a feast prepared for us," Chloe urged.
Simon looked up, desire poorly masked, throat clearing.
"There's an urgent matter at the office. I must attend to it."
Sensing her skepticism, Simon grasped her shoulders firmly.
"You know the battles I fought with my family to marry you. Now that they've entrusted me with responsibilities, I must prove myself. It's all for you."
Chloe's expression remained stoic.
"For me?"
Simon insisted, "Of course, my hard work's to support you."
- Writer
