I Stopped Waiting for His Reply

Chapter 6

She didn't wait for Chloe to speak. The car slid forward and drove off.

Chloe watched the rear of the car, standing under the blazing sun for a long time.

That car was the birthday gift she had given Leon in the first year of their marriage. She still remembered how full of hope she'd been, imagining his surprise. But Leon had only glanced at it and never driven it.

Today was the first time he drove it.

She had waited 5 years to see that dream come true, only for him to drive another woman away and leave her behind.

So no need, Leon.

I won't always wait for you. I don't have to wait for you.

After lunch, Chloe called a car and went to the beach alone with her bodyguards. The itinerary and hotel had long been booked. She didn't want to waste them.

Leon called 3 times during that time. That was already a lot for him. Chloe didn't answer any of them.

She did the activities she wanted, went where she wanted, and actually had some fun.

The next day, while walking along the beach, she ran into Mandy. Leon stood beside her, holding bags of food, using a tissue to wipe the corner of her mouth.

When he saw Chloe, he paused.

"When did you get here? Why didn't you leave a message? Mandy and I looked for you for a long time yesterday. She's still in postpartum recovery and twisted her ankle. Running around exhausted her—"

Then what about me? Yesterday I was tossed around in the car for over 5 hours because of her. Wasn't I tired?

Chloe suppressed the pointless argument, turned expressionlessly, and walked toward the sea, shaking them off.

Mandy jogged after her, her lowered voice dripping with smugness.

"Miss Bennett, you're really no fun. No matter how much time you waste on Leon, his heart will only ever be with me."

Chloe laughed. "Only with you? You've been with him this long and still don't know you're just a stand-in? What he wants is simply your face—the one that looks exactly like Tanya."

Seeing Mandy's expression change wasn't as satisfying as she'd expected.

Chloe kicked at the seawater boredly. Suddenly, a force yanked her forward. Her feet left the ground. Below was an underwater cliff, dark and bottomless.

"Miss Bennett, your high-and-mighty attitude is really annoying. Leon said you're not a good swimmer. I wonder if this will teach you a lesson."

Mandy released her and swam away agilely.

The water at the cliff was freezing. Chloe was only a mediocre swimmer. Panic hit instantly.

She choked on seawater, struggling toward shore, but a current pushed her farther and farther out. Beside her came frantic cries for help. The rip current had caught Mandy too. But Mandy was stronger, at least able to breathe.

In the churning waves, Chloe saw Leon. He ran toward them, swimming fast and hard.

Instinctively, she grabbed his arm and lifted her face above the water to gasp for air. But her hand was flung off and pushed away. Before she could take a breath, she plunged back into the sea.

Suffocation spread through her body. This time, she had no strength left to struggle. She could only watch as Leon steadily carried Mandy toward the shore.

Darkness closed in. Chloe slowly sank into the deep...

"Miss Bennett? Miss Bennett? How are you feeling?"

Chloe spat out seawater and opened her eyes. She was lying on the beach, her two bodyguards soaked beside her. She gripped the female bodyguard's hand tightly, staring motionless at the blue sky until her eyes ached. A tear slid from the corner of her eye.

"Chloe!"

Leon pushed through the crowd and rushed over. Seeing her safe, he let out a breath. "Just now I—"

Chloe didn't want to hear him or see him. She told the bodyguard, "Take me back to the hotel. Help me up. I have no strength."

Leon crouched and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I'll take you."

She shoved him hard, but his arm was like iron. She laughed bitterly. "Fine. Mandy deliberately pushed me into the sea. That's attempted murder. You call the police and have her arrested, and I'll let you take me."

Leon denied it outright. "She saw you were upset and wanted to splash around with you. She didn't know there was a cliff. You misunderstood her."

The expected answer.

Chloe said coldly, "Then stay away from me."

Seeing her sharp, hateful gaze, Leon's strength suddenly drained.

"Leon..."

Mandy's tearful voice came from behind. He turned instinctively. When he looked back, Chloe had already risen with the bodyguard's help and was walking away.

That thin silhouette stung his heart like a needle.

That evening, Mandy knocked on Chloe's door.

"What is Leon's relationship with Tanya? When he saved me this afternoon, he kept calling me 'Tanya.'"

Chloe paused. She looked down and lightly touched a bruise on her arm—left there when Leon flung her off in the sea.

"His first love. Tanya. She killed herself by jumping into the sea."

"I'm Tanya's twin sister? No wonder he..." Mandy's expression went blank for a moment. She had never connected Leon's kindness to her with her dead sister. Then she narrowed her eyes.

"So what if Leon liked my sister? The dead can't compete with the living."

"Miss Bennett, at least I have this face that looks exactly like my sister's. I can win. You have nothing. People who can't win should step aside early."