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"I haven't started talking and you're already lowering your head. Am I really that scary to you?" Vernon confronted. He had been dying to know about this too.

He felt that Chloe was scared of him for no absolute reason. Sometimes, he wondered if she just hated his presence, thus why she didn't even look at him.

"No, I'm not scared of you...." Chloe replied. 'Well, I was scared of you initially. Because you keep screaming at me, I feel weak whenever I get screamed at. I'd tremble and fall on the floor, cowering because I don't want to get hit....'

'But you've never hit me, even when I know that you're very angry,' Chloe said in her heart. She lifted her head slowly until she saw Vernon at the corner of her eyes, staring intently at her.

'And I realize I will not get hurt when I'm with you....'

"Really? You're not scared of me?" Vernon asked again. He was unsure if he had heard it right.

Of course, he wanted to live in a fantasy if he could. He wanted to, in fact.

A fantasy where he and Chloe lived as a beautiful couple, where nobody would be able to hurt them, and where he could bask over her smile like a sunflower basking in the sun.

But they lived in a harsh reality, and he had to face the truth, even if it'd hurt him.

"Just tell me if you're scared of me, Chloe...." Vernon implored. "I'd rather see you scream at my face, telling me how much you're scared and hate me simultaneously. I don't want to keep arguing with you."

Chloe shook her head fervently. She didn't know how he could get the idea that Chloe hated him.

'How could I hate you? You saved me at my lowest!' Chloe said in her heart. 'I could've died, or been forced to return to that bastard Vincent without you!'

There were so many things that Chloe wanted to say, but she was tongue-tied.

She simply didn't know how to start.

Vernon closed his eyes briefly, trying to fortify himself, "Chloe, be honest with me. We can't do this forever."

"I don't want to add even more trauma to your heart," Vernon said bluntly. He had prepared himself before Chloe arrived and became fully ready after having a nice lunch with his beloved woman.

He realized this wasn't a game anymore. His Chloe's safety was on

"I know that you've been suffering from Vincent's abuse. You might never want to say it, but I know," Vernon said. "I know that everything is his sin. So... I don't want to hurt you."

Vernon got up and stepped slowly toward Chloe.

He kneeled right before her and gently wrapped his hand around hers.

He put Chloe's hand on his cheek and closed his eyes, "Tell me if you hate me, you can scream at me, and slap me if you need to."

"I never want to hurt you, but I am just a normal human. I might make a mistake, and I might offend you. So if I made you angry yesterday, just hit me as hard as you can. It's better than making my heart bleed."

...

...

​ While closing his eyes, Vernon was waiting for Chloe to slap her. He was anticipating a hard slap. After all, he made her cry many times without knowing what he did wrong...

But after five minutes of waiting, he felt Chloe's palm rub his cheek tenderly.

He opened his eyes, wanting an explanation from her.

But the moment he opened his eyes, he saw Chloe leaning towards his face and giving him a loving kiss on his forehead.

Vernon was stunned. His brain was short-circuited as he never expected such a loving kiss initiated by Chloe. He held his breath for an instant as time suddenly froze at this very moment.

He felt a gentle wave of heat flowing from the spot where Chloe kissed him down to every inch of his skin.

He froze on the spot until Chloe finished her long kiss.

Chloe leaned back and stared down at Vernon, who in return, stared up at her.

"Why?" Vernon asked as it was the only question that popped into her mind. "Don't you hate me? Don't you feel disgusted?"

That idea of Chloe hating and being disgusted with him had been engraved since that day when he heard how she called him a good-for-nothing bum, someone who wasn't going to be as successful as his Big brother.

That moment became a nightmare that he couldn't forget. Even now, he still expected Chloe to show a bit of disgust.

But she was smiling at him, which was a peaceful smile. As if she never held any grudge or disgust toward him.

"How could I hate you?" Chloe returned the question. "You've been nothing but a good boy when you were a kid, and you've grown up to be a good, successful man now, you're my pride and joy, Vernon."

"You took me in when I was at my lowest. Give me a place to stay and a job that I like...." Chloe said. "I cannot thank you enough."

"I... I don't understand how you could get the idea that I hate you, but...."

"You are the only man who could make me feel safe and happy. I never feel so much joy when I'm with someone else-- well, except for Mackie, of course, hahaha...." Chloe tried to insert her daughter, just in case, it might be a little too awkward between them.

Chloe's words were like a big wave that washed and filled every empty hole in his heart.

It was so overwhelming that Vernon's body started shaking.

His tears welled up, and he could cry anytime.

"Oh no, why are you crying, Vernon?" Chloe gently wiped the tears at the edge of Vernon's eyes. "You're a big man, aren't you?"

Vernon didn't care anymore. He released Chloe's wrist and hugged her waist instead.

He buried his face in Chloe's lap and started crying as if his life depended on her.

"Chloe... my Chloe..."

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Ps: Check the comment section to see the new commissioned cover for this book <3

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