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"Vernon, is everything alright?"

…

"Vernon?"

"No, everything is not alright," Vernon replied. He knew he should\'ve said that everything was okay and under control.

But he couldn\'t hide his vulnerability in front of Chloe. He wanted her to know how worried he was and how regretful he felt after realizing the true extent of Chloe\'s suffering under Vincent\'s hand for the past ten years.

Chloe had no idea what was in Vernon\'s mind, but she tried to comfort him even though she was blind about the problem. It was the least she could do, after all.

"You can tell me if you feel troubled over something…." Chloe muttered. "I don\'t know what\'s the problem, though? Is it about work?"

"No, it\'s not about work— I wish it was…." Vernon replied, his throat parched as he was holding his sobs.

However, no matter how hard he tried to hide his sadness, he simply couldn\'t gloss over his devastation. His body trembled as he hugged his beloved tighter until Chloe felt stuffy buried inside Vernon\'s hot body.

"Really? It\'s not about work?" Chloe wanted to hug him back, but her hands were both injured, so she could only carefully circle her arms around his waist. "What is it about, Vernon?"

…

Vernon wondered why Chloe always tried to hide the abuse she experienced.

Was it because she didn\'t want anyone to know?

Or was it because Vincent terrified her so much that she stopped seeking help?

Either way, Vernon didn\'t want Chloe to hide anymore. He wanted to encourage her to talk to him about all the abuse she suffered, so he could know everything in full detail.

He wanted to know everything as it would be a reminder for the rest of his life to protect the woman he loved.

But he couldn\'t force her to tell everything. It could probably trigger her trauma. So he whispered, "Tell me when you\'re ready."

Chloe\'s body stiffened instantly, "A—About what?"

"About all the things you experienced with Vincent."

"Ah… um… I don\'t think you need to know," Chloe said. "It\'s not… pretty to hear."

"I know. That\'s why I want to know," Vernon slowly pushed Chloe to his arm\'s length. He looked down at Chloe, checking all the bruises and small cuts on her face.

It hurt him knowing he could\'ve prevented all the bruises and cuts if he could be more protective.

"I\'m sorry that I failed to protect you. I should\'ve been there with you instead of just sending two bodyguards."

"Uhm… it\'s fine, Vernon," Chloe tried to pacify the big guy. "You know that it\'s also partly my fault, right? I\'m the one that keeps asking you to stop sending so many bodyguards, then they get overwhelmed against Vincent\'s people."

Chloe still tried to put up a sweet smile even though she was hurting. Vernon didn\'t know whether he should be happy that Chloe was so strong after experiencing terrible abuse or be sad for the same reason.

"Besides, I will have to eventually confront Vincent. He refused to sign that divorce paper, and has been terrorizing me for so long," Chloe looked down to stare at her cast. "This cast may look painful, but it\'s proof that I— Chloe Carlson, has finally stood on my ground for the first time, and fought against that monster. It\'s a battle scar, I guess."

"You\'re not allowed to have more battle scars after this," Vernon fretted. "This will be the last, understand?"

Chloe giggled when she saw the concern in his eyes. He looked like a parental figure trying to tell his child.

"You know, seeing you like this reminds me of when you were a kid. Do you remember how often I scold you for doing dangerous stunts around your mansion?"

"Wha—"Vernon was flustered because Chloe turned a serious moment into a lighthearted one. "W—Well, I do remember one thing or two…."

"Are you sure only a thing or two? I remember that I had to scold you almost everyday back then."

"That\'s a thing in the past, I\'m not an insecure brat with an anger issue anymore," Vernon tried to defend himself.

Chloe giggled again, "Sure, Big boy."

"I—I\'m serious!"

"Mhm, I know," Chloe nodded. "Don\'t worry about my wound. It will heal, eventually."

Vernon sighed as he pitied the condition between them. He just couldn\'t stop worrying for Chloe, while Chloe didn\'t even seem to worry much about her wounds.

Vernon might not realize it, but Chloe had been watching the change in his expression, and her smile grew wider as she realized that Vernon genuinely cared for her.

"You don\'t need to worry too much about me, Vernon," Chloe said. She took one step forward until there was no gap between her and Vernon. She tiptoed and kissed Vernon\'s chin, right under his lip. "I fight back because I want to protect what\'s important for me, just like what you do right now."

Vernon felt the heat from the spot where Chloe had kissed him. The heat spread around his face, making him redder than before. He— once again, blushed like a teenage boy who had just earned his first kiss.

It was so rare for Chloe to initiate a kiss, but when she did, it would create thousands of explosions in Vernon\'s head, making his entire brain suddenly short-circuit out of happiness. He just stood there- stiff like a tree stump, staring at his beloved with bewildered eyes.

All this happiness was like a push for him to confess. He knew that he should\'ve been wiser and waited until the problem between Chloe and Vincent was solved before they could move on.

But his heart continued giving him a push to just confess.

"Chloe…"

"Hm?

The word \'love\' was already in his throat, ready to be let out in one breath. He suddenly got nervous like a middle school boy trying to confess, so he clenched his fist and took a deep breath to prepare himself.

\'It\'s now or never, at least I want her to know my true feelings.\'