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"It's fine...." Chloe replied. "But it's better if we don't talk about it, Vernon. I don't want to make it awkward."

Vernon's heartbeat skipped for a second. He almost couldn't hide his shock and sadness in response to Chloe's reply. But he tried to toughen himself up and nodded, "Yeah, it's better for us not to talk about it."

Now it was Chloe whose heartbeat skipped, and she quickly looked away as she didn't want Vernon to see a trace of sadness in her eyes, "Yeah, you're right...."

Vernon clasped his knees for a moment before he got up, "You should get properly dressed. We're going out to eat in a restaurant today."

Chloe turned her head slowly and asked, "Eating outside? With you? And Mackie?" she paused for a moment, waiting for Vernon to refute her, just in case she misheard his statement. But he didn't, he really meant it, and he had planned it since this morning with the help of Diamond.

"Vernon, that's- dangerous. What if one of Vincent's people saw us together. They will discover your identity!" Chloe voiced her vehement disagreement. She only had one priority in life right now, and that was to protect Vernon and Mackie. "Is it because you're too tired to cook dinner? I'm fine with takeouts or Ubereats, really. I can also cook light dinner if you want, though it might take a while," Chloe looked at her right hand depressedly.

"No, I've planned everything with Diamond today. The restaurant owner is my close friend that can be trusted, and he is willing to empty his restaurant for the whole night only for the three of us."

Chloe wasn't surprised that Vernon could book an entire restaurant all for themselves and had many close confidants around him. But she was surprised that he'd do so much just for them to be eating out together.

It would be rude for her to reject his effort, so she slowly nodded, "But I don't think I look good in dress and um... this-" Chloe raised her cast covered with Mackie's colorful doodles.

"Hahah! Why'd you need to wear a dress? It's just going out to eat, remember?" Vernon said. "Besides, it's cold outside. I don't want you to catch a cold just because you want to look sexy."

"I--I'm not trying to look sexy!" Chloe's cheeks reddened as if she had just told a lie. She got up and rushed downstairs.

"Don't forget to tell Mackie!" Vernon yelled, making sure that everyone was ready in about an hour.

He couldn't help but smile when he imagined Chloe wearing variations of sexy low-cut dresses.

Black dress? Oh, she'd be stunning.

Red dress? He'd love to run his finger on the red straps.

White dress? That would give him the wildest imagination! The white dress reminded him of a wedding--

Vernon shook his head. He quickly dispelled the idea, or else he might get caught in the moment again and say things he shouldn't-- not until he kicked that bastard Vincent out of Chloe's life, at least.

**

Chloe told Mackie to change her pajama with jeans and a jacket because they were eating at a restaurant.

Chloe could hear her daughter's excited squeal as she rummaged through her wardrobe to find good clothes. She wanted to use some party dresses she owned, but Chloe reminded her there was no party.

So Mackie grabbed what her mother told her, though she demanded to use the purple sweater Granny bought her.

Chloe was also a little conflicted about what to wear.

There was a red dress she had wanted to wear for a long time, though she never had the chance because Vincent never took her to a fancy party before.

'I don't think I look good wearing that too...' Chloe thought.

Thus, she grabbed something similar to her daughter's; Jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and a padded jacket.

She couldn't wear any makeup with one hand, so she only applied concealer under her eyes to cover some of her blemishes before brushing her long wavy hair.

After she was done, she grabbed Mackie's hand and went upstairs.

"Ready?" Vernon asked. He stood near the kitchen. He was wearing jeans and the same tucked shirt and trousers he used for work today but replaced the suit with a black bomber jacket because it was cold and windy outside.

Chloe couldn't help but feel a little envious of Vernon. She kept on worrying that she'd look ugly in any clothes, while Vernon could wear a random bomber jacket, and now he looked even more handsome and dashing, even if his hair was a little messy.

'Oh to be so good looking,' Chloe commented in her heart.

"Ready!" Mackie chirped. She released her mother's hand and rushed towards her Uncle, "Let's go, Uncle, I'm sooo hungry!"

Vernon smiled at Mackie, "I'll allow you to eat two desserts tonight."

**

Chloe walked behind Vernon, holding Mackie's hand while they walked from the parking lot to the restaurant door.

As Vernon said, they were the only guests tonight, and to keep it secret, most of the lights outside were turned off, and there was no valet.

Not that it mattered for Chloe, but she was already so grateful for Vernon to be invited with her daughter.

Vernon chose the fancy restaurant that Chloe often passed on her way to the grocery store but never visited because it needed a reservation. Chloe would never be able to afford it under Vincent's watch anyway.

Mackie kept telling random stories that a seven-year-old kid liked to tell, from her school, friends, toys, and random imagination.

Vincent never liked hearing Mackie's childish stories. Sometimes he even told her to keep quiet if she didn't have anything important to say.

But Vernon listened to all of her stories, even responding by answering her questions or asking a question in return to get Mackie's childish answers.

He chuckled and couldn't help but pat Mackie's head a few times, finding her too cute to handle.

Those two seemed inside their small bubble, harmoniously walking together like a father-daughter duo.