Chloe gave a sarcastic look towards Leonel before returning to the waiter's friendly gaze.
"Alright, carry on with your work."
The waiter nodded in understanding and hurriedly left Chloe.
"Damn, bastard!" Chloe grumbled, not liking it, and looked at the cashier with a friendly yet annoyed look. "Do your job properly," Chloe said coldly, with a smile that seemed to suppress her anger. It was unusual for the boss to behave like that. Even the cashier shivered upon seeing Chloe's irritated smile.
The sound of Chloe's footsteps approaching the table reverberated, but it wasn't very noticeable due to the crowded café.
"What brings you here?"
It was pointless for Chloe to act coldly, so she decided to be straightforward with the man before her.
Facing Chloe's harshness didn't discourage Leonel. Instead, he seemed to enjoy the mocking given by his ex-wife. When was the last time he saw Chloe pout like this? All that came to his mind w
"...what? What do you want to talk about?" Chloe asked bluntly.Leonel chuckled softly, slowly sipping his coffee to prevent the woman from leaving her seat."Chloe... am I no longer in your heart? Is the door to your heart completely closed to me?"Chloe rolled her eyes lazily. Although her tone sounded pleading, Chloe remained unyielding. After all, what was the point of returning to her ex-husband's embrace? Chloe would be better off finding a replacement for Leonel, someone like Darren. But was that really what Chloe wanted? Was it true that she no longer loved Leonel? She looked at the man in front of her again, wanting to reassure herself whether Leonel still held a place in her heart.Her heart raced, a faint blush filled Chloe's ears. Realizing something was amiss, Chloe immediately turned away from Leonel. Damn it. What was wrong with her?"Go away, I'm busy," Chloe dismissed and quickly rose from her chair, walking towards her private roo
Meanwhile, Leonel remained the same, unwilling to back down and insist on whatever he wanted. Not only that, but Leonel also seemed to be trying hard to get Chloe back, even though Chloe had no interest whatsoever.After that, the woman in front of Leonel glanced at Darren, and suddenly an uncomfortable feeling surged within her because she hadn't heard a word from Darren all this time. It wasn't just her, but Darren also seemed annoyed by Leonel's presence."Even though you've just met this man, I've known you for years, so you should at least trust me!" Leonel retorted again, but not long after that, the waiter arrived with the food that Leonel had ordered.Meanwhile, Darren looked at him lazily; his face turned sour. A strange turmoil emerged something unusual that felt strange. Suddenly, Darren felt jealous when he saw Leonel doing all this just for Chloe.He was genuinely jealous. He would do if punching Leonel here didn't cause trouble and lead to m
Darren's intention to meet Chloe yesterday was to tell her something significant. Ah, It's not just substantial but essential.His parents visited Beverly Hills. Suddenly. And everything was a mess because of Leonel's shameless appearance! Even when Chloe got into her car, that self-centered man followed her. Darren couldn't hold back anymore from confronting Leonel.He could only grumble throughout the journey of taking Chloe back to the cafe and forgetting that there was something significant he wanted to convey.That morning, Darren headed down to the dining table to participate in the morning activities as usual - having breakfast with his parents. It was a short-lived but customary routine for Darren at the dining table every time they came.It also meant that Darren had to be prepared for his parents' questions about his relationship with Chloe.After the events of last night, Darren became even more cautious and worried that his relationship
"How can Darren choose the woman we match him with? He also has a choice, but don't worry, Mom and Dad, Darren will introduce Chloe to you soon!" Darren emphasized to his parents, who nodded, listening to what their son said. The question from Darren's parents left him a little confused because he couldn't possibly accept the arranged marriage set up by his family."Mama just wants you to get married soon, Darren," his mother said, patting her son's shoulder. "Don't overthink about the arranged marriage Mama mentioned earlier."Darren nodded quietly, smiling to assure his mother that there was nothing to worry about. However, his thoughts were completely different. Darren's mind was in turmoil, torn between following his parents' wishes or quickly introducing Chloe's story to them.After a moment of silence, Darren decided to hurry back to work and bid farewell to his parents. He also wanted to discuss this matter with Chloe later."Well then, I'll go to
__Three days before Leonel's arrival__Could Adrianna forget about last night's conversation? Not. Even after waking up in the morning, Chloe's laughter still echoed in her ears.Damn, her friend was laughing at Adrianna."Hahaha, you two are so funny! There's not a day without a fight, huh? Why are you being so dismissive towards her? It's not good to ignore someone," Chloe pretended to give advice."Oh, you need a big mirror, don't you?"At the other end, Chloe pouted. "Don't talk about me, Ly.""Darren is a good guy. Don't take too long to give him a definite answer."There was a frustrated sigh. "I know.""Don't tell me you're still thinking about Leonel?!" Adrianna couldn't believe she was saying this, but she was genuinely curious about Chloe's feelings. Why did her friend doubt everything Darren did for her?"Is there a more annoying accusation than what you just said?"Adrianna chuckled. "Well... you never
After the morning assembly, all kindergarten teachers, including Adrianna, entered their respective classrooms to teach the children. For Adrianna, this was her world. Learning while playing with the children was so enjoyable that she felt grateful for their cheerfulness.From the smiles and laughter of her students, Adrianna momentarily forgot about her dealings with Sam, who was genuinely testing her patience."Miss Adrianna, please sing a song with us again today," one of her students, Jackson, said. Adrianna was originally planning to end the class session without singing again.Her energy was almost depleted as all their activities were enthusiastically done. Coloring the alphabet, themed drawings, and singing together. And now?"Singing again?""Yes, Miss!" they all exclaimed happily. It made Adrianna's smile grow even brighter."Alright, one more song!""Yay!!!"Everyone sang joyfully, swaying their shoulders and bodies
Once again, those words echoed in her mind, sending shivers down Adrianna's spine. She even distanced herself from her phone to ensure she was calling her friend Chloe.Hearing Adrianna's silence and lack of response, Chloe immediately chimed in again. "But be careful, and you might end up falling in love. Usually, those who start hating each other end up falling in love getting engaged, and married, hahaha." This time, Chloe's joking couldn't be hidden anymore.Making Adrianna irritated was quite entertaining for Chloe. No wonder Sam enjoyed teasing and provoking Adrianna; it was more amusing than watching stand-up comedy. Moreover, in Chloe's imagination, she could vividly picture Adrianna's ever-changing facial expressions and eye movements depending on her mood. It was highly entertaining for anyone witnessing it at that moment.Adrianna's eyes widened. Did she hear correctly? What was Chloe imagining? That she would fall in love with Sam? No way that could
As a result of Darren and Chloe's messy impromptu breakfast, Darren made a foolish decision. Without informing anyone and barely saying a word after dropping off Chloe at the café, Darren followed his parents back to Santa Monica. No, Darren didn't agree to the arranged marriage. He just needed time to think about his relationship with Chloe."Why is it so difficult to introduce you to my parents, Chloe?" Darren complained with a long sigh. His face was gloomy as he reluctantly followed his parents, who wondered why Darren had joined them."Are you sure your child is okay?" the mother asked her husband, occasionally glancing at Darren."Just leave it. Don't ask too many questions or pressure him too much. Papa is afraid it might have serious consequences seeing Darren's return last night."Eventually, they agreed not to ask about Darren's girlfriend, whom they only knew through stories. As parents, they were also curious about their son's partner.
"So... this is Chloe?" the woman, observing the newcomer, asked. In one glance, Rania could tell that her son's companion had quite a high taste. Everything about her attire looked well put together."Yes, Mom. It is Chloe," Darren spoke first. "Mom was questioning her like a police officer. Chloe got scared, you know."Rania frowned at her son's comment. She was already worried enough about the promises her son made. What more did Rania want? She just wanted to see Darren happy with his partner. How long would they continue their relationship? Darren was at an age where he should be starting a family. Why postpone it?"Don't talk like that by the door." This time, Bagas spoke. Since Darren's car entered the garage, Bagas had been preparing himself to welcome his future daughter-in-law. He was also quite curious about the woman Darren brought this time.Even though he had rejected the idea of an arranged marriage from both him and his mother."Oh,
It has been a month since Leonel woke up.There are a few activities Leonel can do now. All his activities revolve around the hospital bed. He is still under intensive monitoring by a capable medical team. Two days after waking up, Robby moved Leonel to Singapore.The treatments Leonel underwent brought significant changes. The surgeries on his legs and abdomen went smoothly. His health recovered quickly, although he still couldn't move as usual. There are still many therapies that Leonel needs to undergo to regain normal mobility.The atmosphere in his room has mostly stayed the same since he first occupied it."Sir," one of his employees called out. Regarding office matters, Leonel wanted to take a bit of time. His mind was still functioning, and he insisted on handling Mountain again. At first, Robby disagreed, but Leonel pleaded earnestly.He said, "If I'm not busy working, Pa, I'll go crazy. Every passing second, Chloe is the only thing on my
Agatha continued sobbing in Chloe's embrace. The news of her son's accident a while ago had shattered her world. The son she had raised with love and let go for the sake of his passion ended up like this. The last message she received on her phone informed her that Leonel was on his way back to New York City."Ma, please sit down. Let me get you something to drink," Chloe said, gently guiding the beloved woman to the chair she had been sitting in. Chris stood up and chose to talk with Robby about the latest news regarding Leonel."No need, Chloe," Agatha speak.Chloe looked at the woman with concern. Agatha Theodore had a condition that could quickly worsen upon hearing sudden news. Chloe hadn't forgotten how she had cared for Agatha when Mountain was in a critical condition some time ago.They held each other's hands."Have you been here all this time?" Agatha asked Chloe, who seemed lost in thought."Yes, Ma.""How is Leonel doing?"
"Have Mama and Papa arrived yet?" Chloe asked when she returned to the corridor where they had met Chris. He was still sitting there, occasionally busy with his phone and engaged in a serious conversation."Not yet. They're still on their way."Chloe nodded in understanding. "Has Leonel... regained consciousness?" she asked cautiously. Her eyes glanced towards the open door. She felt there might be a visit from the medical team to reexamine Leonel's condition."He has."Chloe let out a slow breath. "But why are you here, Mr. Chris? Aren't you accompanying Leonel?""The medical team is observing Leonel's leg, Chloe. There's a significant fracture in his shin."The woman exclaimed in surprise. "Is it serious?""We'll wait for the doctor's update.""Will I be allowed to go in?"Chris looked at Chloe with a furrowed brow. "Are you kidding? Leonel would be happy to be visited by you, Chloe."Chloe's smile turned awkwar
"Good afternoon, Chloe. It's nice to see you again," Chris greeted Chloe, extending his hand with a smile. Relief appeared on Chris' face, knowing that Chloe was there. She still cared for him in some way. It was understandable, considering that in the past, Chris had always emphasized how lucky Leonel was to have a wife like Chloe.Even in the last moments before he handled their divorce, Chris had given Leonel a stern warning. Now, it had become a reality: Chloe couldn't be reached again by Leonel, no matter how hard he tried."I'm also glad to see you, Mr. Chris. How have you been?" Chloe replied politely, although she felt awkward meeting Chris before Darren. Nevertheless, she was happy to see Chris there. To see that Chris was in good health and vitality. They last met at the final trial that implicated Josh and Ester. After that, Chloe chose to distance herself from the Grisham family."By God's grace, I'm doing well." Chris smiled warmly. His eyes immedia
Chloe was still in Leonel's hospital room at that time. She felt touched by what her ex-husband said. It was clear that Leonel deeply regretted his past treatment of Chloe. Not only that, it was also evident that Leonel wanted to avoid repeating all the events and mistakes he had made if he returned to Chloe. The woman didn't say much about it. She could only stay silent while holding Leonel's hand.Leonel still refused to let go of Chloe's hand. He thought that he needed his mother to accompany him now. Leonel didn't care how much pain his whole body was in. All he wanted was Chloe's presence. Unbeknownst to him, Chloe had been by his side all along.The effect of medication or the result of the accident made him unfocused. Who knows."I'll call the doctor," Chloe said as she tried to release the grip of their hands, which had not loosened even a bit."Not now, Mom," Leonel mumbled softly. The man closed his eyes again with a grimacing face, trying to en
Upon arriving at the hospital, Chloe hurriedly walked toward Leonel's ward. This time, she didn't want to leave Darren alone like when she first heard the news about Leonel. Although Darren was with her, Chloe realized that she had been neglecting Darren's presence. She didn't want Darren to feel that way again. She was in a state of panic when she found out about Leonel's accident.Darren and Chloe walked side by side toward Leonel's ward. When they arrived at the VVIP room, Chloe stopped in her tracks. Through the window, Chloe could see that Leonel was still unconscious. There were monitors and medical equipment on both sides of him, ensuring his condition was stable.Chloe leaned against the wall in the hospital. She wanted to go in but was concerned about disturbing Leonel."Do you want to go in?" Darren asked Chloe, who chose to remain silent after peaking at Leonel from the outside.Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Can I?"Darren nodded quickly. "I
Chloe would go to the hospital whenever she had free time to check Leonel's condition. She was apprehensive about him after the accident. Leonel still hadn't regained consciousness. Agatha and Robby Grisham, who knew about their son's condition, looked incredibly sad. The worried expression was visible on their faces. Agatha didn't leave the hospital where Leonel was being treated. Agatha planned to transfer him to a much larger hospital with better facilities once he regained consciousness. However, she trusted the current doctors' treatment. She couldn't doubt them because Leonel's safety was in their hands. Of course, Leonel's skillful hands were also involved. Where else would their dexterity come from if not as a gift from God? Chloe felt guilty about Leonel. Many "what ifs" were swirling in her mind, but she couldn't do anything about it. Her decision regarding her feelings was already firm. What would become of her if she wavered and left a small opening for L
The multiple-car accident had befallen Leonel. It made everyone there run instantly to check on Leonel's condition. Many were worried that the victim and the two truck drivers who unintentionally hit Leonel's car had died on the spot. This chain accident caused panic on the left side of the road. Many vehicles stopped and slowed due to the severe damage to Leonel's car.A cloud of smoke surrounded the black sedan that Leonel was driving."Quick, help! Please call the police now!" one of the drivers, who seemed very panicked, ordered."Alright, I'll call the police and an ambulance to come here immediately," replied one of the people at the scene.Meanwhile, holding a glass in her office, Chloe suddenly shattered it. She was drinking as usual, and nothing was unusual. However, she suddenly felt uneasy. She sensed something terrible was happening, although she didn't know why. She even felt her heart pounding rapidly. She didn't know what news would be brou