Lunch Date

Up until the next morning, Chloe strategized. As the day brightened, her fears increased and she realized just how helpless she is.

If she was ever going to go up against the Marlowes, she'd need a more powerful alliance. Someone more powerful than the Marlowes and the only family above the Marlowes was the Royal Family!

"Blake…" She mumbled thinking about the man that was by her deathbed.

As soon as thoughts of Blake flooded her memories, she remembered George's confession and she quickly ran towards their walk-in closet. She frantically searched through her wardrobe, scattering her clothes all around the closet until she came across an old box she had brought with her.

With a heavy heart, she opened the box, staring at all the love notes and cute teddy she had received back in college.

She had always cherished them, thinking it was from her husband but after knowing the truth, she began to cherish them even more.

She went through a few of them, tears streaming down her eyes and in the end, she realized Blake was the only one she had in this life.

She remembered the last time they were so close together. The time they confessed their love for each other. The wishes they shared and the second chance they prayed for. It was finally here. She got the second chance and she wasn't going to let it be in vain.

Chloe finally realized she got this chance for a reason and the reason was so she could rewrite her fate.

For the first time since her newfound life, she began to reason properly as she got up and returned the box. She began to arrange the clothes but she felt she was waiting too much time so she quickly went into the shower, took her bath and picked up one of her best dresses to wear.

'I haven't lost much weight yet. I hope he still finds me pretty.' She thought to herself as she adjusted her makeup in front of the mirror.

A continuous bang came on her door and with much hesitation, Chloe finally opened the door.

"Goodness, SIL! I've been calling your phone since forever. You didn't even come out for breakfast, what happened?" Ruby complained, placing several of her dresses on the bed.

For several seconds Chloe stared at blue-eyed and blonde-haired Ruby until tears blurred her vision as she remembered Ruby's effort in saving her the night she was murdered.

She has always been a sweetheart and Chloe always cherished her but after going through hell and back, Chloe learned to cherish her even more.

She subconsciously pulled her into a warm hug that lasted for minutes, sniffing and wiping off her tears which only made Ruby more worried.

"SIL, are you alright? Why are you crying?" She asked, her voice low and compassionate.

"Because you're so beautiful, your make-up is well done even though you don't need it." Chloe complimented, making Ruby's cheeks burn.

"Now, enough with the tears, and help me select a perfect dress for a lunch date. I'm going out with my fiancé." She squeaked delightfully.

"Fiancé…" Chloe started to talk but quickly sealed her lips.

Truthfully, she had forgotten who Ruby's fiancé was. But it wasn't her fault, Ruby has always been in and out of several relationships than she could remember and she always takes every single one of it seriously until she gets her heartbroken…or she gets tired and breaks the person's heart.

Chloe searched through the stack of dresses and picked up a midi sleeveless hot pink fluffy feathered dress which she gave to her.

"This will go perfectly with your beige stilettos and a pair of silver jewelry will do the magic." Chloe suggested.

"That's why I love you!" Ruby joked, "By the way, you look breathtakingly gorgeous, going on a date with Geo?" She asked as she scanned Chloe's maxi dress.

"Uhm…No! I'm just going out…"

"Don't mind me. It escaped my mind that your 3rd-anniversary one-month countdown starts today." Ruby interrupted before Chloe could finish her statement.

She pecked Chloe's cheeks before packing her clothes and running back to her room.

Chloe heaved a sigh as she watched her leave, her smile slowly fading from her lips. "You're so innocent, you don't deserve this family." She mumbled inaudibly.

Her room looked a complete mess by the time she finished dressing up but not to waste much of her time, she asked the house help to clean up her room while she left the house in her car.

Knowing Blake, the only place he could at that time was the office so she drove straight to his hospital.

As she drove, she contemplated on how she was going to start a conversation with him as she nervously bit the tip of her finger while driving with one hand.

'Hi, My Prin…Blake— No! This won't do.'

'Longest time, Blake— F*ck!' She sighed, "We are not even that close." She mumbled in distraught.

While driving she noticed a small car crash at a U-turn adjacent to her and she remembered the day her life came to an end in her past life.

Even though it was painful, she decided not to look at the bad side as an idea crept into her head.

Blake was a general physician and a gynecologist so using sickness and childlessness as an excuse would be an easier way to get closer to him.

"Yes!" She exclaimed excitedly as she packed her car in the underground parking lot of the biggest general hospital in Castile.

Chloe was a public figure so going to the reception and asking to see the CEO without an appointment wasn't a big deal.

For several seconds, she waited in front of his office, deliberating whether or not to knock on the door. The courage she had earlier had all vanished now that she was so close to facing him.

'Damn! I can't do this." She mumbled dishearteningly as she turned around to leave but the door suddenly flung open.

"Hey, SIL! What are you doing here?" Ruby's cheerful voice called out to Chloe, forcing her to turn back.

Chloe was shocked to see Ruby standing right in front of Blake who equally stared back at her in shock and disbelief.

"You're here?" Chloe threw the question back to her.

"I told you I was going on a lunch date. But you…" Ruby was still talking when Chloe's stomach began to rumble. She hadn't had anything to eat since the previous day so that was expected.

Chloe felt embarrassed as she gently held her stomach and turned her face away but Ruby grabbed her hand and smiled brightly.

"SIL, how could you skip your meal? Great timing anyway. You can join us for lunch, I'm sure Blake won't mind, right?" She suggested as she turned to look at the confused Blake.

"Don't worry I will…"

"Of course not!" Blake replied, interrupting Chloe.

"Now, let's go. I'm famished." Ruby suggested, dragging Chloe along while Blake walked behind them, not taking his eyes off Chloe.

When they arrived at the parking lot, Zane was waiting at the parking lot, ready to get the car moving.

He was startled when he saw Chloe coming with them and as soon as Blake was close enough, he pulled him away for a quick conversation.

"Why is she…"

"I don't know but one thing I know for sure is that we are going to have lunch together, thanks to Ruby." Blake whispered, interrupting Zane's question.

"Woah, that's strange. Why didn't you object? Her presence is definitely going to make you uncomfortable!" Zane complained.

"How can I when…"

"Come on Blake! What are you both whispering about? We're famished!" Ruby complained and they were forced to end their conversation.

"I can't sit in the back with them so I will drive." Blake concluded as he walked towards the back door of the car and opened the door for the ladies to enter before going to the driver's seat and driving off.

It wasn't like Zane to let Blake go about on his own so he quickly took a cab outside the hospital and trailed them to the restaurant they had reserved since there was no other Royal car available at the office.

Sitting in the private room of a five-star restaurant, they all ate in silence while Zane waited in front of the room, right beside the door.

Chloe's hunger had completely vanished upon realizing Ruby and Blake's relationship.

Not that she had a problem with any of them but Blake was supposed to be 'hers'! She had become possessive of him the minute she realized Blake was her high school crush.

Her face was frowned until they finished eating and by the time they finished eating, Ruby noticed her frown.

"SIL, are you alright?" Ruby asked out of concern.

"Don't I look fine to you?" Chloe fired at her, making her flinch.

Even though she wasn't going to confess her feelings to him today, she still wanted to start a friendly relationship with him but Ruby's presence wasn't helping matters.

"Chloe…"

"So you both are dating?" Chloe asked again, cutting Ruby shut as she scanned their fingers, seeing their engagement rings.

Ruby and Blake were taken aback by her question because the news of their engagement was old news.

"Chloe, are you sure you're alright?" Ruby asked again, all the while Blake just stared at them in silence.

Chloe realized her anger was becoming too obvious so she decided to quickly change her tone and also her facial expressions.

She let out a sigh as she faked a smile, "I was just teasing you." She lied.

Ruby feigned anger for a while before she laughed it out but Blake was expressionless.

“By the way, SIL, why did you say you were at Blake’s office again?” Ruby finally brought up the question that Blake was curious to know and the way he adjusted himself on his seat shortly after the question confirmed his interest in the question.

“Uhmm…” Chloe adjusted herself as she thought of what to say.

“I have some business with Blake!" She announced, putting on a straight face.

"B-business?" Blake blurted out in disbelief, finally speaking up.