Seconds Chances Do Exist

Chloe jerked off the recliner panting and sweating profusely while gasping for air. 

“Glad to have you back again, Chloe. You’re finally embracing your healing.” A soothing feminine voice interrupted her thoughts, pulling her attention to her. 

Chloe was confused as she frantically navigated her environment when she noticed she was standing on her feet and she noticed her hands moving freely on their own. Chloe stared at her hands in disbelief.

“Woah!” She gasped and almost immediately covered her mouth with her hands because her voice shocked her. After all, she was dumb. 

“Chloe, please be seated.” The young lady with ombre straight hair and gray eyes suggested as she gently held onto Chloe’s arm and helped her seat up on the recliner. 

Everything was seemingly strange to her but as she sat up and looked closer, she remembered exactly where this was.

“Dr. Carmen Lopez?” She asked in disbelief. 

“I think you’re too worked up. Let’s talk at our next session.” Dr. Lopez suggested as she tapped her pen on her notepad. 

For the next few minutes, Chloe just looked around, trying to assess her situation. 

Dr. Carmen Lopez was a renowned mental health therapist who had been helping Chloe fight against her depression and Anorexia.

“Our next session is on the 12th of August.” The therapist added and Chloe remembered this conversation vividly because this wasn’t the first time she was hearing it. 

“Are we in the year 2020?” Chloe asked with much hesitation, all the while, her eyes were still wide open. 

Carmen found her a little awkward but she wound up nodding affirmatively. 

She especially remembered this conversation because it was the last time she ever came for the therapy session since she never found it helpful. This was after her third miscarriage over two years after her marriage. 

“Buzz buzz buzz…” A phone went off on the table for several seconds until Carmen spoke up, “You should answer your phone.”

Chloe was hesitant as she picked up her bag and brought out the phone, her hands trembling as she remembered the last time she held her phone. 

“Blake…” She mumbled as the terrifying memories rushed through her brain. 

She looked into the phone to see who it was and it turned out it was her husband– George Marlowe! 

More horrible memories eroded her thoughts and her trembling worsened until Carmen noticed her. 

"Chloe, are you alright?" Carmen asked worriedly. 

"It can't all be a hallucination. I felt it! Every damn bit of it!" Chloe bawled out as hot tears poured out of her eyes. 

Carmen was confused but as a therapist, she knew what Chloe needed at the moment. 

A hug. A warm, comforting hug! 

Her arms wrapped around her like chains, snuggling her into a warm embrace. 

Chloe cried for several minutes until the doorbell of the therapist's office rang. 

Crying won't solve her problems neither will it solve any of her problems so she decided to quit her crying, wipe off her tears and slowly release herself from Carmen's embrace, allowing her to open the door. 

"Love, you got me worried by not answering the phone. I've been waiting downstairs since forever!" George complained as he walked towards Chloe, looking extremely worried. 

As George walked closer, Chloe trembled in fear, taking several steps backward. 

George was quite confused but he went closer and held her hands while asking, "Are you alright?" 

Chloe only continued to tremble as words failed to express her feelings, leaving both Carmen and George confused. 

"Dr. Lopez, what is wrong with my wife?" George asked worriedly.

"Mr. Marlowe, I think she is just shaken after the hypnosis session we had. I'm sure she'll be perfectly fine after some rest." Carmen reassured him. 

"But…" George started to speak but stopped as he wasn't sure what to say. All the while Chloe never stopped trembling. 

At this point, Chloe wasn't sure what world she was living in. She had no idea how much of her life was real or a hallucination but one thing was clear, she remembered this day like it was yesterday but to her, this happened about three years back. 

Something had also shaken her up so much that day and every other conversation George had with Carmen were exactly the same. 

Eventually, George took her home but as soon as they arrived in front of the Marlowe's mansion, Chloe fainted in shock. 

George panicked and attempted to take her to the nearest hospital but fortunately, the family doctor who had come for his weekly check-up on the prime minister witnessed this and asked her to be taken in.

Over an hour after her treatment, Chloe finally woke to the horribly familiar nightmare of a room. 

"God, you're finally up!" George explained excitedly. 

The sight of him scared her as she remained just how horribly he had treated her on the night leading to her death. 

Chloe's phone went off again, making her flinch but George didn't notice this as he hurried to answer the phone. 

"My wife is taking a rest! No business today, please!" He bawled onto the phone and angrily ended the call afterward. 

He sat up and gently grabbed Chloe's hands, making her flinch again but George didn't notice this as he began to talk, "Sweetheart this was the same thing the doctors complained about. You're too stressed out working that's what's causing all these miscarriages. You have to take a break…" 

"Can I be left alone for now?" Chloe interrupted as she was tired of repeating her life again. 

George's presence made her feel highly unsafe, the room reminded her of her last days, and having to hear the same conversation that took place about three years back sent chills down her spine. 

"Chloe, are you alright?" He asked, surprised by Chloe's unusual behavior. 

 Chloe understood he was becoming suspicious so while still trying to gather her thoughts, she decided to reply less suspiciously, "Let's just continue this conversation tomorrow, I'm stressed out now." 

George sighed, "Ok, just get some rest. But I will take your phone away." He bargained. 

Chloe didn't object as she just wanted time alone to figure out her thoughts. 

Even though it was evening, it wasn't bedtime yet and Chloe expected him to stay out for a while while she figured out her life. 

Grabbing Chloe's phone, George attempted to kiss her but she quickly moved her face away, leaving George even more confused. 

"Chloe…"

"George, please." She begged, interrupting him.

As soon as he eventually stepped out, Chloe immediately went to lock the door before slumping behind it. 

Her whole body trembled thinking about the horrible moments she went through. She couldn't bring herself to believe that the pain of betrayal she felt from her loved ones, and the unrequited love she has now come to were all hallucinations. 

"They were real! They were f*cking real!" She screamed her lungs out. 

The images of her being dragged out of the room flashed across her eyes making her scared. 

She needed a firm answer to her questions so she ran towards her wardrobe and brought out her lap. 

She checked the dates over and over to be sure of what she was seeing. If anything, she was definitely reliving this day. 

Today was definitely a remarkable day in her past life. The day she decided to transfer her power as the CEO of her company to her husband. 

Chloe nervously bit the tip of her index finger as she frantically searched the internet for an explanation. 

After several hours of browsing, Chloe came to realize that hypnosis and hallucination could never be as deep as she felt it. 

"Second Chances do exist!" She mumbled severally as she continued to bite her fingertip until she cut herself. 

"Ouch…" She exclaimed, seeing the tiny blood form on her finger. 

"George! Jamie! You f*cking assholes are going to pay for this!" She cursed underneath her breath. 

As she scrolled through the internet, she came across an old video of Jamie broadcasting some news. 

"I loved you!" Chloe mumbled as she watched her laugh happily with her guest, tears dripping on her keyboards. 

Fortunately for her, George didn't come back that night and only sent a servant to tell her about his 'urgent all night' meeting! 

Chloe cried her eyes out all through the night as she dreaded the future she might be forced to relive again. 

*****

When her alarm clock went off by midnight, Chloe jumped up, startled but when her eyes fell on the date, she remembered the bucket list she had planned for the one-month countdown of their 3rd wedding anniversary. 

"In one month…" She mumbled inaudibly. 

In a month her father would be dead! 

The Marlowes only ended Chloe's dad when they finally and Chloe knew this well. 

Crying and being in disbelief won't solve anything and she also knew that well. The only thing that could really change things was her taking action and changing her fate for good. 

She looked through her drive and stared at their bucket list. The list of things they had planned to do together on a countdown to their wedding anniversary. 

"I have to save Dad! I won't let him die again." She mumbled to herself as tears streamed down her eyes uncontrollably. 

****

Meanwhile…

Four Seasons Hotel….

"Geo, you were so certain you were going to change her mind today. What happened? Was it Carmen?" Jamie asked, pacing about their special hotel room angrily. 

"No, Carmen did her job. Or maybe she overdid it. Chloe was extremely shaken that she couldn't hold a conversation. Baby, you don't have to be too worked up. I know just how to guilt trip her, after all, she just suffered another miscarriage." George reassured her. 

"Dammit! I'm so tired of her and you're not even helping matters! If you don't get that company from her, extorting the gold would be impossible and you will definitely lose favor in your Dad's sight. What if Sebastian wins her over?" Jamie complained further. 

"Jamie, Don't be ridiculous! The only way Seb could ever surpass me in life is by being my elder half-brother. Winning Chloe over is impossible. I know my wife. Just wait until tomorrow. I will guilt trip her to hand over the company." George reassured, finally appeasing Jamie as a sly smile spread through her lips. 

"Now you're talking, handsome! Now you're free to take me all night!" She whispered as she began to strip off. 

Tall, well built with a pair of blue eyes and jet black hair, George was definitely in the 'Handsome' category. 

Being a well-known TV presenter, Jamie's long, straight burgundy hair, bright gray eyes, and pointed nose always did magic in portraying her as the IT girl. 

The two were just perfect for each other. 

George took off his jacket as he walked up to her and pulled her in for a kiss, "Did you sort the papers?" He asked in a whisper. 

"How well you please me tonight will determine the response you get." She whispered back, gently massaging his groin. 

"F*ck!" George moaned pleasurably. "Don't stop!" He moaned further.