Chapter 5

**CHLOE**

Rachel glanced at me. I was still seated in my chair by the table.

 

"Oh, look who's here," Rachel said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I was starting to think we'd seen the last of you," she added.

 

Who's Laura, though? Her name echoed in my head. 

 

And why did her presence cause such unease in Jeffrey?

 

Lost in thoughts, I barely registered Rachel's barbs.

 

“Who's Laura?” I breathed; I didn't even know when my thoughts became audible.

 

Rachel's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and then she let out an amused laugh. 

 

“Of course he didn't tell you about her. She was his fiance before…” Her voice trailed off, her eyes tracing a slow path from my head to my toes before landing back on my face. “Before you showed up.”

 

Fiance?

 

Just when I thought nothing more could surprise me,

 

“I don't know what transpired between them and how he ended up with you, but I'm sure they'll patch things up soon.” Rachel continued, her voice adopting a falsely sympathetic tone: “Aww, and they're actually perfect for each other.”

 

She noticed the confusion etched on my face and turned to leave.

 

"Oh, and you don't stand a chance beside Laura.” A satisfied smirk played on her lips, and she disappeared into the hallway. 

  

Consumed by the image of this mysterious Laura, I wandered into the expansive garden. Spacious enough to comfortably seat a thousand guests, I knew they grew most of what they ate, but I still wondered why anyone would have a garden this grand.

 

Before I could lose myself further in contemplation, Robert sneaked up behind me and clamped his arms around my neck. 

 

"'You haven't gone blabbing to anyone, have you?" he demanded.

 

"No, I haven't." I coughed weakly. "Please, let go of me."

 

He lifted his grip from my neck slowly.

 

I coughed a few more times and then steadied my breath. “Perhaps you forgot to mention that your brother was engaged?”

 

“Who knew he was going to be back?” He snapped.

 

"Eh... hmm." We turned to see Henry, one of the gardeners, clearing his throat. He stood there, looking us dead straight in the eye, before Robert walked out. Henry followed suit shortly after.

 

I watched Laura emerge from her sleek red Porsche. She wore a matching crimson dress with a daringly high slit, nearly revealing her underwear.

Her flawless features were framed by her perfectly curled, side-parted hair, and her lips were painted with a bold red lipstick, which accentuated her perfectly sculpted cheekbones. 

 

She exuded effortless sophistication, a perfect complement to Jeffrey. 

 

Rachel was right; I didn't stand a chance beside her.

 

I followed Laura at a distance, and observed her disappear into Jeffrey's study.

 

I lurked around for a while but I didn't see her leave Jeffrey's study.

They were taking too long in there.

 

What were they discussing? Were they simply catching up?

 

Or.. Did they probably decide to…

 

I swallowed.

 

I leaned on the door and tried to eavesdrop a bit when I heard footsteps approaching.

 

I scrambled back, pretending to climb the stairs as Richard appeared.

 

“Hi Chloe,” he greeted, his forced smile failing to mask his discomfort. 

 

Perhaps I was overthinking.

 

He probably didn't like me either; that's fine. 

 

Richard knocked briefly on the study door before pushing it open without waiting for a response. 

 

I was relieved that he had interrupted their little session.

 

A moment later, Jeffrey emerged, Laura by his side. “I'll walk her out,” he said to Richard. 

 

Laura's eyes met mine, and she reached out, tugging on his arm. 

 

I rolled my eyes. 

 

I had hoped, for a split second, that he'd turn around and acknowledge my presence.

 

My heart sank a bit when he didn't.

 

Laura stopped at the car, her gaze falling on me. I stood by the entrance of the house.

 

“Jeffrey,” she said, "perhaps you should invest in some new clothes for your wife if you want her to be accepted in our social circle.” 

 

She said that a bit too loudly.

 

Jeffrey was standing just in front of her; she had probably wanted me to hear it too.

 

She slipped into her car and sped away.

 

Seeking solace, I retreated to my bedroom. Lily was out, leaving me to find comfort in my dad's voice. Though he'd been worried, I'd assured him that Lily and I were doing okay.

 

I lay on my back, my bed engulfed in pink, flowery sheets. Mary had come up to change my sheets last night, saying she had picked them especially for me because she felt they suited my personality. I adored pink, yes, but it felt like my entire personality had been reduced to a color.

 

I picked up a book I was reading and smiled cheesily as I flipped through the pages.

 

I was so engrossed in the book that I didn't notice Jeffrey standing at my door. 

 

“We're attending Richard's party tonight.” Jeffrey announced, his free arm stretching across the door. I turned to look at him; he wasn't wearing any shirts. His chest muscles and abs were well defined, and a tattoo rested across his left chest.

 

"Oh," I simply replied.

 

"No worries about the party. I'll send someone over to help with wardrobe and makeup.”

 

He must have taken Laura's words to heart.

 

He moved forward and sat on my bed. He lifted my open book from the bed and turned to the back. 

 

Then he looked up at me, "So you like things like this?” He asked with a smirk.

 

I immediately reached forward and snatched the book from his hand, feeling a bit embarrassed. A man's tongue rested on a woman's neck on the cover page, and the title read Fatal Seduction.

 

“Do you want to seduce me?” He asked, laughing. 

 

I didn't see what was funny.

 

I scoffed and looked away.

 

He lifted his right hand to cup my chin, turning my face toward him. He leaned forward and whispered to my left ear, “It'll be very easy.” 

 

I felt the butterflies in my stomach get noisier. 

 

My pulse quickened, and I felt goosebumps all over my body, this time making my nipples hard.