**CHLOE**“Yeah,” she confirmed. “But not permanently, though. Here's my home, of course, so I'll always come back. I just think I need a break from all these, you know,” she explained. “Probably a few months of vacation in another country, or I could just go for my masters degree.”I was trying to process what she'd just said.She just woke up this morning and decided to leave?I was too stunned to speak.“Is it because of Mark?” I finally managed to ask.“Not entirely him; I figured I needed some alone time and a fresh environment to feel better.”Tears welled up in my eyes. “I understand. It seems your mind’s already made up?” She nodded slowly. “We'll still be in touch, surely.”“Then I wish you all the best,” I murmured, pulling her into a tight hug, and tears rolled down my cheeks. She was sobbing too. “I'll miss you too,” she choked out.We remained in each other's arms for a while before I asked, “When are you leaving?”She was silent, and so I disengaged from her arms to st
**CHLOE**I moved back, startled, but he wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me close. He fixed his gaze on me, his cold and distant eyes sending shivers down my spine and making goosebumps erupt all over my skin.His hands reached for my breasts again, and he squeezed them.“Jeffrey,” I swallowed, feeling warmth between my thighs. “You said you were going to call back, and you...”He bent down and shut me up with a brutal kiss, sucking and biting my lips.He will definitely not kiss way out of this. He'll have to give me an explanation for what happened.A soft moan escaped my lips as his mouth moved to my neck, kissing and sucking on it passionately.“Stop,” I murmured, my hands crushing into his chest. I tried to push him back, but it was like pushing a wall.I was still angry with him. He suddenly stopped, his hands loosening his tie, and then he undid the first two buttons of his shirt. I watched him tug off his trousers and underwear in one swift move, revealing his
**CHLOE**I looked around, confused. Where did he go? I reached for my phone and called him. “Hello,” his cold voice rang through the receiver. “What are you doing up?” he asked.“I should be asking you the same thing,” I replied. “Where are you?”“I have some work to do. You should go back to bed,” he ordered, and then hung up.Tears rolled down my cheeks. He just needed to satisfy his sexual needs so that he could go back to acting like an asshole?What did I do so wrong? Why wouldn't he talk to me?Whatever it is… He should let me know.Or maybe he's found someone else?I sobbed… then he should let me know too.I walked downstairs for a glass of juice. Pouring some of the liquid into a glass, I settled into a chair and took a sip.Didn't Jeffrey say that he loved me? Is this how to treat someone that he loves?Wiping my tears, I stood up and headed inside. My feet stilled when I saw light seeping out of the study. Jeffrey perhaps?“I really hope he's the one,” I murmured to mys
**CHLOE**“Hey, Chloe. You've finally come out,” he muttered weakly.“You were looking for me?” I asked, surprised. “Then you should have just called. Did you have an accident?”“Well, I didn't want to call. You know your husband can be a bit crazy…” he said.I frowned. “What do you mean by that?”“Uh, nothing…” he muttered nervously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “I don't want to cause any more problems between you two.”“Cause problems? What do you mean by that?” I lifted his chin to examine his face. “Did you get hit by a car?”“I'm fine, Chloe; maybe I'll tell you about it some other time,” he said, running his palm across his face and looking around. “I don't want to stay too long before your husband finds me here.” “Relax,” I whispered gently, trying to calm him. “My husband knows that we're just friends.”He scoffed. “I don't think your husband would agree with that.”I gave him a confused look. “My husband trusts me,” I blurted out.“Yeah, right,” he murmure
**CHLOE**We arrived at the hospital, and the driver helped me carry Eric inside. I paced in the hallway while his injuries were being treated.Nothing made sense to me again, The past week flashed through my mind.Jeffrey and I staying up to talk about having a proper wedding. He had sounded so lovey-dovey and gentle; said the wedding would be done my way...Crazy lunch with Audrey, and then Eric's house afterwards. Audrey leaving...Jeffrey completely ignoring me…And then the angry fuck that night… I bit my lips. Jeffrey ignoring me again even after I opening up to him…And then Eric now…"Excuse me, ma'am,” a voice called and I turned to look at the face. “Are you Chloe?” He asked.“Yes, I am,” I responded “Please follow me,” he said and then led me to Eric's ward.“Hey,” I said to Eric as soon as I entered the room. “How do you feel now?”He strained as I helped him sit, and then he let out a weak smile. “Luckily, the doctor says I'll live.”“I'm sorry, okay? About everyth
**CHLOE**“Is it because of Eric?" he thundered. “You want to go and be with him?” “Eric? I want a divorce because you've been acting like a mad man, and I can't keep up,” I yelled.The constant fights and arguments were taking a toll on me.“Stop pretending, Chloe!” He barked. “I saw the way you acted when you were in front of him too.”“And how did I act?” I retorted. “You were being a jerk to him!”“That's why you want a divorce? So you can be with him.”I scoffed. “Shows how much you trust me. You've been the one acting like an ass, but now you're suddenly trying to pin everything on me?”I'm really tired of everything. “Why do you keep acting like you're so innocent?” He asked, narrowing his eyes on me. Wow, he's so convinced. There's nothing I'll say that will make him believe otherwise.“If you think it's because of Eric, then so be it! Suit yourself!” I barked, trying to walk away, but he blocked my path.Then he moved forward and pinned my hands above my head. He lowered
**CHLOE**“Rachel, watch what you say,” I blurted out.I would not allow her to speak to me like that. Falling in love wasn't a crime.“Why?” She snapped. “I'm sure my brother will throw divorce papers at you soon. He's not stupid.”I gulped my yogurt hard, and then I reached for some waffles.I should totally ignore her.“You seem so naive. When a man starts acting cold without any tangible reason, it means he's tired of you and doesn't know how to get rid of you.” She poured some juice into her glass and then took a sip. “He starts to get angry easily, and says it's because of something you did,” she continued, taking another sip of her juice.That was exactly how Jeffrey was acting. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision and senses.“You would know, right?” I blurted out. “Since you have so many of them.”I wanted to remain silent but I couldn't help it.Her eyes widened and she almost choked on her juice. “You were nothing but a failed science experiment for him,” she sna
**Third person**(A few weeks earlier) “Yes, please,” Audrey replied immediately. “I just want to get home.”He smiled internally.Chloe whispered something to Audrey's ear but Audrey insisted that they took his offer.They got into Eric's car, and he started the car. This could be the moment he'd been waiting for, but how would he get Chloe to follow him home? An idea struck his head when he saw Audrey crying in the center mirror.“Would you like some vodka? Something to calm you down?” Eric asked Audrey.Audrey was willing while Chloe was not, exactly as he had expected. He had to step in and play the pity card of Chloe treating him like a plague. He knew she was a good person. “Fine, let's go,” Chloe murmured. “But we won't stay long.”“Whether or not they stayed was totally up to me,” Eric thought as an invisible smirk stretched across his face.Audrey was vulnerable and Chloe was a good friend, as usual.He was glad that they liked his apartment when they arrived. He offere