366 Chapter 366

"Well, don't listen to your Uncle, okay? Eat your breakfast now, Mackie," Chloe suggested, and her daughter nodded happily as she ate her breakfast.

Chloe continued glaring at Vernon. She said nothing but anyone could understand that Chloe was warning Vernon not to say something vulgar in front of her daughter.

"Tch, fine," Vernon murmured in response. He dug his breakfast at first and stopped halfway when he realized that Chloe was still busy cleaning the kitchen while they were eating.

"Why don't you eat anything for breakfast?"

"Ah? I did..." Chloe replied. "I ate bread and fruits before cooking breakfast. I got a bit too hungry so I ate first."

"Really?" Vernon asked again. His eyes squinted, wanting to squeeze the truth from Chloe's mouth, and she nodded weakly.

"S--Sorry, I should've waited to eat with you two...." Chloe replied weakly. She was ashamed to eat before her family. But she was so hungry in the morning, so she had to eat something while the others were sleeping.

Vernon and Mackie were dumbfounded by Chloe's confession. They were looking at each other, seemingly having the same idea.

"No need to say sorry, Mommy!" Mackie chirped happily. "Mommy should eat more and more!"

"Yes, you shouldn't wait until we have our scheduled time if you want to snack too," Vernon added. "If you want to eat something, just eat it. Both Mackie and I are happy to see you eating healthy snacks like fruits-- or you can always eat something like chips if you want. Nothing wrong with it."

"T--Thank you... I sure don't want to eat chips, though...." Chloe murmured. She was happy that Mackie and Vernon were very supportive of her eating outside the schedule.

She couldn't do that with Vincent.

Instead, she went into hiding when she wanted to eat. She feared that Vincent would catch her red-handed for eating something and then ridicule her until she lost her appetite.

Chloe put two glasses of juice in front of Mackie and Vernon. Then she sat on the opposite side, watching them eating their breakfast with relish as if it was the most delicious food ever.

After they were done, Chloe told Mackie to get ready for school. She said, "Don't forget to give the parent's attendance paper to Mr. Peterson later, Mackie."

"Sure, Mommy!"

Mackie hopped around as she went downstairs to prepare herself, leaving Vernon and Chloe alone.

Vernon was still sitting at the dining table, resting his full stomach as he ate a lot for breakfast today. His gaze peered at Chloe before he asked, "What's the parent's attendance all about?"

"Oh, it's for Mackie's school autumn festival. The event will be held in about two weeks, and the parents are invited. Mackie will be playing in a small drama, the three pigs. She will be the big bad wolf," Chloe explained. She giggled while staring at Vernon, "You should teach her how to act like one."

"Huh? Act? I'm not an actor. I'm just working as CEO in the entertainment industry," Vernon responded seriously. "Do you need me to bring an acting teacher for her? I have plenty of acting teachers, or even big stars that could spare their time to teach Mackie."

"Hihi, no need to do that. She'll be the wolf, so you should be the perfect teacher for her," Chloe said. "After all, you're her Big bad wolf Uncle, right?"

Chloe winked at Vernon, and that caused the big guy's brain to short-circuit for a moment before he snorted, "I don't have time to teach a little kid!"

Chloe found Vernon to be very endearing when he was ashamed like this. And she realized that she still had that habit of teasing Little Vernon when he was about eight to ten years old.

"Don't worry, Mackie is a natural," Chloe smiled. "She has joined many of these activities since she was a kid, so there was no stage fright in her."

"Besides, as long as I'm there to watch her performance, she will be in full spirit and do her best."

Vernon went silent instantly. He wondered how Chloe didn't seem to be on guard, even though this was a potentially dangerous situation.

"So, you're going to attend that autumn festival?"

"Of course!" Chloe nodded. "I have to. Mackie will be performing."

...

"What about Vincent?" Vernon shot the question without a doubt. "Will he come as well?"

"Oh, nope," Chloe replied lightly. "Vincent has never attended any kind of parents meeting."

"But there is a chance that he will come," Vernon fretted. "It's not safe for you to come, Chloe."

Chloe-- who was in a happy mood before, suddenly lost all of her shine instantly.

She smiled bitterly, trying to mask her worry. Of course, she knew she was vulnerable, especially after she triggered a chain of events with her conversation with Maria.

"You don't need to worry, Vernon. I will be careful," Chloe said, trying to patch the big hole with a bandage.

But it wasn't enough for Vernon.

Of course, he was worried. He didn't know what Vincent would do if they met!

"You shouldn't come. Mackie too, she shouldn't come to that festival," Vernon strongly suggested. "We don't know what Vincent will do."

Chloe knew Vernon was just looking out for her, and she appreciated that.

But...

"I can't do that, Vernon...." Chloe shook her head. "Mackie is very excited about this drama. I can't be selfish and crush her happiness."

...

"Then at least let me accompany you," Vernon offered, discarding all his fear against his Big brother. He knew the chance of encountering his Big bro was very high, which would probably ruin everything he had planned for years.

But if that meant he could protect Chloe...

"You shouldn't," Chloe refused again. "I know how dangerous Vincent can be. Don't expose yourself because of this. You still have a long career to go."

"But I can't let him hurt you!" Vernon raised his voice as he started to get desperate. "Don't you understand that you're in danger?!"