Chapter 509 509

"Fine, Deal! Don't you regret this, Chloe!" Vernon threatened. "You will lose your freedom! I will make sure you won't speak with anyone except me and our small family! I won't allow you to go out unless you come with me!"

"Alright. Mhm. Understand," Chloe reacted with plenty of nods and agreement.

Vernon might be the one who threatened Chloe, but he was the one who felt defeated in this argument. He pocketed Chloe's phone to make sure that she wouldn't be able to contact Dorothea after this, not until their bet had a result.

Though, the result was already obvious.

"I don't understand," Vernon murmured. "Why do you insist on me forgiving Dorothea so much? You know what she did to me, right?"

"I know, and though I wish you could forgive her, all I want from this bet is to sit you with her together at a table. I want you two to have a heart-to-heart talk as mother and son."

"And you think I will forgive her just because you sat us together? What do you take me for? A five year old in a kindergarten?"

"... At least you should listen to what she's about to say...." Chloe implored. "It won't hurt for you to listen, right?"

"No, you're hurting me right now, because you're forcing me to do something that I don't want to," Vernon said. "You're trying to make me forgive my abuser."

"At least learn to tolerate her presence. You don't need to forgive her if you don't want to," Chloe said. "It's for Mackie too. She is close with her granny."

"... Tsk," Vernon clicked his tongue. "You're so cruel to me. Do you even care about my feelings?"

Chloe finally lowered her head after hearing that last sentence. She felt guilty, but she wished that Vernon and Dorothea could talk before he decided whether he wanted to kick Dorothea out of their life permanently or tolerate her presence-- sometimes.

"And what's with this tough charade you're putting in front of me just now?" Vernon asked. "Are you that passionate to defend Dorothea? Why don't you do the same to defend me instead?"

Unable to stay silent, Chloe finally lifted her head and stared at Vernon with her usual sweet doe eyes, "I told you already. I do this for you, not for her." Chloe's voice finally softened. She had returned to her usual gentle and meek woman that Vernon was familiar with.

"For me? Heh, sure," Vernon said sarcastically. He had a mocking grin as he continued, "What's next? You're going to cheat on me because you care about me? You don't make sense."

"Vernon..." Chloe was about to argue again. But she realized there was no point in arguing for now. All she could do was wait, and Vernon would naturally listen to her once the truth was out.

"I don't have energy arguing with you anymore," Chloe said. "I just hope that you will eventually understand my choice."

Chloe tried to pass Vernon, but the door was barricaded by his big body, giving her no way out.

"We're not done talking," Vernon said curtly. "I haven't given you permission to leave."

"What more do you want to talk about? You're not going to listen to any of my words anyway," Chloe said. "It's better for us to be separated for a while, at least until next month after we see the result of this bet. Should I leave to find a hotel somewhere? I will bring Mackie with me-- AH!"

Chloe's words were interrupted when Vernon suddenly gripped her right arm tightly. He was already repressing his anger, but again, Chloe ignited his rage over and over, no matter how many times he tried not to be rough on her.

At this point, he felt he was being taunted by his beloved woman.

"You're not going anywhere," Vernon said. His words felt like a demand. "I won't let you leave me. You'll find Dorothea again if I let you out, and you'll use the chance to cheat on me."

"Stop with the cheating already!" Chloe raised her voice as she grew frustrated. "Why do you accuse me of cheating so much?!"

"Because you can hide things behind my back, so you can also cheat on me!"

"That's different! I can't simply tell about Dorothea to you, because you're going to kick her out!"

"Then you're still hiding things! We're not supposed to hide things from each other!" Vernon insisted. The more they spent time together, the more heated their arguments got.

Chloe had had enough of Vernon's nonsense at this point. She tried her best to argue civilly, but Vernon kept yelling at her.

So she wanted to end this heated argument for good before it escalated into something even worse. She endured the pain in her right arm and grabbed Vernon's tie.

"What are you-- wha!"

Chloe suddenly yanked Vernon until he lowered her shoulder, and their faces were at the same level.

She gave him a deep kiss, so much so that she started using her tongue to pry around Vernon's mouth.

Vernon struggled at first, he tried to pull himself away, but Chloe clutched his tie. If he used more force, he might accidentally hurt Chloe. So he had to yield.

Eventually, he started to drown under the pleasure of being kissed by his beloved woman.

"Chloe..." Vernon murmured her woman's name amidst their passionate tongue-on-tongue kiss. Vernon closed his eyes and eventually loosened his grip on Chloe's arm.

His hands went down instead, wrapping them around Chloe's waist, and pulled her closer for a deeper kiss.

Vernon's mind started getting hazy. He realized that he couldn't get angry at Chloe right now. But he didn't regret it. This kiss was worth the pain.

Because it was Chloe who kissed him first, it was proof that it wasn't one-sided.

His love for her wasn't one-sided, and that assurance was what he needed the most right now.

Vernon was enjoying the kiss when Chloe suddenly stopped and separated herself.

"Wha? Uh... Chloe?"