213: Chapter 213

Chapter 213

"Girl, are you really fine? Do you want me to defend you in front of him?" Diamond asked, willingly making herself be her shield as long as her homegirl didn't get hurt even more.1

But Chloe giggled upon hearing her offer and replied, "No need, Diamond. Vernon is not hostile with me, at least not today."

"R—Really?!"

"Yeah, I can't tell you the details because Vernon told me not to tell anyone, so…."

"Ugh, that guy— I was about to ask if you can tell me everything," Diamond said begrudgingly. She got up and opened the door for Chloe.

Diamond peeked as Chloe entered the office, and she saw Mr. Phoenix Gray sitting calmly on the sofa. He didn't seem to be in any mood right now. He just stared at Chloe— and also the food that she brought.

Then, Vernon noticed Diamond had been peeking behind Chloe and yelled, "Close the door, Diamond! Who gives you permission to peek?!"

Diamond glared back at her boss, but she obeyed his order and closed the door, so Chloe and Vernon could spend time together. She still couldn't predict what her boss wanted to do, but at least he didn't seem to be in a bad mood. 

"Well, as long as he doesn't hurt Chloe, I guess…."

**

After that little self-confession in Vernon's heart, alongside him hugging Chloe just like he did when he was just a kid, Vernon decided to spend more time with Chloe.

He knew that Chloe had a lot of issues, though he still didn't know the full story behind it. But at least he got his priority straight. 

He wanted her to be comfortable with him. So, Chloe could appreciate that he was being genuine about helping her.

'Then, she will tell me all her problems,' Vernon thought. He also assured himself. 'This is all because I genuinely cared for her as my babysitter when I was a kid, giving me a family that I never knew I needed back then. So I'm helping her as a payback.'

'Nothing more. There's no hidden intention… not at all.'

Chloe put the plate on the table and commented, "You shouldn't be too harsh on Diamond. She is a great secretary and a good friend to me."

Vernon darted his eyes at Chloe. He was a little annoyed because Chloe took Diamond's side. After all, she was still his employee, and he had the right to scold her if she did something out of the line.

But when he faced the smile on Chloe's face, his anger vanished instantly, and he just grumbled, "Hrmm…."

Vernon grabbed the spoon and fork, then glanced at Chloe, who was about to leave him alone.

"Who told you to leave me?"

"Eh— I— I thought you need some time alone to have lunch by yourself," Chloe said. 

"Sit here with me," Vernon said, pointing to the spot beside him on the sofa. 

Chloe reluctantly obeyed, and she sat right beside Vernon. She watched as Vernon gobbled the food like it was his last meal on earth, which pleased her. It was good to see someone eating her food because Vincent would always throw her homemade cooking and call it dog food. 

But Vernon suddenly stopped eating halfway and drank his usual banana milk. He was satisfied with the food and wanted to eat more, but he had something bugging his mind. 

"Where's your lunch?" Vernon asked.

"Ah— I—I will eat later," Chloe replied meekly. She got a bit nervous as she thought Vernon would be angry at her for not eating. She didn't really know the thought process behind him getting angry, but she didn't want to trigger him, nonetheless.

"Hmm…"

Surprisingly, Vernon didn't seem to get mad this time. Instead, he picked up the plate, started scooping a spoonful of risotto and a meatball, and then offered it in front of Chloe's mouth.

"Eat this before you have your real lunch later," Vernon said.

Chloe was stunned by the sudden change.

Honestly, Vernon was so weird today. 

He wasn't as crazy as usual. He didn't get angry at her nor force her to strip and give him a blowjob.

He kneeled and hugged her on the waist, sobbing like a little kid that finally reunited with his babysitter after being lost in a park. He was also surprisingly gentle with his words.

Chloe didn't believe any man would be kind to her. It was just hardwired in her head that she wasn't worth it.

'He must have a hidden intention. Maybe he wants to play with my feelings? Knowing that I'm just a single old woman that has been abused… so I'm very weak to a man who acts so gentle towards me….'

Chloe was fully guarded and stared at Vernon with eyes full of doubt.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Vernon asked as he got displeased with her gaze. "Do I look like some shady drug dealer to you?"

'Kind of,' Chloe replied in her heart but shaking her head as a visible response.

"Do you feel disgusted with the spoon because I used it just now?"

Chloe shook her head again as an answer.

"Then eat it, I don't want you to starve," Vernon said. "Look at you, all skin and bones, bet you will get blown away by a gust."

Chloe choked when Vernon insulted her out of nowhere. She had to get this paper-thin body because Vincent kept calling her a whale, and she worked hard to be thin.

Chloe wanted to defend herself, but when she opened her mouth, Vernon took the chance and shoved the whole spoonful of food into her mouth.

"Ummffh—!" Chloe was shocked when her mouth was suddenly filled with a big meatball. She gawked at Vernon as if she had been wronged and wanted to get up to spit out the food.

But Vernon suddenly grabbed her arm and scoffed, "Don't look at me as if I'm forcing you. This is for your own good."

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