"—feeling inadequate against my Big brother?" Vernon completed her sentence, and Chloe nodded weakly.
…
"Well, I was—" Vernon replied to the question truthfully. He didn't want to hide too much, knowing that Chloe still had doubts about them and how they could defeat Vincent.
He knew it was natural for her to have that doubt. The trace of ten years of abuse wouldn't be erased so quickly.
All the pain, fear, and ssed-up ideas that stemd from ten years of abuse weren't like a sand castle that could be washed away anyti. It was more like a stone tower at this point, standing tall, waiting for soone to take it down and crash it into rubble.
And Vernon would do anything to wreck that tower.
'If your doubt is a re sandcastle, then I will be a gentle wave that will wash you ashore slowly,' Vernon said in his heart. 'But if your doubt is like a stone tower, then I will be a wrecking ball that will clear up all your doubts in one sweep.'
'All you need to do is to trust , Chloe'
"—I was feeling inadequate towards him for a long ti," Vernon replied. "But no more, not when I have my support system."
"Support system?" Chloe wondered what kind of support system Vernon needed until he could erase his feeling of inadequacy. "Must be sothing great. Was it money?"
"Money?"
"Mhm, now that you're continuing rising and would eventually reach that billionaire status, does that make you feel confident against your Big bro now?" Chloe asked.
"Ahahaha! Okay, that's a bit funny," Vernon felt like his heart was turning into a soft, mushy, sweet cake. He didn't expect Chloe to not realize that SHE was the support system Vernon needed the whole ti.
She had always been the woman that caused everything for Vernon, both good and bad.
"Money is a way to make your life comfortable. But materialistic things never bother . My support system is soone— a woman who makes feel at ease. She gives a place I can rest, just like how I rest my chin on her shoulder," Vernon teased. "Do you know who she is?"
"W—Who?"
Oh, Chloe knew well who that woman was. She was unsure if it was right for her to claim the title because she was just an old woman who was not supposed to be the place for Vernon to rest.
Vernon let out a small laugh and whispered gently, "That is you, Chloe. You're the support system that gives confidence to fight against my Big brother."
Honestly, Vernon had more continuation of his line. He wanted to say that having Chloe by his side ant he was already winning against his Big Brother.
Because he knew that deep down, both brothers wanted to have Chloe by their sides. Both shared the sa taste, but none wanted to share.
Vernon's words made her feel hot all over. She wasn't surprised by his claim that she was his support system.
Vernon might never say he was in love, but his gestures, sweet words, and the fact that he would do anything to protect her…
All his actions scread 'love,' even though he never said it.
But Chloe was still unsure. Her mind told her to never reciprocate this young man's love for her because she was just a middle-aged soon-to-be-divorced woman with many issues.
She might as well never fall in love for the second ti for the rest of her life.
But she was still a woman, and what woman wouldn't feel sothing when she was treated so gently…
"How can you get the strength to fight Vincent because of , when I'm still scared to even face him, Vernon?" Chloe asked.
"Because I know your worth," Vernon replied lightly but with certainty. "You may not, but I do, and I'm pretty sure even your daughter and Diamond know your worth."
…
Chloe had nothing to ask anymore. Vernon kept answering all of them with confidence and bravery that she didn't have.
As bad as it sounded, Chloe expected Vernon to at least have so of her poor quality crawl under the table or cower at the corner of the room, desperately trying to defend herself with her bare hands when Vincent hit her.
Vernon was indeed a young man brimming with confidence and bravery. He didn't care what was in front of him and would do anything he wanted as long as it suited his interest.
He was wild, and she was timid.
'I think I have enough,' Chloe said to herself, knowing well that she wouldn't be able to match Vernon's energy.
She gently pushed Vernon, and the young man realized that Chloe would push him away and hide within her deeply depressing thoughts.
So, before she left, he whispered one last thing, "It may be hard for you to obtain the courage you need. But know that I will never leave you alone, and if I may beg—"
"Please never leave alone, Chloe."
…
Chloe's heart was pinched from the inside. She didn't know whether it was intentional, but Vernon's plea was shot directly through her conscience.
Or maybe Diamond already told him about Chloe's plan to leave next year?
Either way, it was so effective for Chloe that she was left speechless.
Vernon slowly lifted his chin from her shoulder and sat straight in front of Chloe, "Okay, do you have sothing else to talk about?"
"… Nothing," Chloe replied. "I—I have to leave. I… uh… I have to clean the house or sothing…."
Vernon smiled upon listening to her cute reason, "Alright, I won't keep you here for too long anyway, I have a eting I have to do soon. Don't worry about the celebration for Mackie, I'll make it as humble as I could be."
"Mhm, thank you, Vernon…."
Vernon watched the back of his beloved woman, and he murmured, "Truly, I don't understand how you can not see all the good things you bring in my life."
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