Chapter 29 So This Is What Marriage Has Done to You
Curtis wasn’t even sure how he ended the call.
While his mind was still in turmoil, Sonya emerged from the interrogation room.
“Curtis, this really has nothing to do with me.” She rushed to explain things. “I only heard your mom and sister talk about wanting you and Chloe to divorce. But I honestly had no idea they would go so far as to do something like this!”
Curtis regarded her in silence.
Sonya’s frustration flared. “You don’t believe me? Do you really think I would sink that low just to make you divorce her? If that’s what you think, don’t bother coming to me again. At least that way I won’t have to put up with everyone’s judgment!”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Curtis quickly stepped forward, blocking her path. “Sorry, Sonya. So much has happened today that my
head’s a mess,” he said, apologizing.
A flicker crossed Sonya’s eyes. “Curtis, I want you to understand that I’m not the kind of woman who schemes and frames others. If I truly wanted you to get a divorce, I would’ve said it openly and directly.”
The remorse in Curtis‘ gaze grew heavier.
Of course. Sonya had always been a confident woman. She was decisive, bold, and unflinchingly upright.
How could someone like her ever be entangled in something like this?
Joanne must have panicked when things went wrong and dragged Sonya down with her in a desperate
attempt to absolve herself of blame.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you.” Curtis looked extremely guilty.
“It’s all right. As long as you truly believe me, that’s enough,” Sonya said.
“Of course, I believe you. You saved my life. How could I not trust you?” he replied.
She smiled faintly at his words and lifted her hand, gently brushing aside the tousled strands of hair on
his forehead.
“Yes, I saved your life. So how could you not believe me? Curtis, all I ask is that you never stop having faith in me.”
Faith in her innocence–and faith that she really had once saved his life.
In the hospital’s VIP ward, Brian set Chloe’s phone on the bedside table and looked at her as she lay in a drug–induced sleep from the sedative.
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Yet even in slumber, her rest was far from peaceful.
Her fair skin flushed, hot to the touch, and faint, fragmented moans slipped past her lips every so often.
It was only the drug burning through her system. Once it was fully metabolized, she would be fine.
“William, why do you think she turned me down? I could’ve eased her pain in a much simpler way.” Brian’s
voice cut through the ward, making William, who stood behind him, straighten at once.
“Ms. Quall is still married. She’s probably holding back because of that,” William said, carefully choosing
his words.
After all, if they had really resolved it Brian’s way, wouldn’t that amount to infidelity?
But William also knew all too well that when it came to morality and propriety, Brian had never cared in the slightest.
“Then, would she agree if she got divorced and became single again?” Brian asked.
For a moment, William had no idea how to respond.
Fortunately, Brian hadn’t really expected William to answer. He raised his hand and gently wiped the fine sheen of sweat from Chloe’s forehead.
“What should I do? I can’t stop wanting to keep her by my side.”
He was eager to see just how many more intriguing surprises Chloe would reveal.
William cast a sympathetic glance at the sleeping Chloe.
To Brian, people had always fallen into two categories–the useful and the useless. Now, a third had emerged–those he desired.
But for Chloe, that was hardly a blessing.
When Chloe woke up, a wave of exhaustion washed over her, and her skin felt clammy from the heavy sweat that clung to her.
“You’re awake?” A voice suddenly came from the side.
Startled, she looked up to see Brian lounging casually on the couch not far from the bed.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I brought you to the hospital. You were still unconscious, so of course I stayed,” Brian replied with ease.
Chloe’s thoughts drifted back to what had happened in the car and then to Brian bringing her here. After the treatment and a sedative, she’d slipped into a heavy sleep.
“How long was I asleep?” she asked.
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Aside from the clammy stickiness clinging to her skin, the feverish heat had faded. The drug’s effects
must have finally worn off.
“18 hours,” Brian replied.
“What?” She froze, then eyed him warily. “And you-”
“I stayed here with you for all 18 hours. Don’t you think that deserves a thank you?” Brian asked.
Chloe was at a loss for words. They weren’t even friends, yet he’d stayed in the hospital room with her the
entire time.
No wonder people called Brian a madman. He was utterly impossible to figure out.
“Well?” He arched a brow, still waiting for her gratitude.
“Thank you,” she said awkwardly.
Shortly afterward, the doctor examined Chloe again. Once it was confirmed that she was fine, she was
finally cleared to leave the hospital.
Her phone had run out of battery, so she rented a power bank at the hospital to charge it.
The moment it powered back on, more than a hundred missed calls and messages lit up the screen.
There were calls and texts from Lena, from the police station, and from Curtis.
Before she could open a single message, her phone rang again.
Chloe answered, and Lena’s voice burst through the line. “You finally picked up! I was worried sick. That
Brian guy wouldn’t even let me into the hospital to see you. He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”
“No, he just had the doctor treat me. I accidentally inhaled a bit of laced knockout smoke back in the
hotel room. It affected me for a while, but I’m fine now,” Chloe explained.
Only then did Lena finally let out a breath of relief.
“What about now-”
“I’m about to get discharged,” Chloe said.
“I’ll wait for you at the entrance. You’ll see me as soon as you come out,” Lena replied quickly.
“Alright,” Chloe answered.
After hanging up, she turned to Brian. “Oh, I almost forgot to mention, Mr. Steele. I had the clothes you
gave me at the shopping mall dry–cleaned. I was planning to return them to you in person at the banquet, but things didn’t work out. Once I get home, I’ll send them over to the Steele residence.”
“You’re really going to refuse the things I give you?” Brian’s gaze darkened slightly.
“The clothes are far too expensive. They’re not suitable for me,” Chloe said.
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He fixed her with a steady gaze and, after a moment, said, “Fine. But don’t send it by courier. Since I gave it to you face–to–face, you should return it to me the same way.”
“Alright, then I’ll go home today and-”
“I’ll let you know when it’s time to return them,” Brian interrupted flatly.
She was dumbfounded. She actually had to wait for his go–ahead just to return a single piece of clothing?
Afterward, Chloe completed the discharge procedures. Since she had arrived in an evening gown, she bought a simple, inexpensive T–shirt and pants from the hospital kiosk to change into.
When she walked out of the hospital, Lena was waiting at the entrance.
But beside her stood another person.
Before Chloe could even see who it was, the person suddenly rushed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Clo, so this is what marriage has done to you?”
