Chapter 85 He Falls Apart
Brian was the epitome of a golden child. Yet now in Chloe’s eyes, he looked as though he could fall apart at any second.
It was a stark contrast to the man she shared a meal with this morning. What on earth could have
happened since then to cause such a drastic change?
“Yes, I’m back,” Chloe said as she stepped closer and raised the umbrella over both of them. The large
black umbrella shielded them from the rain.
“The rain’s getting heavier by the second. Let’s go inside first,” she said.
But Brian acted as if he hadn’t heard her. His gaze returned once more to the large tree before them.
“Did you know? My mom used to love climbing this tree,” he said.
“What?” Chloe blinked, caught off guard. Emily had loved… climbing trees?
“She would always climb a tree just to look into the distance,” Brian continued as if in a trance. “She wanted to escape this place, but Dad imprisoned her here. She could never leave.”
Chloe stayed silent.
“Chloe, I’m not my Dad. I will never become him!” he said in a low voice.
She hummed in response.
But then, Brian’s body stiffened. He whipped his head around to look at her. “Do you believe that?”
“Yes, I believe you,” she answered softly. Something unfamiliar spread through her chest as she spoke.
Like father, like son, they said. It was only a matter of time before Brian lost his mind too. Yet in that moment, she believed that he would not.
“Come on, you’re soaked. You’ll catch a cold if you don’t get inside,” Chloe said, taking a step forward.
When she noticed he still hadn’t moved, she simply grabbed his hand. Then, she pulled him toward the
villa.
The rain pattered steadily against the umbrella, creating a gentle rhythm. Brian looked down at Chloe’s hand holding his.
It was smaller than his own, calloused yet steady. But there was strength in it, and somehow it made him feel safe.
As she led him step by step, he felt a sense of ease, knowing he didn’t need to worry about anything. He knew that just following her was enough to guide him in the right direction.
Once inside the villa, Chloe closed the umbrella and looked at him. He was drenched.
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Brian seemed utterly broken in that moment. His eyes were lowered, fixed on their still–clasped hands.
She sighed, then kept hold of him and led him all the way to his bedroom. There, she ran a hot bath.
“I don’t know what happened to you,” Chloe said. “But for now, just soak in the bath and warm yourself up.”
Water continued dripping from Brian’s hair, face, and clothes.
“What about you?” he quietly asked. “Will you wait here for me?”
“Yes, I will. I’m your bodyguard. Of course, I’ll stay and keep you safe,” Chloe replied.
“But… what if you weren’t my bodyguard?” Brian said, his voice faltering.
He recalled asking her the same question once before. Back then, Chloe’s answer had been that even if she wasn’t protecting him, there would always be plenty of other bodyguards who would.
“…It’s nothing. I’ll go wash up,” Brian said, quickly letting go of her hand and disappearing into the bathroom. He was even afraid that if he lingered another second, he’d hear words he wasn’t ready for.
His body was enveloped by the warm water filling the bathtub. The deep–seated chill that had plagued him started to fade away.
After Liam left, Brian found himself drawn to the large tree in the courtyard. He couldn’t stop thinking
about Emily’s despair.
And now a question haunted him. If his feelings for Chloe continued to grow, would he eventually treat
her the same way Liam had treated Emily?
Obsession and madness… These traits seemed like a brand seared into the soul of the Steeles.
If love were mutual, it could be beautiful. But if only one person felt it, it almost always ended in tragedy- just as it had with Liam and Emily.
When Brian finished his bath, he changed into a robe and stepped out of the bathroom. He didn’t see
Chloe in the room.
His heart sank instantly. Had she left him?
But then, the door opened. When he turned toward it, he saw Chloe walk in carrying a tray.
Brian’s disappointment vanished in a heartbeat. She hadn’t abandoned him after all.
“You’re done? Perfect timing,” she said as she walked over. On the tray was a bowl of dark brown soup with slices of mushroom floating on top.
“I just made some wild mushroom soup. Eat up to warm yourself up, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Brian pressed his lips together and stared at the bowl in silence.
“Eat!” she ordered, lifting the bowl and handing it to him.
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He obediently took it. Then, he lowered his head and ate spoonful after spoonful.
Brian’s handsome face didn’t show the slightest change in expression as he swallowed. His pace was steady until the bowl was empty.
Chloe nodded in satisfaction.
Jenna had taught her this recipe. It was stronger and spicier than regular mushroom soup due to the extra ingredients, yet it worked far better.
Her teammates used to scrunch their faces miserably whenever she made them eat it. Brian, however, was the first person to finish it without so much as a twitch.
“Does it taste good?” she curiously asked.
“Horrible,” he answered honestly.
“…Then why didn’t you show any reaction or even refuse?” She was somewhat speechless.
“You told me to eat it, didn’t you?” Brian said.
Hearing that, Chloe froze for a moment.
The way Brian said it made it sound like he would eat anything she gave him, so what if it had been poison? She didn’t voice that thought, though.
When he finished the soup, she pressed her palm lightly to his forehead. The moment her hand touched his skin, Brian stiffened.
“No fever. That’s good,” Chloe said, pulling her hand back.
A longing began to grow within Brian’s heart. Steadily and unconsciously, it grew stronger.
For the next two days, Brian stayed in the villa without leaving, and Chloe remained with him. But then, an uninvited guest appeared.
Willow looked at Chloe in shock. “Why are you here?”
“I’m staying here for the time being,” Chloe calmly replied.
Willow’s expression shifted. This villa had once belonged to Brian’s parents, and apart from the housekeepers, he had never let anyone else live there.
“You do know that just because you’re staying here, it doesn’t mean you’re special to Brian, right?” Willow said with a sudden, mocking laugh. “There’s a room here he forbids everyone from entering, and that includes you.”
Chloe paused. When she had first moved in, Brian had indeed told her not to enter the room at the end of
the third floor.
“But I’ve been inside,” Willow smugly said, her chin lifting high. It was as if in that moment, she had won
Chapter 85 He Falls Apart
some unseen victory.
