After Divorce 86

Chapter 86 He Obediently Listens to Her 

“So what if you have been inside?” Chloe asked. Curiosity had never been her vice. 

When Brian first told her about the forbidden room, she never felt the urge to pry, not even once. It was 

his privacy, after all. 

Willow’s expression darkened. She had swung with full force, hoping to elicit a reaction of pain and 

bitterness. 

But her efforts were futile. Chloe simply shrugged it off without a flinch. 

“Chloe, you still don’t get it, do you?” Willow said proudly. “This proves that I’m special to Brian. I’m the only one who knows his secrets, and he’ll forgive me even if I break his rules!” 

Chloe didn’t bother to respond. She just started to walk away. 

Unwilling to concede, Willow stepped in her way. “You don’t know Brian at all. You’ve never seen how 

cruel or pitiful he can be, but I have.” 

She continued, “When Emily ignored him and Liam abused him, I was the one who accepted him. I was the only one who could stay by his side. You can’t imagine how pathetic he was back then. Without me, 

he wouldn’t even be alive today!” 

The more Willow spoke, the more arrogant she became. 

Chloe frowned. “That’s enough, Willow. You better stop, I don’t want to hear any more of it!” 

Those were Brian’s private matters. And given their sensitivity, Chloe believed that such painful subjects 

shouldn’t be discussed in such a tone. 

But Willow refused to stop. Thinking she had gained the upper hand, she continued, “Do you even know how Liam tortured him? I’m the only one who does!” 

Chloe was about to snap at her when she suddenly froze. She noticed a figure appear behind Willow. 

It was Brian. He walked toward them quietly, and it was obvious that he had heard everything. 

Mistaking Chloe’s pause for a blow from her words, Willow’s lips curled into a malicious smile. “He never told you how Emily died, did he? I know. I was there with him when she died. You don’t even know what 

he was like back then-” 

Her words broke off with a sharp gasp. A hand had closed around her throat. The fingers were long, slender, and as cold as steel. 

“And what was I like?” Brian asked. His voice was low but laced with an icy fury she rarely heard. 

Terror raced down Willow’s spine, and her face drained of all color. 

She tried to pry his fingers loose, but no matter how hard she tried, they wouldn’t budge. Her lungs 

Chapter 86 He Obediently Listens to Her 

screamed for air as suffocation set in and death pressed down on her like a shadow. 

2/3 

“What’s wrong?” Chloe coldly said. “Not going to keep talking? Just a moment ago, you had so much to 

say.” 

Choked from behind, Willow couldn’t see Brian’s face. But she didn’t need to see him to know she had 

crossed a line. 

She had only wanted to flaunt her supposed intimacy with him. She wanted to show Chloe that there was a distance she could never cross, but she hadn’t expected him to hear it. 

“P–Please… Brian… forgive me… I didn’t mean to…” she choked out, her face flushed deep red. 

“Doesn’t it matter whether you meant it?” Brian asked, his tone detached and his grip tightening. “If I had 

known you’d run your mouth like this, I would have ripped out your tongue back then.” 

Willow’s body shook violently. Her skin paled to a ghastly white, and her tongue protruded as she fought 

for breath. 

Realizing Brian truly meant to strangle her, Chloe rushed forward and grabbed his hand. “Let go! If you 

keep this up, you’ll kill her!” 

“I don’t care,” Brian said flatly. 

He had never cared about his own life, so how could he be expected to value someone else’s? 

“But I care! I don’t want you to end up in prison!” Chloe shot back. “If you’re truly angry, there are other 

ways to deal with her. There are legal ways, so why choose the most extreme? Even if it feels good in the 

moment, you’ll only ruin your future!” 

For the first time, a flicker of emotion rippled through Brian’s otherwise lifeless eyes. He turned his head 

toward her. “You don’t want me to ruin my life?” 

“Yes! I don’t,” Chloe firmly said, her hand gripping his. “So, let go. Now!” 

Her voice carried such steady conviction that it compelled obedience. Slowly, his fingers released their 

hold. 

Willow collapsed to the floor, gasping and coughing violently. Her body trembled in fear. 

“Get out!” Brian roared, casting her a disdainful look. 

Stumbling to her feet, Willow was dishevelled and furious. Yet, she glared at Chloe and said, “Chloe, don’t think I’ll be grateful for this. If it weren’t for you, Brian would never have treated me this way!” 

Without another word, Chloe grabbed her by the shoulder and dragged her toward the gate. 

“What are you doing? Let go of me, let go-” Willow struggled, but the next second, Chloe shoved her right 

out. 

With a heavy thud, she landed on the ground in a pitiful heap. 

Chapter 86 He Obediently Listens to Her 

3/3 

Looking down at her from the doorway, Chloe said, “Don’t get it wrong. I did it for Brian, not you. It would be a waste for him to go to prison because of someone like you.” 

“You-” 

“And one more thing,” Chloe cut her off sharply. “What right do you have to parade his past around like some trophy? His pain isn’t something you get to flaunt in front of others.” 

At that, Willow’s face turned red and pale all at once. “What right do you have to say that to me? He and I- 

But before she could finish, Chloe pressed the gate control button, and the iron gate began to slide shut. 

Rage twisted Willow’s face, and she opened her mouth to curse. But the moment her eyes flickered to Brian, who was standing silently behind Chloe, the word stuck in her throat. 

His cold stare frightened her. She knew that if she dared to say another word, he might kill her on the spot. 

The gate to the Steele residence clanged shut. 

When Chloe turned around, she found herself face–to–face with Brian’s heavy, unreadable gaze. 

“You’re not going to ask me about any of… that?” he suddenly asked. 

“I’ll pretend I never heard a word Willow said,” she firmly replied. 

Brian’s eyes lowered, falling to his hand. Just a moment ago, he had lost control when he heard Willow 

talk. 

He wrapped his fingers around her throat, desperate to silence her. In that instant, his reason had all but disappeared. 

But Chloe’s voice had cut through the haze, pulling him back to himself. At some point, her influence over him had grown far beyond what he’d ever imagined. 

That night, Chloe couldn’t shake her unease. Ever since Willow left, Brian had been unusually quiet. After 

some hesitation, she knocked on the door to his room, but there was no response. 

Her worry deepened. She pushed the door open, only to find the room empty. Brian’s phone lay untouched on the bedside table. 

Frowning, she quickly checked the villa’s security system. There was no record of anyone leaving, which 

meant he was still inside. 

“Brian? Brian!” Chloe called as she searched the villa. Then, she stopped before one particular door. 

From inside came the sound of faint, muffled groans. It was the very room Brian had once forbidden her from entering.