Chapter 115 Turning a Blind Eye
“What’s wrong?” Chloe asked, puzzled.
Brian pressed his lips together and withdrew his hand. “Nothing.”
He just didn’t want her to answer Ethan’s call. Compared to Curtis, Ethan was the one who truly unsettled him. He’d already pulled strings to have Ethan reassigned back to Corvessia, away from Yarfdale and Chloe.
Now, a sudden call from Ethan had once again made him feel uneasy.
As soon as Chloe answered the phone, Ethan’s voice came through. “Chloe, has your mission as Brian’s bodyguard ended?”
“How did you know?” she asked, surprised.
“I stopped by the base and overheard it,” Ethan replied. “Since your mission’s over, when are you coming back to Corvessia?”
She froze for a second. Now that the job was done, she should be heading back.
“Do you want me to book your flight? I’ll meet you at the airport,” Ethan added, his voice thick with
excitement.
“Not just yet,” she said. “I still have a few things to wrap up here first. I’ll let you know when I’m coming.”
Though Ethan was disappointed that he couldn’t see Chloe right away, he figured he wouldn’t have to wait
too long.
“Then I’ll wait for an update. Once you’re back, let’s meet up. There’s so much I want to tell you.”
“Sure.”
After the call ended, Brian asked, “So you’re leaving for Corvessia soon?”
“Once I finish some personal matters here, yes,” Chloe responded, pressing her lips together. “There are
things I need to handle there too.”
“How long will you stay in Yarfdale?”
“About ten days,” she replied.
She still had to bid Geoffrey farewell.
“Can’t you stay longer? For me?” Brian pleaded, not wanting her to rush back and meet Ethan.
He thought that they should at least wait until her feelings for him had grown. Only then would he feel
more at ease letting her return to Corvessia.
Chloe pursed her lips and thought for a moment. “I can stay a little longer, but not too long. And even
after I’m back in Corvessia, I won’t stay put for long.
“I’m planning to head to the border to look for clues about my brother. We may often be apart. If that’s something you can’t accept, tell me now.”
Brian’s heart lurched. She was giving him a way out, but he didn’t want one. It made it feel like she could abandon him anytime.
Was it because she was only fond of him and not in love with him?
She could walk away anytime she wanted, but he couldn’t.
“Chloe, it took so much for me to be with you. How could I break up with you just because of distance? Don’t even think about it.” He lowered his head, brushing his lips against the bandage on her arm–the wound she bore because she’d been protecting him.
“And besides… if you’re going to look for your brother, let me go with you.”
“What?” Chloe was taken aback. “You’ll go to the border with me?”
“Yes.”
“What about your work?”
“Given modern–day technology, I can work from anywhere. And I have so many employees for a reason,*
he said.
It had been five years since Chloe had started searching for Daniel. She’d already scoured every possible
lead, both through the military and on her own. She’d been to the border three times and had returned
empty–handed each time.
Still, she believed Daniel was alive. She wanted to try a fourth time.
“Since you agreed to be with me, don’t think about leaving me behind,” Brian said, meeting her gaze.
His eyes, which were always cool and indifferent, were now full of warmth and intent. He looked particularly captivating, as if he were trying to lure her in.
If seducing her was what he had to do to make her invest more feelings in him, then he would willingly do so. He would do anything as long as it meant her heart would belong to him in the end,
Over the next few days, Chloe stayed at the Steele residence in Yarfdale, letting her arm heal.
The injury meant nothing to her, but Brian fussed over her as if it were fatal. He adjusted her meals, changed her dressings himself, and even worked from home.
His overprotectiveness made her a little exasperated, but it also filled her with warmth. She knew how much he cared about her.
A week later, the wound had scabbed over. Chloe still had to avoid heavy movement, but her arm was
functional again.
Around that time, she received an invitation from the orphanage she’d visited on the island. In a child’s handwriting at the bottom, it said, “Ms. Quall, I hope you can come see my performance.”
It was from Maisie, the child Chloe had saved last time.
“Are you going?” Brian asked, glancing at the invitation in her hand.
“Of course!” She wanted to see how Maisie was doing too.
“Then I’ll go too,” he replied, as if it were completely natural for him to tag along. Wherever she went, he would be with her.
That weekend, they arrived at the orphanage’s event and unexpectedly ran into Sonya and Curtis.
“Chloe, why are you here?” Curtis frowned.
“If you’re here, why can’t I?” Chloe retorted, her voice thick with amusement.
Curtis stiffened. “I’ve confirmed it now. The one who saved me back then was Sonya, not you. So stop repeating such absurd lies in front of me. It only makes you look worse.”
Then he turned to Brian. “Mr. Steele, I hope you see her for what she really is. Don’t be deceived by her.”
A smirk tugged at Brian’s lips. “I knew you were a fool, but I didn’t expect you to be this stupid. Insult her again, and I’ll rip off your tongue.”
Chills crept down Curtis‘ spine.
Chloe glanced at Sonya, who’d been silent, then turned back to Curtis. “I told you–if you’re convinced that
it was Sonya who saved you, then so be it. But you’re in no place to judge my character.”
“You-” He wanted to retort but swiftly abandoned the idea since Brian was there.
Several of the donors who’d contributed during the charity gala were also visiting the orphanage that day. Thus, the orphanage had put together different performances prepared by the children as a token of
gratitude.
Reporters were also present at the event.
When the performances ended, the 16–year–old host on stage said, “A big thank you to all the guests who came to watch our show today! Thank you so much for your donations last time.
“Besides, we’re especially happy to welcome Ms. Sonya Miller. We’ve learned that not only is she a pilot, but she was also a hero who helped during the fire five years ago. Let’s welcome Ms. Miller to the stage to say a few words!”
Though caught off guard by the sudden introduction, Sonya stepped onto the stage under the crowd’s
gaze.
“I’m not a hero,” she said. “I only did what any ordinary person would have done. I believe anyone with a
conscience would try to put out a fire when they see one.”
A warm round of applause broke out at once.
But then, a reporter suddenly called out, “Ms. Miller, did you really help with putting out the fire? We heard that a colleague of yours died right in front of you during the fire, yet you didn’t save him!”
