Chapter 118 Can You Blame Me
The move caught everyone off guard.
Curtis let out a howl of pain. His right wrist hung limply at an unnatural angle.
“Brian!” Sonya rushed to support Curtis, her voice rising with anger. “Even if you’re the infamous Brian Steele that everyone in Corvessia fears, you can’t just do this!”
And especially not for Chloe’s sake!
“If you’ve got something to say, take it up with my lawyer. But I won’t let anyone who dares to lay a hand
on Chloe off.” Brian’s voice was as cold as steel.
Then, without hesitation, he walked over, scooped Chloe into his arms, and carried her away.
Chloe flushed with embarrassment. Her arm was hurt, not her legs. Why did he always like carrying her
this way?
“I can walk on my own,” she muttered.
“I don’t feel at ease,” Brian replied.
Chloe’s head throbbed. What could he not be at ease about exactly?
Brian briefly instructed his men and the orphanage staff, then carried her away.
Once they were in the car, he carefully rolled up her sleeve. Blood seeped from her wound. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s fine,” Chloe said.
But Brian was still frowning, as though he were the one in pain.
“I’m really okay,” Chloe said. “By the way, did you just break Curtis‘ right wrist?”
“Yes,” Brian admitted, studying her reaction. “Can you blame me?”
Chloe pressed her lips together. For a moment, Brian’s heart tightened with unease. After all, Curtis was
the man she’d once been married to. Did she still have feelings for him? If she did…
A wave of jealousy swelled inside Brian.
“What’s there to blame? I don’t exactly condone the way you handled things, but I also kicked Curtis
earlier. If I’m going to blame you, I should also blame myself.” Chloe’s tone was light.
In that instant, the jealousy twisting in Brian’s chest vanished.
“But if Curtis decides to press charges…” Chloe hesitated.
“Then, let him. So what if I ‘accidentally‘ broke his wrist? I can just cover his medical fees.” Brian’s voice
was calm.
Chapter 118 Can You Blame Me
Chloe thought about it and nodded. That was true, and besides, the Steele family’s legal team was the best in the city. If Curtis really tried to sue, he would gain nothing.
When they returned to the villa, Brian carefully cleaned and dressed her wound. “If I’d known they’d come after you, I never would’ve left.”
“I’m not some defenseless damsel who needs to be protected every second.” Chloe gave a small laugh.
“This time, Curtis only managed to tear my wound open because I let my guard down. And also…” She paused, then smiled. “I really liked watching you play Sharks and Minnows with those kids. It felt like I got
to see a different side of you.”
“You liked that side of me?” he asked.
“I did,” she answered. “Of course, I like the way you usually are too. I just think it would’ve been nice if I’d
met you earlier.”
The time she’d spent with him had helped her understand that his aloofness and the quiet air of
loneliness he carried were tied to his family and his past.
If she’d gotten to know him sooner, would he have been more open and carefree? Would there have been
more smiles on his face?
Brian froze for a moment, his gaze locking onto hers. After a pause, he murmured, “Yes… if only we’d met
earlier.”
If that had happened, he wouldn’t have let other men come into her life.
He would’ve been there by her side, through school, through her military service, and through every mission she went on. He would have made himself indispensable to her.
But it wasn’t too late.
As long as he stayed by her side, no other man would ever get close to her.
Curtis‘ right wrist was wrapped in plaster and bandages.
“Chloe has gone too far, using Brian to hurt you!” Sonya fumed. “Brian is nothing but a man relying on the Steele family’s money. Curtis, we can’t just let this go!”
“Are you saying we should sue Brian?” Curtis countered.
“He injured your wrist like this. Of course we should sue. Don’t tell me you’re afraid,” Sonya replied.
It wasn’t really Brian she was angry at but rather Chloe. If not for Chloe, she and Curtis wouldn’t have been humiliated so badly in public.
“If we really sue Brian, that means we’ll be going head–to–head with the Steele family.” Curtis pointed out.
Chapter 118 Can You Blame Me
3/3
He was angry, yes, but he still understood reality. Right now, he didn’t have nearly enough strength. If he went after Brian, the companies that had been working with him would likely cut ties out of fear of the Steele family, leaving him worse off.
Sonya understood that as well, but she was too resentful to accept it. “So, your injury was for nothing?”
“Think of it as the price I paid for hurting Chloe,” Curtis said with a bitter smile.
The traces of blood on his fingertips had long since been cleaned. But if he’d known Chloe had injured her arm, he would’ve never grabbed it.
“You still care about Chloe, don’t you?” Sonya snapped. “Even if you believed she slandered me, you feel bad just because she bled a little?”
“I don’t care about Chloe,” Curtis quickly replied. “But we were married for three years, and I never wanted to hurt her. And… are you really sure she’s the one who texted the reporter?”
“Who else could it be? Last time, when the screen malfunctioned during the charity gala, it showed a news report about the fire. This time, she was there at the orphanage event as well. What are the chances that it’s all a coincidence? She’s just jealous I won you over, so she keeps targeting me!” Sonya was firm.
Curtis stayed silent. Was it really like that?
“But if she has no proof, why would she accuse you of abandoning your colleague? Unless… she actually has evidence?”
“Impossible!” Sonya shot back, her voice louder and sharper than usual.
Curtis looked at her in surprise.
She seemed to realize she’d overreacted and quickly said, “I never did anything like that. Chloe couldn’t possibly have any evidence. And that’s why she’s making up lies to slander me! Curtis, you believe me, don’t you?”
“Of course I believe you,” Curtis said. He had no reason not to trust Sonya.
Smiling, Sonya leaned gently against his chest. “Now that we’re together, when should we make our relationship public?”
Curtis felt his heart jolt.
It hadn’t even been three months since his divorce. If he announced his relationship with Sonya now, then
