Chapter 74 The Urge to Slap You
“I don’t want to. I’m not interested in rumors. Besides, who can say if they’re even true?” Chloe said.
Brian’s eyes darkened slightly. Was she uninterested in the rumors, or uninterested in him?
“What if some of them are true?” he asked.
“What?” Chloe froze.
Brian looked straight at her. “For example, the rumor that all Steeles are somewhat abnormal, including me. What if I told you that was true?”
“You have a mental illness?” Chloe asked seriously.
A flicker of surprise crossed Brian’s face. He had thought that she would hesitate upon hearing that, or
worse, be disgusted.
But who could have predicted that the first thing she asked would be this?
“No,” Brian replied.
“In that case, you’re normal. People have diverse personalities in the first place. What others say is their business. You’ll only be abnormal if you believe you are,” Chloe said.
Something flickered in Brian’s eyes.
Yes. Since the day he met her, she had always looked at him as if he were just anyone else.
She was unlike other women, who looked at him with flattery, greed, or fear. Chloe simply treated him like
a normal man.
Suddenly, Brian let out a low chuckle. “You’re right. If I consider myself abnormal, then I truly would be. From now on, just ask me if you want to know anything about me or my family. You don’t need to learn it from anyone else.”
Chloe gave him a strange look. Why would she need to know anything about Brian or the Steeles? It had nothing to do with her, after all.
But she stayed quiet, and Brian didn’t press the matter any further.
The car pulled to a stop outside a luxury styling studio in Yarfdale.
Chloe followed Brian out.
The staff were already waiting inside, leading Chloe in to choose a gown. Meanwhile, Brian lounged on a
couch, flipping casually through a catalogue.
The catalogue was filled with beautiful models in elegant dresses meant to help clients make their
choices.
Chapter 74 The Urge to Slap You
2/4
Looking at the pictures in the catalogue, Brian’s gaze remained calm and indifferent. He had never lacked beautiful women fawning over him, yet he had no interest in them. Some even speculated that Brian had
different preferences.
But only he knew that he just didn’t have any interest in men or women.
And yet, he had developed an interest in Chloe. From the moment she had pressed a table knife against
his throat, to their encounters afterward, that interest had only grown.
And now, it seemed to be going further and further out of his control.
Chloe wasn’t stunning in the conventional sense. But she had a sharp look in her eyes, which, paired with
her delicate features, gave her an air of resilience.
She was slender, a full head shorter than him, yet somehow, her presence made him feel inexplicably safe.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps. Chloe had already put on the gown he had chosen as she
appeared in front of him.
It was a simple ankle–length dress with a single slit. The gown was plain black, low–profile, and easy to
move in.
Yet, Brian felt that Chloe looked breathtaking. He struggled to look away from her face.
“I’ll wear this to the banquet tomorrow,” Chloe said as she stopped before him.
As she walked, the slit revealed flashes of her right leg that could be glimpsed between the swaying
fabric.
Brian frowned. If she wore that, far too many people would see her leg.
He had just been about to agree with Chloe’s choice when he forced down the words. “Why don’t you try another one?” he suggested.
“Another one?” Chloe blinked, only to see him point to a dress in the catalogue that covered the model
from neck to ankle.
“How about this one?” Brian asked.
If she wore that one, she would probably trip over the hem if any danger surfaced. “What’s wrong with the one I chose?”
There was nothing wrong with it. In fact, it suited her perfectly. And precisely because it did, Brian was afraid too many people would notice her beauty. He didn’t want any other men coveting her.
He fell silent, startled by the thoughts flashing through his mind.
When had he ever cared what a woman wore? Why did it matter to him if she would attract the attention of others?
Yet, facing Chloe, he felt unsettled. He was afraid she would draw the eyes of other men. He was afraid
Chapter 74 The Urge to Slap You
her gaze would drift elsewhere, away from him.
“If there’s really nothing wrong with it, then I’ll wear the one I picked,” Chloe said firmly.
3/4
She turned to change back into her own clothes. Just then, Brian suddenly said, “Chloe, it seems I care about you more than I realized.”
“What?” Chloe turned, thinking she’d misheard him.
“Nothing.” Brian smiled faintly. The curve of his lips softened the cold lines of his face.
The next evening, Chloe accompanied Brian to the banquet.
It was hosted by Yarfdale Chamber of Commerce, attended by government officials tied to island development, along with wealthy businessmen and social elites.
The Steele family was involved in the project, so Brian had naturally been invited.
Chloe held Brian’s arm as she accompanied him in greeting various bigwigs. As they made their way toward the center of the hall, a once–familiar voice suddenly called out behind her.
“Chloe!”
She faltered in her steps. That voice…
She turned slowly and saw Curtis just a few steps away. By his side stood Sonya.
“What are you doing here? And with…” Curtis looked back and forth between her and Brian with a
complicated expression.
When he first saw her, he thought his eyes were deceiving him.
Curtis had never seen Chloe dressed like this. It was just a simple black dress, yet it looked so sharp and graceful on her, with a rare touch of allure.
Her long hair was pinned up, revealing her graceful neck. Paired with Chloe’s sharp features, the sight left Curtis dazed.
But what shocked him the most was Brian at her side.
Hadn’t Chloe returned to Yarfdale to lay her parents to rest? How had she ended up with Brian?
Could it be that her firm resolve to get a divorce back then was only because she had someone better?
The thought left a bitter taste in him.
At his side, Sonya sneered. “So that’s why you rushed to divorce Curtis. You were just trading up, weren’t you? I thought you’d have some integrity since your parents were heroes, but I clearly overestimated you-
She hadn’t even finished speaking when a slap struck her across the face. Sonya staggered back and
Chapter 74 The Urge to Slap You
nearly fell.
She looked at Brian in shock as he calmly pulled a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiped his fingers.
“It seems you enjoy running your mouth, Ms. Miller. Do you want to keep going?” Brian asked slowly. Sonya froze in place. Brian had actually slapped her.
