But he didn't expect Vernon, his little brother, to take a liking to Chloe. This usually bratty boy was the jewel in Vincent's eyes. He actually liked his girlfriend. It was the best outcome he could get from his family.
"And Chloe is a great cook, I have to admit. Vernon liked her cooking so much that he would eat literally anything Chloe made."
…
"No, it's not her," Vincent shook his head. He knew his little brother very well. "Vernon might be a brat, but he idolized me when he was young. He was also very obedient."
"I already told him not to accept Chloe, so he has definitely rejected Chloe's plea. That bitch deserved to be punished for running away from me. Divorced is out of questions now," Vincent said.
Honestly, he wasn't sure of himself. He just couldn't sign that divorce paper, no matter what. Maybe he didn't want to find another woman to remarry because all of them were gold digger whores.
Vincent shook his head again, "I trust him. He is my brother, so he will not betray me."
**
Vernon entered his car and drove away from the office building. "Pffttthh… Heheheh…. Ahahah…. HAHAHAHAH!" Vernon was holding his laugh the entire time and finally burst out laughing. He laughed so much that he started getting stomach cramps.
"Ouch, ah… haha! Man, that's so funny!" Vernon continued snickering like a madman. "He trusts me completely. What an idiot! Ahahahahah!"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Well, it's his fault for doing that. Everything has just started, it will take a while, but I will make sure both of them got destroyed," Vernon said. Of course, he already had a plan for Vincent, Chloe, and his family. But everything had just started, and he had to gain more trust and keep Chloe safe until he could utilize her for his gain.
His eyes cooled down until it was devoid of any emotion. "You're also on the list, Chloe Gray. Just because I'm keeping you around doesn't mean I need you to stay. You're as good as dead, just like my brother."
Vernon pressed the gas, and his car sped through the highway as he returned to his apartment.
**
Meanwhile, Chloe was busy helping and checking on Mackie's homework. She was glad that Miss Alicia— Mackie's homeroom teacher, made an ingenious idea for a small punishment.
Basically, if any student were arguing or fighting, they would be punished by giving them homework. The longer they throw tantrums or yell at their friends, the more homework piled up.
Mackie was getting bullied by Jaden and Mia again, but Mackie was a feisty little girl, she fought back, and they were finally punished. But because Mackie was the one who got bullied, Jaden and Mia got twice the amount of homework that Mackie had to do.
"Hmph! Mackie can fight them! Jaden and Mia said Mommy and Mackie won't see Daddy anymore, so I fight them!" Mackie said.
Chloe sighed, but she patted Mackie's hair, "Well, let's just focus on your homework, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy!"
Chloe was busy with her daughter in Mackie's bedroom until she heard the familiar voice calling her from the upper floor, aka Vernon's penthouse.
"Chloe, Chloe!"
Vernon's voice got louder and louder as he kept calling. Chloe checked the clock and frowned when she saw the time, 'It's still evening. Didn't he strike a deal with the client he met today?'
Chloe had to answer Vernon's calling. She was his maid, after all. She told Mackie, "Dear, you should go to sleep after this, okay? It's not good for your health if you're sleeping too late."
"Okay, Mommy! Is that Uncle Vernon in his apartment?" Mackie asked.
"Mhm, but it's already late. You can meet him again tomorrow, okay?"
"Hmph! Who wants to meet with Uncle Vernon? He is a meanie towards Mommy! Mommy, if Uncle Vernon hurts Mommy, tell Mackie, okay? Mackie will protect Mommy!"
Chloe smiled and patted her daughter's head again, "Don't worry, Uncle Vernon will not do anything to Mommy."
'I hope,' Chloe secretly wished.
She got up and left Mackie's bedroom to meet Vernon.
**
Vernon was a little— well, very annoyed right now. He refused to have dinner with his big brother because he expected Chloe to cook dinner for him.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut when he entered the penthouse, Chloe was nowhere to be seen, and the dining table was empty.
"What the— does she expect me to cook by myself? I paid her to cook!" Vernon complained. He started searching for his sister-in-law, "Sister-in-law? Chloe, Chloe!"
"Y—Yes!" Chloe quickened her pace and climbed upstairs. She saw Vernon sitting at the dining table with an expression that could only be described as upset.
More like a young boy being upset, actually.
"Do you need something, Vernon?"
Vernon gave her a side-glance and clicked his tongue in annoyance, "Is this the way for you to greet me? Do you not understand your job here?"
Chloe still looked confused, and Vernon pointed at the empty dining table, "Where's my dinner?"
"Ah... I thought you would be working until late at night and have dinner outside…." Chloe replied.
"And? You still need to cook for me even if I'm not at home!"
"B—But it would be a waste. The ingredients are expensive—"
Vernon slammed the mahogany table once he heard Chloe say it'd be a waste of ingredients because it was expensive. His mood was instantly ruined. He got up and stood in front of Chloe like an intimidating beast, ready to devour her, "Do you think I don't have money to feed you? Huh? I can feed you with all the lavish things in life!"
"I—I never said that…." Chloe took a step back to avoid Vernon, who was angered for no reason, and Vernon naturally took a step forward to close their gap.
Chloe didn't know why Vernon was always angry because she was just trying to be economical.
In her life with Vincent, she would cook a lot for her husband, and Vincent would eat for one or two bites before leaving. He would also scold Chloe, calling her a stupid bitch for wasting food…