CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: THIS LIFE IS UNBEARABLE!

"You’re back?"

Chloe Lynch was startled awake, seeing Adrian Lockwood standing in the doorway.

She got up and helped him, her expression forlorn, "Why so late?"

Seeing Chloe Lynch clearly, the image pulled away from his memory.

Adrian’s blurry drunkenness instantly cleared.

He realized that moments ago he had mistakenly thought the person on the sofa was Serena Sinclair; Adrian’s face darkened.

"Do you have any hangover soup?"

"No... no. Wait, I’ll get you some hangover medicine."

In a flurry, Chloe Lynch dug out some hangover medicine from the first-aid kit.

She poured a cup of water and helped Adrian take it.

"It’s late, you should sleep..."

Chloe Lynch reached out to tug Adrian, but he didn’t move.

Adrian asked again, "Do you have anything to eat?"

At engagements like this, drinking takes precedence over talking.

He had barely touched his chopsticks.

By the time he got home, he was almost famished.

Chloe Lynch paused, "No... How about I make you some instant noodles?"

Adrian frowned.

He wanted to say he never eats instant noodles.

But facing Chloe Lynch’s anxiety and his growling stomach, Adrian nodded.

Looking up, he saw Chloe Lynch pulling out boxed instant noodles from the cupboard.

The stove wasn’t even on.

Chloe Lynch boiled water and made him a box of instant noodles.

The discomfort in Adrian’s heart surged wildly again.

He didn’t get that piece of land.

News of the marital crisis had been exposed by the paparazzi again.

The Lockwood Group’s stock price had been dropping for two days.

He was busy securing a new partnership.

Busy negotiating with the city officials he finally connected with.

Last night and tonight, he’d been out socializing for two nights straight.

It used to be like this.

But now, Adrian couldn’t shake his inexplicable frustration.

And this frustration peaked when he saw the bowl of instant noodles in Chloe Lynch’s hands.

Serena Sinclair had never let him eat instant noodles.

Mason Lockwood and Beatrice Sutton had a poor relationship; during the years of growth, when he was hungry at night, he often had nothing but instant noodles to eat.

It ruined his stomach.

He hated instant noodles the most.

There was a canteen at school.

After graduation, once he was married, Serena always made sure he had good food.

On nights when he came home late, as soon as he stepped in, there was always hangover soup at the perfect temperature.

Tangy and sweet, a cup of it would clear most of his hazy mind.

Heading to the bathroom, the bath was ready with water.

Everything he needed was on a shelf within reach: towel and clothes.

After his bath, dinner was always ready on the table.

Side dishes paired with noodle soup.

Or with plain congee.

One bowl down, his stomach warmed, melting away a whole day of fatigue.

There was a time when, deep into the night, there was that gentle "You’re back."

Along with those few side dishes and a bowl of soup noodles on the table.

It was the warm comfort that soothed his soul.

But right now...

"It’s ready..."

The sour spicy aroma mixed with steam rushed into his nose.

Adrian snapped back to reality, saw Chloe Lynch push the prepared noodles over, "It’s ready, eat up!"

The first bite was tolerable.

The second bite he endured.

Barely managing the third, Adrian dropped the fork from his hand.

The chair screeched as it moved, Chloe Lynch raised her eyes, seeing Adrian heading upstairs.

The noodles in the bowl were barely touched.

Chloe froze for a moment before chasing after him.

From browsing her phone on the sofa until she fell asleep, now awake, Chloe Lynch felt wide awake.

The sound of running water faded.

In the darkness, Chloe couldn’t help biting her lip.

Watching Adrian walk step by step towards her.

Watching Adrian lift the blanket and lie on the bed.

Chloe waited for his move for a long time, but it never came.

She bravely snuggled over.

After a few breaths, the air in the bedroom became steamy.

"Adrian, Adrian..."

Chloe Lynch realized she still preferred the nightly Adrian.

Gone was the cold detachment of the daytime.

It felt like Adrian loved her deeply, just as she loved him.

The unrest in her heart quickly filled.

At the end of the night, the man held her tight.

His deep, magnetic voice pulled her nearly out-of-body soul forcefully back, "Serena..."

Chloe froze.

As if plunged into a cave of ice.

It was a while before the sound of even breathing continued next to her.

Adrian had fallen asleep.

In the darkness, Chloe Lynch’s eyes reddened from grievance.

Moments ago, she was lamenting how well Serena had been living all these years, and all the good had finally come to her, Chloe Lynch.

But now, that single call for "Serena" shattered all of Chloe’s dignity.

"Wah!... Mommy, I want Mommy..."

Faint cries sounded from downstairs, and Chloe Lynch impatiently pulled the cover over her ears.

But Adrian’s turning alerted her like an alarm clock in her ear.

Chloe Lynch forgot to put on shoes, rushed downstairs.

In the children’s room on the first floor, Miles Lockwood woke from a nightmare and was crying loudly.

"Mommy, Mommy, I want Mommy..."

"Miles, don’t cry; Aunt Chloe is here. Be good, don’t cry..."

She tried to pick up Miles.

But the five-year-old boy fought back, throwing punches and kicks that she couldn’t handle.

Chloe Lynch was helpless trying to comfort him.

The sound of wailing was like a boiling kettle in her ears.

Her thighs and abdomen endured painful kicks from left to right.

"Stop crying!!!"

She roared.

The crying abruptly stopped.

Chloe Lynch hadn’t even caught her breath.

"Wah!!!"

The piercing cries started again.

Even louder.

"Mommy, Mommy, I want Mommy..."

The smell was unfamiliar.

The unfamiliar, forceful embrace was more so.

Half asleep and half awake, Miles Lockwood only knew the woman in front of him wasn’t his mother.

"Mommy, Mommy, I want Mommy..."

Miles cried heartbreakingly.

Chloe Lynch sat on the carpet, feeling utterly dejected.

Just let everything be destroyed!

To hell with whoever! She couldn’t continue living like this!

Chloe Lynch slumped to the ground, wishing the universe would just end.

After crying too long and exhausting himself.

Miles lay on the pillow, sniffling in slumber.

Chloe waited until he was in deep sleep, dragging herself upstairs like a zombie.

She checked her phone; it was 3 AM.

Just three and a half hours until her alarm went off.

No time for freshening up; she had to quickly change clothes and go downstairs to wake Miles.

Miles was grumpy when waking up; it took over half an hour from opening his eyes to getting dressed and sent out the door.

All the good mood would be drained bit by bit, leaving only exhaustion.

As the car left the villa, she hadn’t even caught her breath before it was time to wake Adrian, prepare breakfast for him.

For a moment, Chloe Lynch wanted to ask Serena.

All these years, is this how you’ve lived?

But the thought was quickly dismissed with a roll of her eyes.

How could that be?

Returning to the villa, she saw Adrian Lockwood, impeccably dressed, heading downstairs.

At the dining table, Chloe Lynch cautiously spoke, "Adrian, I want to hire a chef for the house, and a nanny specifically for Miles. Is that okay?"

Ding!

The coffee cup was placed back on its saucer, Adrian frowned, "I don’t like having outsiders in the house. Or are you saying you don’t want to do this for me and Miles?"

"No, Adrian, I just..."

I just want to focus more on work.

Juggling work and family, she couldn’t manage it all.

As she was about to speak, Chloe Lynch abruptly stopped.

Work could be set aside, but Adrian and Miles, if she let go, there would be no turning back.

For the past six months, to capture Adrian and win over Miles, she spent so much effort.

Finally, she managed Adrian and Serena’s smooth divorce.

She hadn’t yet successfully become the rightful Mrs. Lockwood.

Only a fool would let go at this point.

Chloe Lynch smiled and wrapped Adrian’s arm, "I can do it."

Serena could do it; surely, she could too!