CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: THIS MAN NEVER FORGETS A GRUDGE!

Chloe Preston leaned into his embrace, her hands wrapped tightly around his firm waist, her tears soaking the fabric of his expensive suit.

"Sorry, I stained your suit..."

"It doesn’t matter."

Donovan Xavier’s voice was hoarse as he swept her up into his arms and carried her back to the room.

Her hands were covered in blood and tiny shards of glass.

Donovan frowned, a sharp pang of pain piercing his heart.

He carried her into the bathroom and set her on the counter beside the sink. Turning on the tap, he began to carefully clean her wounds.

"This might sting a bit. Try to bear with it..."

As soon as the water touched her cuts, Chloe’s face scrunched up tightly. Tears welled in her eyes, and she instinctively shrank into his arms to escape the pain. Donovan saw it all but was helpless to bear the pain for her.

After a while, he carried her back out, laid her on the bed, and began gently applying ointment to her injuries.

His thin lips pressed together as he asked in a deep voice, "Your dad..."

"He’s a gambler and a drunk," Chloe said, her lips pursed and her voice devoid of emotion.

That was why I didn’t want him to go out earlier. I really didn’t want him to see that I had a father like that.

"He... isn’t good to you?" Donovan asked.

Chloe took a shallow breath. "It’s not about being good or bad. He just never cared about me."

"If I died one day, he’d probably just stay at the gambling table, waiting to win back his losses."

Although recently, he had started to ’care’ by arranging blind dates for her, hoping she would quickly find a wealthy man.

Donovan’s slender, bony fingers paused. "And... your mom? Was she not good to you either?"

"She passed away four years ago," Chloe said. "When she was alive, she loved to hit me.

"My mother’s name was Stella Page. Because I was adopted, she never liked me. Every day, it was either a beating or a scolding.

"Once, I accidentally broke a bowl. She slapped me hard twice and made me kneel in the rain for a whole day and night. Afterward, I came down with a high fever, but she just watched coldly, letting me suffer through it on my own."

Four years ago, Stella Page died suddenly of a heart attack. At her funeral, Chloe didn’t shed a single tear. She wasn’t sad; instead, she felt a sense of relief. No one would beat her or force her to kneel every day anymore. The people around her all accused her of being unfilial, wondering if her conscience had been eaten by a dog.

Upon hearing "four years ago," Donovan’s brow furrowed. "Four years ago? Was that right after we broke up?"

Chloe glanced at him. "The day after we broke up."

"Was that time particularly hard for you?"

Chloe was silent for a few seconds before saying softly, "It’s all in the past..."

Donovan carefully wrapped her hand in gauze, his eyelids lowered as he struggled to control his roiling emotions.

Noticing the change in the air around him, Chloe asked, "What’s wrong?"

Donovan looked up, his dark eyes fixed on her. He gave a slight, wry twist of his lips, his voice raspy. "Nothing. It just breaks my heart to think of what my Chloe has been through."

Chloe’s glistening, tear-filled eyes flickered.

He’s calling me Chloe again. And he said he feels heartbroken for me... Is he just saying that out of pity?

Chloe turned her head away, her lips tightening as she murmured petulantly, "I’m not yours..."

"Then whose do you want to be?"

His hand gripped her soft waist, pulling her into his embrace. Chloe struggled, but she couldn’t break free; his hold only tightened.

"I asked you to move to The Xavier Residence," Donovan said. "What have you decided?"

"I haven’t decided yet."

He hasn’t even mentioned getting back together. If I really go, what would I be to him? His mistress? A bedmate? I can’t figure this man out at all. He’s always running hot and cold. One second he’s all over me, the next he’s as cold as ice. He’s so fickle. Could he be trying to get revenge? After all, I was the one who dumped him four years ago. Maybe he’s just pretending to be in love with me so that he can mercilessly kick me to the curb when I’m at my most dependent. Then he’ll look down on me and say, "Chloe Preston, this is the price for dumping me. I was just playing with you!" It’s not impossible. This man has always held a grudge! I should stay away from him. If I get in too deep, I’ll be the one who can’t get out.

Donovan, however, had no intention of letting her think it over. He leaned over and pressed her down, his breath hot against her skin.

The cold air hit her skin, making her shiver all over.

She reached out to stop his roving hands, her face blushing with a touch of allure. "What are you doing?"

Donovan’s eyes darkened. He leaned close to her ear and whispered with a smirk, "What do you think?"

Chloe glared at him, and he chuckled softly.

"Chloe Preston, if you haven’t made up your mind, then I’ll make it up for you.

"Pack your bags first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll send someone to take you to The Xavier Residence.

"You’d better get in the car on your own, or I’ll personally carry you there myself.

"You know what I’m capable of. Your best choice is to accept."

With that, a storm of kisses fell upon her.

He was so overbearing! How could he just make the decision for her when she hadn’t even agreed to go? He was just like a bandit chief—arrogant and completely unreasonable!

That night, he stayed, and they were tangled together in a relentless, seemingly endless passion.

***

「The next morning.」

Chloe was buried under the quilt, sleeping soundly, when the man began calling her name insistently, urging her to get up and pack. He sounded like he was trying to summon a wandering spirit.

She got out of bed, her steps unsteady. The pain from the night before nearly made her collapse. But him? He was doing just fine, contentedly lounging on the large bed, lost in his sweet dreams! Humph!

Chloe couldn’t stand the sight of him looking so pleased. Enduring the pain in her hands, she bit her lip and lunged, her hands clamping around his neck.

She squeezed with all her might. I’ll show him ’sleep’!

Donovan gasped for air. He snapped awake with a frown and choked out a few coughs.

Once he was fully awake, he stared in disbelief for a few seconds before letting out an incredulous, angry laugh. "Murdering your ex-boyfriend?

"Miss Quinn, what deep-seated grudge do you have against me that would make you do this?"

Chloe shot him a glare, slipped on her slippers, and stormed out of the room.

She found two large suitcases and stood in place, wondering what to pack.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Chloe froze for a few seconds. Could it be the people he arranged to pick me up?

Without giving it a second thought, she went to open the door.