CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: RELUCTANT TO PART

Chloe Preston leaned against him and lightly pursed her lips. "Then... you have to come back soon."

"Mm," Donovan Xavier affirmed.

Chloe thought for a moment before asking, "Will it be dangerous?"

Donovan fell silent.

Seeing his silence, Chloe took the initiative to wrap her arms around his firm waist. Her voice was muffled as she said, "I won’t allow you to be in danger. And I certainly won’t allow anything to happen to you."

The memory of him getting shot in Southel still made her heart ache with fear.

"Donovan Xavier, if you get into trouble again this time, I’ll disappear so you can never find me again!"

Her words were a clear threat.

As she finished speaking, Donovan’s expression immediately darkened. He lifted her chin, his gaze turning cold. "Chloe Preston, I’m warning you. If you disappear on me again, I’ll make sure you can’t get out of bed for the rest of your life!"

"Hmph. Then you’d better make it back alive!" Chloe huffed.

"Are you leaving right now? I’ll go pack your things!" As she spoke, she started to get out of his embrace.

Donovan held her firmly in his arms. His dark eyes were deep and profound as he tilted his head to kiss her ear. "No rush. We still have time. Let’s kiss a little longer."

As he spoke, he guided her hand to his tie.

"What are you doing?" Chloe asked.

Donovan leaned closer, whispering a single sentence into her ear.

「More than an hour later.」

Suddenly, a crisp knock sounded at the door.

Who has a death wish, knocking right now?!

Donovan’s brows furrowed, and he barked in a deep, stern voice, "Don’t come in!"

Chloe withdrew her hand.

Housekeeper Wallace’s voice carried clearly through the door. "Sir, the car is ready. You may leave at any time."

Donovan listened and lowered his gaze, glancing at the woman in his arms. "Should we continue?"

"If not, I have to go."

Chloe shook her head.

"Alright," Donovan said.

He then lifted her onto the cold office desk, his voice low. "I’m leaving now. Be good while I’m gone, and tell Housekeeper Wallace if you need anything."

"If anything happens, don’t handle it on your own. Call me immediately."

"Okay," Chloe nodded obediently.

Donovan smiled but said nothing more. He turned to leave.

Seeing this, Chloe immediately reached out and grabbed his firm forearm.

Donovan turned back, one eyebrow raised slightly. "What is it?"

Chloe slid off the desk, pursed her lips, and threw herself into his arms, hugging him as tightly as she could.

Donovan stiffened for a moment, then a lingering, gentle smile touched his lips as he stroked her hair. "My Chloe doesn’t want me to go, does she?"

"Mm," Chloe nodded honestly, the tip of her nose beginning to sting.

Donovan’s breath hitched. "I don’t want to leave you either."

"If missions weren’t so inconvenient, I’d take you with me."

Chloe didn’t speak, only holding him tighter.

She wanted to stay with him just a little longer.

Donovan let her hug him.

After a while, he raised his wrist to check his watch. "Baby, I really have to go."

"Mm," Chloe agreed.

She let go and looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears.

Donovan’s heart stirred. He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Be good. I’ll be back soon."

「Ten minutes later.」

Chloe stood at the main gate of The Xavier Residence, watching the car carrying him drive away.

Just then, a message lit up her phone screen. It was from Ivy Lane.

[Chloe, darling, I got dumped. Come keep me company.]

Chloe’s brows furrowed instantly.

「Twenty-five minutes later.」

「A bar.」

Inside, the lights were a dizzying mix of red and green, a veritable haven of hedonism.

Chloe looked around as she entered. A moment later, she spotted Ivy Lane at the bar, drowning her sorrows.

She walked over. "Ivy?"

Hearing her voice, Ivy looked up. Her face was flushed from the alcohol, and her eyes were filled with tears. "Chloe, you’re here..."

With that, she plunged into Chloe’s arms and burst into tears.

Chloe quickly patted her back, her own brow creased with concern as she tried to comfort her. "Ivy, what happened? Did Adam bully you?"

Ivy choked out a sob. "He cheated on me!"

Just then, two more men entered the bar. They were clad in sharp suits, their gazes cold and indifferent, exuding an air of extraordinary nobility.

Leo Sterling was heading to a private suite when his eyes swept over the bar, his steps faltering slightly.

Seeing him stop, Adrian Rhodes clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Mr. Sterling, why did you stop?"

"Ten o’clock," Leo said coolly.

Adrian followed his gaze and saw Chloe sitting there. He frowned slightly. "That woman is quite pretty."

"But... why does she look so familiar?"

He took a longer look and suddenly it clicked. "Wait... isn’t that Mr. Xavier’s ex-girlfriend?!"

Leo let out a soft chuckle. "She *was* his ex-girlfriend. That might not be the case anymore."

"They got back together not long ago."

"What did you say?!" Adrian looked utterly shocked. "That woman was the one who dumped Mr. Xavier, and he can still forgive her?"

He then pulled out his phone and fired off a text message.

[Mr. Xavier, are you and your ex back together?]

The reply came almost instantly.

[Why do you ask?]

[Mr. Sterling and I just saw her at a bar.]

The next second, Adrian’s phone rang. It was Donovan. Adrian answered.

"Be clear. Where is she right now?!"

"At a bar," Adrian replied.

Donovan’s voice was filled with a rage so cold it could kill. "Send me the address!"

Adrian hung up and sent the location.

Leo glanced toward the bar again. "Should we go over and say hello?"

Adrian shoved a hand in his pocket, his expression grim as he refused. "Forget it. I don’t want to see her."

"If it weren’t for that woman, Mr. Xavier wouldn’t have been so devastated back then!"

Others didn’t know, but the two of them knew perfectly well.

Ever since Chloe disappeared four years ago, Donovan had searched for her relentlessly, driving himself to the brink of a mental breakdown. But in the end, he found nothing.

Gradually, he stopped searching.

He began to suffer from insomnia, needing sleeping pills every night. He neglected everything and did nothing but drink. He would drink copious amounts of alcohol until he passed out. One time, he drank himself into a stupor and ended up with a gastric hemorrhage.

When Adrian carried him to the hospital, he overheard him murmuring deliriously, "Chloe, I miss you so much..."