CHAPTER 9: CHAPTER 9: CHLOE PRESTON TAKES CARE OF HIM, SLEEPLESS ALL NIGHT

Upon hearing the sound, Chloe Preston quickly released the man, lifted the blanket, and got out of bed. Her face was flushed red. As she tidied her messy clothes, she pretended to be nonchalant while pouring a glass of water.

How embarrassing. She wished she could disappear from the face of the earth right now!

Owen Grant walked in and, upon seeing the scene, immediately turned his back and covered his eyes. "Ahem, am I coming at a bad time?"

Donovan Xavier had been getting into it when he was suddenly interrupted, and he was extremely displeased. There was still a faint, passionate blush on his neck. His handsome face darkened. "Do you need something?"

"Donovan, I was afraid you’d be hungry, so I brought back some porridge," Owen said, placing the container by the door. "I’ll head out first. You two can... continue!"

The next second, he turned and left, pulling the door shut behind him.

Chloe Preston walked over and retrieved the porridge. "It’s hot. Would you like some?"

"Will you feed me?" Donovan Xavier asked.

Chloe Preston pouted. "It’s not like you don’t have hands."

Though that’s what she said, she still sat by the bedside and opened the lid. He was a patient now, so she tried to accommodate him as best she could.

Suddenly, her phone rang. Chloe Preston took it out, glanced at the screen, and then looked at the man. "Wait a moment. I need to take this call outside." With that, she got up and left the room.

Donovan Xavier watched her go, his expression suddenly turning grim.

Whose call was that? Why did she have to answer it away from him? Did she have something she didn’t want him to know?

Once outside, Chloe Preston leaned against the cold wall and answered the phone. A voice immediately came from the other side. "President Quinn, there’s trouble at the company! We need you back immediately...!"

Chloe Preston’s eyes narrowed. "What!"

"But I can’t return right now."

"But the company really needs you! You can’t just watch it go bankrupt!"

After a long pause, Chloe Preston said softly, "Fine, I understand."

She hung up and walked back inside.

Donovan Xavier was propped up against the headboard, his dark eyes fixed on her as if he wanted to eat her alive.

"Whose call was it?" he demanded, his tone sharp with displeasure. "A man or a woman?"

Chloe Preston didn’t answer him. She walked back to the bed, silently lifted a corner of the blanket, and slipped in beside him. Without a word, she leaned against his side and wrapped an arm around his sturdy waist. Her touch was feather-light, worried she might hurt his wound.

Donovan Xavier was momentarily stunned by her action.

What did she mean by this? Still, her behavior reminded him of the past. She used to love clinging to him, being so wonderfully attached. He loved it. Each time, he was defenseless against her, unable to resist taking her again and again. Every detail of every night they had spent together was still vividly etched in his memory.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, his tone considerably softer as he gently stroked her hair.

Chloe Preston shook her head. "Nothing," she said, her voice muffled against him. "I just suddenly wanted to hug you. You won’t let me?"

She didn’t know how to tell him. If he knew she was leaving, how would he react? Would he be angry? Would he try to stop her? She had to hold him a little longer now. Perhaps, once she left, she would never have the chance to hold him again.

"Of course!" Donovan Xavier exclaimed.

How could he refuse? At this moment, he wished he could give her his very soul.

Chloe Preston fell silent, inching closer and nuzzling into his embrace. She was as pliant as a cat, making his heart melt.

Donovan Xavier watched her. "Chloe Preston, if you keep this up, I’ll think you’re trying to seduce me."

The way she was acting... any man would lose his composure for her.

"Think what you will," Chloe Preston replied. "It’s not like you can do anything to me right now, anyway."

Donovan Xavier’s dark eyes narrowed. The next moment, he rolled over, unexpectedly pinning her beneath him. A sharp pain immediately lanced through his wound, and his face paled.

Chloe Preston panicked. "You just had surgery; you can’t move around like that! Where does it hurt? Let me see."

Donovan Xavier grabbed her hand and pulled her into his warm, strong embrace. "It hurts everywhere," he chuckled softly. "I need a kiss from Miss Quinn to make it better."

Chloe Preston glared at him playfully and pinched his cheek. "You’re never serious. Serves you right!"

Donovan Xavier laughed lazily and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Are you tired?" Chloe Preston asked.

"A little. I want to get some sleep."

Chloe Preston nodded, adjusting the blanket and pillow to make him more comfortable. Just then, her phone screen lit up with an incoming message. She picked it up and began to reply.

"Who is it?" Donovan Xavier asked, pretending to be casual when he saw how focused she was.

"The hospital director," Chloe Preston answered. "We’re discussing a patient."

Donovan Xavier’s brows furrowed slightly. "A patient? Are you a doctor? When you gave your statement, didn’t you say you sold jade?"

Chloe Preston turned off her phone and looked at him. "Stop prying into my business. Aren’t you tired? Go to sleep."

As if afraid she would leave, he pulled her down to lie beside him, his voice domineering. "Sleep next to me."

...

Afterward, he fell into a deep sleep.

Chloe Preston lay by his side the entire time, not daring to move for fear of disturbing him.

The next moment, her phone rang again.

Chloe Preston picked it up, glanced at the screen, and declined the call.

That must be an employee from the company, urging me to return.

Chloe Preston turned her head slightly to look at the man, her feelings in turmoil.

To be honest, since their breakup, she never imagined she would see him again. She clearly didn’t want any more entanglement with him, but the moment she saw him, she felt an uncontrollable pull toward him. When he spoke, her heart still fluttered. It seemed she was still in love with him...

Realizing this, Chloe Preston lowered her gaze and bit her lip.

She knew there would never be a future for them. He came from such a distinguished family, always so lofty and out of reach. They were never a match. Besides, he didn’t love her.

"Chloe..."

Chloe Preston heard him call her name. Instantly, her heart trembled.

The last time he had called her that was four years ago. Back then, she had felt so insecure and loved hearing him say her name like that; it made her feel cherished. He would often hold her, kiss her, and laugh. "Our sweet Chloe, what if I marry you tomorrow and make you Mrs. Xavier, huh?" She had said yes. But he never married her. She had been too naive, taking his sweet nothings as the truth.

Chloe Preston looked down at him. The man was still sound asleep; he must have been talking in his sleep.

"I feel... uncomfortable..."

Hearing his murmur, she grew nervous. "What’s wrong?"

She reached out and felt his forehead. It was burning hot.

He has a fever!

Chloe Preston immediately got up and rushed to call a doctor.

This man... why is he always so much trouble!

That night, Chloe Preston stayed by his bedside, taking care of him without a wink of sleep.

...

「Early the next morning.」

Chloe Preston sat by the bed and gently felt his forehead. The fever had broken. She felt a wave of relief.

She got up, planning to leave. She left a note on the table telling him that an issue had come up at her company and she had to return to Kryton.

She knew she shouldn’t, but at the end of the note, she still left her phone number and address. She knew it was impossible. Yet she still held on to a sliver of hope—a hope that there was a tiny chance he might look for her, even if it was just a phone call. She told herself it was just wishful thinking. After all, she was already used to disappointment...

Chloe Preston opened the door and left.

A short while later, Faye Hughes opened the door and came in.