CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 90: WHO GAVE YOU THE NERVE!

The next morning.

Chloe Preston washed up and dressed early. Looking radiant and beautiful, she grabbed her bag and prepared to head to the jade shop. Before leaving, she walked over and sat by the bed. She tucked the blanket around the man and kissed his icy, cold lips.

Chloe gazed at him softly. Imitating his usual posture, she folded her arms and curved her lips into a gentle smile. "Be good, darling. I’m off to work. Sleep well and wait for me to come back!"

As she spoke, she leaned down to kiss his handsome face again. Feeling it wasn’t enough, she moved lower and nibbled on his sexy Adam’s apple. She stood up, looking at him with reluctance before stepping out the door.

After the door closed, the man on the soft, large bed kept his eyes shut, but the space between his brows relaxed slightly, and his knuckles twitched.

Chloe went downstairs, gave Housekeeper Wallace and the others a few brief instructions, and then drove away from The Xavier Residence alone.

「Ten minutes later.」

Owen Grant drove over with Faye Hughes.

The car door opened, and Faye stepped out, wearing a long, blue spaghetti-strap dress and holding a bouquet of sunflowers. Just as they were about to enter, a servant stopped them at the door. "What is your business here?"

"We are friends of your master, here to visit him," Owen replied. "Is he doing any better?"

Faye remained silent, stepping forward to go inside.

"You can’t come in!" The servant continued to block them. "Just because you say you’re friends doesn’t make it so. What proof do you have?"

Faye scoffed. "If you don’t believe us, then get Chloe Preston to come out and meet us!"

"The madam is out," the servant replied.

Just then, Housekeeper Wallace walked over, scolding, "What’s all this noise?"

The servant replied, "These two people say they’re the master’s friends, here to visit him."

Upon hearing this, Housekeeper Wallace looked up, casting a glance at the two in front of her. She had a faint impression of them; they had visited twice before when the master was in a coma.

Housekeeper Wallace hesitated for a moment, then said, "I don’t have the authority to let you in directly. How about this? I’ll give our madam a call to ask."

Faye fanned herself with her hand. "Fine, just hurry up!"

Meanwhile, a Bentley drove up and stopped at the gate. Rosalind Rowan got out of the car. She was wearing a halter-neck little black dress and holding a bouquet of jasmine flowers, looking flamboyant and dazzling.

Faye looked up, and their eyes met.

She had long heard that this woman was supposedly Donovan Xavier’s fiancée. But he never took her seriously. The only real threat was Chloe Preston.

Rosalind walked over, sizing Faye up from head to toe. With an arrogant smile, she extended her hand. "Hello there."

Faye scoffed coldly and turned away, ignoring her.

So annoying.

At that moment, Housekeeper Wallace hung up the phone and looked at Owen. "Madam said you may go in, but you mustn’t be too loud or disturb the master’s rest."

"We understand," Owen said. "We’ll just take a look and be on our way."

Without waiting for them to finish, Faye clutched the flowers and walked straight inside.

Rosalind followed on her high heels.

Housekeeper Wallace and another servant blocked her way. "Wait a moment!"

Rosalind grew annoyed and glared at her. "You dare stop me? Do you have any idea who I am?"

Housekeeper Wallace glared back. "I don’t care who you are. This is The Xavier Residence, and you don’t call the shots!"

"If you want to go inside, you need our madam’s permission!"

Rosalind crossed her arms and sneered, "What madam? Chloe Preston hasn’t even married Donovan yet, and she’s already acting like she’s the mistress of The Xavier Residence!"

Housekeeper Wallace eyed her coldly. "Our master admitted it himself. Miss Quinn is the mistress of The Xavier Residence. She is Mrs. Xavier, the person the master cherishes most!"

"I don’t see any need to call the madam. With an attitude like yours, if the master knew you came to see him, he’d only find it distasteful!"

"You!" Rosalind stomped her foot, furious.

...

「Upstairs.」

Outside the room, Owen reached for the doorknob and pushed the door open.

CLICK—

The door opened, and they stepped inside.

"Who’s there?"

A deep, pleasant voice came through, slightly husky.

Upon hearing it, Faye’s eyelashes trembled. She looked up, and her eyes instantly turned red as tears streamed down her face.

"Don... Donovan."

Owen looked at the man before him, stunned at first. As the reality sank in, he felt a prickling in his nose.

He spoke, "Donovan, you’re awake?"

On the bed, Donovan Xavier propped himself up but didn’t say a word. He looked at the two of them, frowning, his expression guarded.

"Donovan!" Without a second thought, Faye rushed forward with her flowers, crying, "You finally woke up! You scared us to death before!"

She reached out to hug him.

Donovan reacted in a flash, dodging backward as a surge of anger rose in him. "Stay back!"

Faye was frightened by his fierce demeanor; her hand froze mid-air, and a shiver ran through her.

As she and Owen were about to step forward, Donovan glared at them, his eyes cold and distant. His handsome face was stern. "Get lost! Stay away from me!"

Finding this strange, Owen Grant asked, "Donovan, what’s... what’s wrong with you?"

Donovan Xavier scrutinized them, his eyes filled with menace and his voice icy cold. "Who are you? What are you doing in The Xavier Residence? Who let you in?"

"All of you, get out!"

At his words, Faye Hughes’s mouth fell open. She turned her head and exchanged a glance with Owen Grant.

What is going on?

...

「Noon.」

After finishing her work at the shop, Chloe Preston drove back. The car door opened, and she got out, ready to go inside when a Maybach pulled up.

Chloe paused slightly.

The car parked to the side, and Adrian Rhodes and Leo Sterling got out.

Chloe took a few steps forward, looked at them, and offered a slow smile. "Here to see Donovan again?"

Adrian Rhodes put one hand in his pocket and nodded. "Yeah. We came to talk to him. I’m afraid he’ll have forgotten me when he wakes up."

Leo Sterling asked gravely from the side, "How has he been these past few days?"

Chloe’s gaze fell, and she gave a slight, wry smile. "Same as always."

The three of them fell silent. Taking a breath, Chloe spoke first, "Let’s go inside."

As the three of them walked, they happened to run right into Owen Grant and the others.

Chloe looked at them. "Did you see Donovan? Is he okay?"

Faye Hughes, holding the flowers, remained silent.

Owen Grant stepped up to her, his voice heavy. "He’s fine, but..."

"Hmm?" Chloe prompted.

"He’s awake."

For a moment, all three of them froze, stunned.

Thinking she had misheard, Chloe grabbed his shoulders in alarm. "What did you say?"

Owen Grant repeated in the same tone, "Donovan’s awake."

It felt as if something had exploded in Chloe Preston’s heart. She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes reddening. "Are... are you telling the truth?"

Owen Grant nodded. "Yes. It’s just that..."

"But what?" Leo Sterling demanded from the side, staring directly at him with an intimidating presence.

Owen Grant raised his eyes, looked at them, and sighed. "You should go see for yourselves."

Chloe Preston immediately took off running.

Housekeeper Wallace chased after her frantically. "Madam, you’re pregnant! You can’t run so fast!"

「Upstairs.」

Chloe ran to the door in a single breath. Panting, she opened it and stepped inside. "Donovan Xavier, you’re awake!"

Her voice trembled, laced with tears, hope, fear, and tension.

The room was empty. The bed was bare, giving the space a cold, deserted feel.

Where did he go?

Chloe stood there, dazed.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded from behind her, and Chloe turned around. She looked up and met a pair of deep-set eyes, as dark and familiar as the night sky.

Chloe could hardly believe it. She pressed her lips together as the corners of her eyes reddened and tears welled up.

He... He really woke up.

The next second, she stepped forward and threw herself into his warm embrace, her arms wrapping tightly around his strong waist.

Tears fell, soaking his black robe.

"Let go," Donovan Xavier gritted out, his voice icy.

Chloe was completely immersed in the joy of his awakening. She closed her eyes, her damp eyelashes fluttering, and hugged him even tighter. Then, she rose onto her tiptoes and pressed an unexpected kiss to his cold lips—a soft, sweet touch.

She wanted more. She parted his lips, clumsily trying to deepen the kiss.

Donovan Xavier’s pupils contracted, and his hands clenched into fists.

"Donovan, why aren’t you responding? Kiss me back."

Donovan’s gaze turned cold. He yanked her away.

"Donovan, you..." Chloe looked at him, about to speak.

In an instant, a large hand clamped around her neck. He backed her up step by step, pinning her against the wall.

"Speak! Who are you? Where did you come from?"

"You dare to hug me? To kiss me? Who gave you the nerve!"

"Do you have any idea what happens to people who provoke me? Do you have a death wish?"

Donovan Xavier’s grip was viselike. His cold eyes glared down at her, merciless and indifferent.

Chloe couldn’t breathe, unable to utter a word.