Uneasy and frustrated, he stared at Khloe with a serious look.
“So, you plan to spend your life with that old man, huh? He’s got a family. And with your criminal history, you honestly think he’ll marry you? He’s just playing with you. Wake up, Khloe. If you keep lowering yourself like this, it won’t end well. And if it weren’t for our past, do you honestly think I’d be going to all this trouble after the embarrassment you caused me?”
Eric’s words drained the last of Khloe’s patience.
How absurd!
Did Eric actually believe that by acting like he was doing her a favor, she’d be thankful?
She had no words for such a self-righteous fool.
Khloe sneered in disdain before turning to walk away. As she turned to leave, Eric panicked and grabbed her wrist.
Taken by surprise, Khloe stumbled as Eric yanked her, her back crashing into the cold, unforgiving wall.
Seizing the moment, Eric stepped closer, forcing her between himself and the wall in a dominating move.
“Khloe, you’re not going anywhere until you say yes,” Eric said, leaning in close, his quick, warm breaths brushing against her face.
Khloe’s eyes sparked with fury, her glare sharp and filled with open irritation and contempt. She fought back fiercely, attempting to break free from his grip, but his strength was too much, leaving her struggles useless.
“Let me go, Eric!” Khloe screamed, her voice shaking with fury.
But Eric seemed deaf to her pleas, keeping her pinned against the wall. Khloe’s chest heaved with rage, her eyes frozen with ice, her face flushed with anger-like a thorned rose-beautiful yet threatening, impossible to ignore.
As if drawn by some invisible force, Eric leaned in, as though to kiss her. Khloe’s face darkened with fury. She gritted her teeth and lifted her hand.
With a sharp crack, she slapped Eric hard across the cheek. She put all her force into the slap, leaving a visible mark on his face.
Stunned by the blow, Eric held his face, his eyes flickering between disbelief and seething rage. “Khloe, how dare you slap me!” he bellowed.
“So what if I did? You and Sloane plotted against me, and now you want to humiliate me. Let me make this clear, Eric. I’m not the naive girl I was three years ago. For all the harm you and Sloane caused me, I’ll make sure you pay for it a thousand times over.”
Khloe’s voice was strong and steady. Every word came through clenched teeth, filled with cold determination. She stood straight and lifted her chin, showing quiet confidence.
Her face had turned cold, and her piercing eyes were as sharp as knives, challenging anyone to hold her stare.
Eric finally realized that Khloe’s hatred for him was real, and her resolve to seek revenge was unwavering. The realization sent a wave of panic crashing over him, leaving him at a loss.
Khloe didn’t bother with Eric anymore. She pulled her hand away from his grip and walked off with steady, determined steps. She didn’t glance back once, leaving Eric frozen in place, overwhelmed by shock.
Although his strange behavior left her deeply repulsed, Khloe remained focused on her intention to visit her mother.
Although her mother’s eyes were still shut, her face looked much healthier than when she had been here the last time. It was clear her mother had been receiving excellent care, and this brought her a measure of relief.
Moving quietly, she made her way to the bedside, her gaze falling on her mother, peacefully resting in the bed. She sat down beside her, and the tenderness and heartache in her eyes were impossible to hide. Gently, she took her mother’s hand in hers and whispered, “Mom, I’m here. It’s been so long, and so much has happened. I’m just so exhausted.”
Her eyes turned red, tears threatening to spill, while her voice carried the faint tremor of long-suppressed grievances.
The crushing helplessness she endured in prison, followed by the chaos of her life after gaining freedom, had been too much to bear. Khloe had always been strong, like a phoenix rising from its ashes. But she couldn’t avoid feeling pain or being tired. Now, in the presence of her mother, Khloe let her guard down completely. Her tears flowed freely, releasing the grief she had kept locked away for so long.
Suddenly, she felt a gentle, comforting hand rest on her head.
Startled, Khloe’s body jolted slightly as she lifted her gaze. Laura Cohen, her mother, slowly opened her eyes and reached out to smooth Khloe’s hair.
Her eyes radiated warmth and understanding. Despite the frailty caused by her illness, her smile exuded a quiet, reassuring strength.
“Khloe…”
Though Laura’s voice was raspy, it was rich with love and worry for her daughter.
Khloe broke down completely, her tears flowing uncontrollably as she collapsed into her mother’s embrace, sobbing like a wounded child seeking comfort.
It took some time, but Khloe finally managed to calm herself. Sniffling, she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt and attempted a weak smile at her mother.
“Mom, there’s been so much going on lately. I need to tell you everything, bit by bit.” Her voice trembled with emotion, but she started to share her story, each word coming slowly.
She told her mother everything in full detail, leaving out only the part about the fake engagement to Henrik.
Laura listened attentively, her eyes full of warmth as she occasionally reached out to move a stray lock of hair from Khloe’s face.
After Khloe finished speaking, Laura let out a soft sigh. A mix of emotions flashed in her eyes.
“Khloe, you’ve endured so much, and I feel responsible for it all. Three years ago, I was away on research, and I couldn’t be there with you, leaving you to face everything alone.”
“Mom, it’s not your fault. I understand how important your work is. And if you had returned, Joshua would’ve made things even harder for you. I get it.”
Khloe held no resentment towards her mother whatsoever. Her mother had completed her research a year after she had been imprisoned, and her mother had poured all her energy and resources into securing her freedom.
In the end, her mother sacrificed her career as a research director, a position that had been her life’s ambition.
Laura looked at Khloe, and a sense of relief washed over her as she made a final decision.
“Khloe, there’s something I have to tell you. The reason I was framed and cast out of the Evans family by your father was all because of this.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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