Chapter 290

Chapter 290

"Mr. Miller, don't worry. Chloe's with me right now." Adeline said into the phone.

She hesitated before adding, "But she's pretty messed up emotionally, so maybe give her some space? Don't try to see her for a while."

After hanging up, Adeline shot Chloe a look that was equal parts frustration and concern. "You're being ridiculous, you know. It's obvious you have feelings for Howard."

Chloe shook her head stubbornly. "So what if I do?"

Life wasn't some perfect fairy tale. Just because you fell for someone didn't guarantee they'd fall back.

"I want to see my dad." Chloe said, meeting Adeline's eyes.

Adeline sighed and reached down to pull Chloe up from where she'd been huddled on the floor. "I'll drive you."

"I need to talk to Dad alone." Chloe said, forcing a smile.

Knowing how stubborn Chloe could be, Adeline threw up her hands in defeat. "Fine."

She paused, then added firmly, "But I'm driving you there and waiting in the car."

Ever since the kidnapping, Adeline had become almost as protective as Howard.

"Thanks, Adeline." Despite her pale complexion, Chloe managed a weak but genuine smile.

At the cemetery, Chloe walked slowly toward a familiar headstone. To her surprise, even though she hadn't visited in years, Edward's grave was immaculate.

She hadn't been back since Karen dragged her away from Riverton as a child. When she was little, she couldn't make the trip alone. When she grew up, she was afraid that Edward, who had loved her since childhood, would worry when he saw her in such a miserable state.

Staring at the young Edward in the photo on the headstone, Chloe felt momentarily disoriented. It was like he was still there, like she was still that little girl who'd been cherished and protected.

Then grief hit her like a tidal wave.

Chloe gently pressed her forehead against the cold marble, imagining she was leaning against Edward's shoulder.

"Dad," she whispered. "Karen and Derek finally turned themselves in. They're paying for what they did all those years ago. I can fulfill Grandma's last wish now."

Her voice caught. "You can rest easy."

A soft breeze picked up, and light rain began to fall.

Chloe reached for the necklace at her throat and placed it carefully in front of Edward's headstone. "Dad, you always said this necklace meant everything to you. Maybe it should stay here with you instead of me."

She let out a shaky breath. "It's just... Karen never deserved your love."

At the mention of Karen's name, Chloe's hands unconsciously curled into fists.

"Chloe?" A familiar voice called from behind her.

Chloe spun around in surprise to see Remy approaching with an umbrella.

"Ms. Jenkins?" Chloe blinked in shock.

"You..." Chloe started to ask something, then thought better of it.

"I came to visit your father." Remy said simply.

"So you're the one who's been taking care of Dad's grave all these years. Ms. Jenkins, thank you so much." Chloe bowed deeply.

Remy stepped closer and gently took Chloe's hand. Her palm felt ice-cold, and she'd grown noticeably thinner.

"Ms. Jenkins..." Chloe began, but Remy's attention had shifted to the necklace Chloe had placed at Edward's grave.

Remy opened her mouth as if to speak, then seemed to think better of it.

"Edward, Chloe's going to be an incredible designer." Remy said softly, addressing the photo on the headstone.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Jenkins. I was planning to say goodbye to you later, but since we ran into each other here..." Chloe's voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm leaving Riverton."

Remy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Why?"

Chloe shook her head with forced casualness. "It's nothing major. I just want to travel around, you know, designers need to seek inspiration everywhere."

This time, Chloe wasn't being honest. She was running away, just like her father had done all those years ago.

"Chloe, if you stayed at my studio..." Remy began, but seeing the steel resolve in Chloe's eyes, her words died on her lips.

Chloe stepped forward and wrapped Remy in a gentle hug.

"Ms. Jenkins, I hope we'll see each other again soon." Chloe said softly.

But what she was really thinking was: 'Please let me forget Howard soon.'

At an upscale jewelry boutique downtown, Howard's Maybach glided to a stop at the entrance.

The sales associate who'd been working with Howard was out to greet him. "Mr. Miller! Are you here to pick up that ring you ordered?"

Howard gave a curt nod. He'd already made his decision—after dealing with Chris's mess, he was going to propose to Chloe. Even if she was hell-bent on leaving, he needed her to know how he felt before she walked away.

"Absolutely, Mr. Miller. Right this way."

Howard was escorted to the VIP room. In the VIP room, inside a crystal-polished box, a large pink diamond shines brightly, throwing rainbows across the walls.

"Mr. Miller, this rock would make any woman on the planet weak in the knees. Best of luck with your proposal." the associate gushed.

"Chloe deserves every beautiful thing in this world." Howard murmured.

After leaving the boutique, Howard immediately speed-dialed Kelvin.

Kelvin could read Howard's desperation through the phone.

"Please!" By the end of the call, the usually unshakeable Howard was actually begging for help.

"Don't worry, man. I'll do whatever it takes to help you make her stay."

"Where are you?" Kelvin called Adeline.

"What's going on?"

"It's an emergency!"

"Chloe and I are heading to the airport. Whatever it is can wait until we get back to Crystal Haven."

With that, Adeline hung up.

"Heading to the airport? Shit, we're running out of time." Kelvin muttered, firing off a quick text to Howard before peeling onto the highway.

Meanwhile, Howard floored it.

On the drive to the airport, Chloe stared out the window, lost in her thoughts.

After years of friendship, Adeline could read Chloe like an open book. "Are you absolutely sure about this?"

The car fell into heavy silence.

Suddenly, Chloe whipped around to face Adeline, her eyes blazing with determination.

"Adeline, what if I tried? Just once. Just this one time!"

The car slowly rolled up to the airport entrance.

"You've really made up your mind?" Adeline asked, studying Chloe's face.

Chloe nodded with fierce certainty. "I've made up my mind."

"Then let's do this!"

Chloe slowly pulled out her phone, scrolled to Howard's contact, hesitated for what felt like forever, then hit call.

Meanwhile, inside the airport terminal, the usually ice-cold Howard had completely lost it, racing through the concourses like a madman and shouting Chloe's name at the top of his lungs. Other travelers were starting to stare.

An airport employee cautiously approached him. "Excuse me, sir, is everything okay? Can we help you with something?"

"I'm looking for someone. This is her picture. Please, you have to help me find her and make sure she doesn't get on any plane."