Chapter 291

Chapter 291

"Yes, we can make an airport announcement for you. May I have your name?" the airport staff member asked.

"Howard! My name is Howard Miller!" Howard repeated his name, terrified of any mistakes.

The announcement chimed through the airport terminal.

"Ms. Chloe Brown, your husband Mr. Howard Miller is looking for you. If you hear this announcement, please come to the service desk by the elevators..."

The broadcast repeated several times. No response.

Howard looked up at the airport's electronic departure board. The flight to Crystal Haven had already taken off.

In that moment, Howard felt utterly hopeless.

Had Chloe really given up on him?

He'd lost her again.

Howard stared down at his hands, dejected. Why?

The next second, a voice like salvation spoke behind him: "Howard, are you looking for me?"

"Chloe!" Howard spun around in surprise to see Chloe watching him with complete seriousness.

"Chloe!" Ignoring everyone staring, Howard pulled her straight into his arms.

"Chloe, I almost lost you. Almost..." Howard's voice cracked, vulnerable as a child.

Chloe remembered the last time he'd been like this—when she'd been kidnapped.

"Howard, I need to tell you something." Chloe slowly lifted her head, staring at him with complete focus.

"I need to tell you something, too." Howard looked down at her.

"Me first!" Chloe insisted.

She'd finally worked up the courage.

"Howard, I like you! I'm not sure when it started, but I'm sure of how I feel right now. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Even though I've been hurt in love before, I still want to love you completely, without holding back. Is that okay?" Chloe stared at Howard intently, like a prisoner anxiously awaiting judgment.

"Chloe, marry me." Howard pulled out a ring and dropped to one knee.

The pink diamond sparkled under the airport's overhead lights.

Chloe stared at Howard in disbelief. After a long moment, she found her voice, asking hesitantly, "But don't you already have someone you love?"

"Why couldn't that person be you?" Howard looked at her with complete sincerity.

"Chloe, we were the design world's twin stars. We've always stood together. The truth is, I've liked you for years." Howard's voice grew thick with emotion. "Five years ago, when you asked why I was saying goodbye, it's because I thought we'd never have a chance to be together. But then we found each other again. I made up that lie because I didn't want to burden you."

"Howard, yes." Chloe extended her hand.

Howard slipped the pink ring firmly onto Chloe's finger.

Applause erupted from the crowd around them.

But in that moment, Howard and Chloe could only hear each other's heartbeats.

"So you knew all along that Howard liked Chloe?" Adeline frowned at Kelvin.

"Yep."

Adeline looked exasperated. "Howard really doesn't talk much, does he? Poor Chloe suffered alone for so long."

"So why didn't you catch your flight?" Kelvin asked Adeline.

"Because I made sure to wait every single red light on purpose." Adeline rolled her eyes at Kelvin.

As Chloe's best friend for years, Adeline knew her personality well.

If Chloe had just left Riverton like that, she would have regretted it for the rest of her life.

Meanwhile, at Evergreen Wellness Clinic.

While reviewing security footage, Remy discovered that Karen had been coming to this hospital for several days straight.

And on the day Sloane jumped, Karen had even snuck into Sloane's room.

Could Sloane's death be connected to Karen?

Remy applied for a visitation through the judicial system.

Through the thick glass window, Remy stared at Karen, who looked haggard beyond recognition, and picked up the phone.

"I didn't expect you to come see me." Karen's voice sounded hoarse.

"The day Sloane died, you went to her room." Remy fixed his gaze on Karen's face, searching for any telltale signs.

"Sloane?" Karen's eyes immediately reddened.

"Sloane was such a good kid, Remy. You failed to take care of her!" Karen's emotions suddenly flared.

"Why do you care so much about Sloane?" Remy continued staring intently at Karen.

"You want to know?" Karen looked at Remy with dark amusement. "But the more you want to know, the less I want to tell you."

"Remy, you think because you're living respectably now, still a household name in the design world, that you've won?"

"You don't have a daughter anymore. You'll be all alone from now on."

"Remy, you don't have a daughter!"

Karen grew increasingly agitated until staff had to escort her away.

The supervising officer said Karen's mental state had been unstable, apparently due to some major trauma.

Remy sighed. It seemed she wouldn't get any answers from Karen.

At the Martinez Manor.

Griffin studied the hospital security footage with interest, his gaze shifting to the paternity test report beside him. His lips curved into an involuntary smile.

"Things are getting more and more interesting."

Griffin casually picked up his phone and dialed Chloe's number.

"Mr. Martinez." Chloe's pleasant voice came through.

"Ms. Brown, it's been way too long." Griffin maintained his innocent, sunny persona. "Want to grab coffee?"

Remembering Howard's jealousy from before, Chloe was about to decline.

But Griffin seemed to read her mind: "You're hesitating. Don't tell me Mr. Miller is the jealous type?"

"No, just send me the time and place." To protect Howard's dignity, and because Griffin had helped her before, Chloe decided to accept his invitation.

But to avoid making Howard jealous, she decided not to mention it.

The next day at noon, Chloe arrived punctually at the coffee shop she and Griffin had agreed on.

When Chloe arrived, Griffin looked like he'd been waiting for quite some time.

"Hot chocolate—do you like it?" Griffin pushed a cup toward Chloe.

"Thank you." Chloe looked down, taking small sips from the cup.

"The Martinez family is having a dinner party soon. I'd like to ask Ms. Brown to design a pair of cufflinks for me." Griffin smiled at Chloe.

Chloe couldn't refuse such a request.

After all, a simple pair of cufflinks was nothing compared to how Griffin had helped her before.

"Of course! Just tell me the style and color of the suit." Chloe smiled at Griffin.

Griffin nodded. "I'll have my assistant send you all the details."

Chloe nodded. "Great, I'll get you a design ASAP."

Griffin nodded. "Thank you so much, Ms. Brown."

With that, Griffin picked up an elegantly wrapped box from beside him and handed it to Chloe. "This is a thank-you gift!"

Chloe looked flustered. "It's really nothing, Mr. Martinez. You don't need to be so formal."

But Griffin insisted: "It's just a little something. I hope Ms. Brown won't think it's too modest."