Chapter 293

Chapter 293

Chris frowned slightly as he stared at Howard through the phone screen, taking in the hickeys scattered across his neck. "What's up?"

Howard nodded. "About the Miller family heir position—do you still want it or not?"

"Why are you bringing this up out of nowhere? It's late." Chris raised an eyebrow.

"Can't a guy be tired?"

Chris let out a soft laugh.

He knew his brother all too well—the guy who seemed so rational but turned into a complete romantic when it came to love.

"This is about Ms. Brown, isn't it?" Chris called Howard out directly.

Howard froze for a moment, then responded softly to the phone camera.

"Well, what am I supposed to do? I was looking forward to a few peaceful days with Nellie!" Chris grinned smugly on the other end.

"Chris, you—" Howard started to say something, but Nellie leaned into frame on the other end. "Oh, does this mean Howard's going to have a really hard time?"

Chris smiled as he touched Nellie's face. "Don't worry about it. Howard's still young."

He looked back at Howard. "Nellie and I have some... business to take care of. Gotta go!"

And with that, he hung up.

Staring at the dead video call, Howard gritted his teeth. "Every other family fights tooth and nail over inheritance rights, but everyone in the Miller family is just a hopeless romantic."

"Howard." Just as he was lost in thought, Chloe pushed the door open and walked in.

She was rubbing her sleepy eyes, barefoot, looking like she'd just woken up.

"Howard, what are you doing in here? Do you have work to do?" Chloe asked, staring at him.

"The floor's freezing cold. Why are you acting like a little kid? I've told you so many times to wear shoes." Howard sighed and scooped Chloe up, carrying her to the bed.

The next day.

Remy's office.

Chloe knocked on the door, then placed a design sheet on Remy's desk.

Remy didn't look at the design. Instead, her gaze slowly settled on Chloe's face with a look of relief. "Chloe, I'm so happy for you. You've found your own happiness."

"Thank you, Ms. Jenkins."

Remy pulled out an elegant box from her drawer and slowly pushed it toward Chloe. "This is my wedding gift for you and Mr. Miller. Think of it as... well, as something from your family."

"Family?" Chloe looked at Remy in confusion, but warmth spread through her chest.

She didn't have any family left.

She never expected that Remy would be the one to give her that sense of belonging.

Chloe slowly opened the box to find an exquisite jewelry set inside.

Even without knowing market prices, Chloe could tell this set was worth a fortune.

"Ms. Jenkins, this is way too expensive. I can't accept it." Chloe tried to decline.

"Chloe, I've always thought of you as my own daughter." Remy looked at Chloe with gentle eyes.

In that moment, Chloe felt the warmth of that caring gaze.

This warmth was something she'd never felt from Karen.

It was probably because of Sloane's death—maybe Remy was channeling her love for her lost daughter onto her.

"Thank you, Ms. Jenkins." Finally, Chloe accepted Remy's kindness.

What Chloe didn't know was that this jewelry set was actually the wedding gift Remy's mother had given her when Remy got married.

Back at her desk, Chloe stared at the beautifully wrapped box, feeling a moment of panic.

For some reason, she suddenly really wanted to see Karen.

At the detention center, Karen was brought over by a guard, wearing prison clothes.

Looking at Karen's haggard face, Chloe couldn't quite identify what she was feeling.

"Chloe." Karen looked up at her belatedly, but her first words were about Avery. "Could you please go check on Avery for me?"

Chloe looked at Karen with bitter amusement. "Besides Avery, don't you have anything else to say to me?"

"Karen, I'm getting married." The words came out sharper than Chloe intended.

"Is it Howard?" Karen's eyes lit up.

Chloe nodded.

Karen's emotions suddenly became agitated. "Chloe, why are you so freaking lucky? You've had a miscarriage, you're damaged goods going into a second marriage, but you still get to marry someone like Howard—a total catch! Why does my Avery have to stay locked up? And my..."

Karen's voice gradually dropped to a bitter whisper. "It's not fair, not fair..."

Chloe stared at Karen with complete disappointment. "Karen, are you really my mother?"

Walking out of the detention center, Chloe suddenly felt lighter than air.

She probably wouldn't need to visit this so-called mother anymore.

Top floor of the Martinez Group.

Griffin looked at the paternity test report in his hands, his lips curving into a satisfied smirk.

Just as he'd suspected.

Chloe really was Remy's daughter.

Griffin's long fingers drummed against the desk in a leisurely rhythm as he calculated his next move.

Meanwhile, after leaving the detention center, Chloe went straight to Howard's company.

She and Howard had an appointment today to try on wedding dresses and do a makeup trial.

As soon as she slid into the car, Howard picked up on Chloe's mood change. "What's wrong? You don't seem to be in a good mood."

Chloe shook her head. "It's nothing, just—"

"Nope." Howard cut her off. "Something's definitely wrong."

Of course—when it came to Chloe, nothing escaped Howard's notice.

"I just went to see Karen at the detention center," Chloe said hesitantly. "I wanted to tell her I was getting married, but all she cared about was Avery."

Chloe slowly leaned her head against Howard's shoulder.

Even though she tried her best to act like she didn't care, what girl wouldn't want her mother's love?

Howard didn't say anything, just gently squeezed Chloe's hand.

At the photography studio.

Staff members led Chloe toward the makeup room.

Howard quietly accompanied Chloe the whole time, which helped her earlier funk fade considerably.

Chloe's face was already drop-dead gorgeous, so even with simple makeup, she looked absolutely breathtaking.

"Ms. Brown, I've never seen such a stunning bride," the makeup artist gushed, staring at Chloe's reflection in the mirror with astonishment.

Chloe's lips curved upward as she caught Howard's eye in the mirror.

At that moment, Howard's beautiful eyes were quietly drinking her in.

"Ms. Brown, please come with me to try on the wedding dress," a staff member said, carefully supporting Chloe's arm.

Howard started to follow, but another staff member stopped him. "Mr. Miller, please wait here. It'll just take a sec."

Howard looked at Chloe like a lost puppy.

Seeing Howard like this, Chloe found it ridiculously endearing. "Okay, just chill here. I'll be super quick."

Only after hearing Chloe say this did Howard reluctantly sink back down onto the sofa.