Chapter 217 217

Chapter 217 217
Chloe hurried after her mother, her bare feet silent against the hallway floor. "Mom... wait," she called softly.

Angela didn't stop until she reached her room. She pushed the door open and went straight to the bed, sitting heavily at the edge. Her shoulders trembled, and she pressed her fingers to her temples like she was trying to hold herself together.

"Mom..." Chloe stepped closer. "Have you been crying? What happened?"

Angela let out a bitter laugh. "What happened?" she repeated, her voice sharp but trembling underneath. "I broke up with Daniel, that's what happened."

Chloe froze. "You... what?"

Angela looked up at her, eyes red, the pain raw and fierce. "I went to his house. I wanted to confront him about Alexa, about all the things she's been doing, dragging our names through the dirt. And you know what he did?" Her voice cracked. "He defended her. He said it's just business. Just
business, Chloe. As if humiliating me, humiliating you, was some kind of business strategy."

"Mom..."

"I realized then that he's a coward," Angela went on, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "You were right about him all along. He's weak. I thought he was different, I thought maybe we could finally be happy, but..." she swallowed hard, shaking her head... "I was wrong. I loved him so much, and he made me feel small again."

Chloe sank down beside her, gently taking her hand. "Mom, I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I didn't want it to end like this. I just wanted you to be safe. I didn't want you hurt again."

Angela squeezed her daughter's hand but didn't look at her right away. "I know," she said softly. "But now I need to know something." Her eyes turned toward Chloe, sharp, searching, filled with the weight of what she'd seen earlier. "What was that between you and Lucius?"

Chloe's heart stuttered. "Mom..."

"I saw you," Angela said quietly, though her tone was trembling. "You were about to kiss him, Chloe. Valerius's twin brother. I need to hear you say it wasn't what it looked like."

Chloe's lips parted, but no words came at first. She took a shaky breath, looking down at her hands. "It wasn't what you think," she said finally. "It just... happened. I was upset. I was missing Valerius, and for a second, I don't know, maybe because Lucius looks so much like him... I lost myself. It was a moment, that's all. I swear, it won't happen again."

Angela let out a long, heavy sigh. "Chloe, you have to be careful," she said. "Whatever it was, you cannot let that kind of mistake happen again. Valerius has been good to you. He's stood by you, believed in you, given you everything you needed to stand on your own feet again."

"I know," Chloe murmured, her eyes stinging. "I know, Mom. I wasn't thinking clearly."

Angela looked at her, her face softening a little. "You have his world in your hands, Chloe. Don't ruin it because of a moment of weakness. And don't put yourself in a position that could destroy both brothers. You're stronger than that."

Chloe nodded, wiping her tears. "I promise, it won't happen again."

Angela reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her daughter's face. "I believe you. But please... remember who you are. You've fought too hard to get here."

Chloe nodded again, hugging her mother tightly. "I'm sorry, Mom. For everything.

Angela closed her eyes, holding her close. "Just... be careful, baby," she whispered."Because one mistake can break everything you've built."

She leaned back against her pillows, her eyes already heavy with exhaustion. Chloe tucked the blanket gently around
her shoulders.

"Do you need anything else?" she asked softly.

Angela shook her head. "No, sweetheart. I'll be fine." She hesitated, then asked, "How's Zoe doing? I haven't seen her in a few days."

Chloe smiled faintly. "She's fine. She's staying at her girlfriend's place for a bit, just needed a few days away. But she'll be back soon."

Angela sighed, her expression softening. "Ok. I just miss her. The house feels quieter without her."

Chloe chuckled quietly. "Yeah, it does.”

Angela's hand reached for hers, giving it a squeeze. "You're a good daughter, Chloe. You're doing your best."

Chloe smiled and kissed her forehead. "Get some rest, Mom. We'll talk in the morning."

Angela nodded, closing her eyes. "Goodnight, sweetheart."

Chloe stood there for a moment, watching her mother drift into sleep, before quietly slipping out of the room and pulling the door closed behind her. When she stepped back into the living room, she froze.

Lucius was still there, sitting on the couch, staring at something on his phone like he owned the place.

"What the fuck, dude?" Chloe hissed, walking toward him. "You literally promised me at Zoe's birthday that that would never happen again."

Lucius looked up at her, his expression unreadable, calm in a way that made her angrier. "I know," he said, running a hand through his hair. "And I'm sorry, okay? It wasn't supposed to happen. Neither of us wanted it to."

Chloe crossed her arms. "Well, it almost did happen! And my mom saw us, Lucius. She thinks something is going on between us. Do you realize how messed up that is?"

Lucius stood, his voice dropping lower. "I said I'm sorry. What else do you want me to say?"

"I want you to understand," Chloe snapped. "Your brother... Valerius, is the man I love. I love him, Lucius. And I don't want anything, anything, to come between us. Especially not this, whatever this is."

Lucius's jaw tightened. "You think I don't know that? You think I'm trying to take advantage of you?"

Chloe blinked, realizing too late how it had sounded "That's not what I meant," she said quickly. "I'm sorry. I just... I don't know what's wrong with me. Maybe it's because you look so much like him. Maybe I just..." she let out a shaky sigh. "I miss him. And for a second, I saw him in you. But that doesn't mean I feel anything for you, Lucius. I don't."
Lucius exhaled slowly, stepping back. "Fine. I get it."

He stuffed his hands into his pockets. "You don't have to spell it out. I promise you, it won't happen again. This time, I mean it."

She nodded, her anger softening just a little. "Good. Let's just... focus on the plan. Alexa and Clarisse need to be handled. That's what matters right now."

"Right," he said quietly. "The plan."

"Thank you, Lucius," Chloe said, her voice softer now. "For everything. Really."

He gave a faint smile. "Don't thank me yet."
As he turned to leave, she caught herself watching him. His walk, his posture, the subtle confidence in the way he moved, so much like Valerius, it hurt to look.

When the door closed behind him, she sank onto the couch, pressing her palms to her face. Her mind replayed that moment, their almost-kiss, the flicker of heat in his eyes, the breath between them.

A moment she swore she would forget.
But somewhere deep inside, she knew she already couldn't.