Chapter 280
Chapter 280
After hesitating for a moment, Remy finally pulled out her phone and dialed Chloe's number.
Chloe's ringtone echoed through the room.
Howard, who hadn't been sleeping deeply, frowned slightly and instinctively tightened his grip on Chloe's hand.
Chloe gently patted Howard's arm, soothing him. "It's okay, just a phone call."
Howard's expression visibly relaxed a bit.
"Chloe, could we meet up?" Remy's voice came through the phone.
Howard tensed up instantly.
He was probably still rattled by Avery's unhinged behavior.
So much so that now, aside from himself, Howard felt like anyone could potentially hurt Chloe.
Before Chloe could answer, Howard impulsively grabbed the phone. "No way!"
Hearing Howard's hoarse voice on the other end, Remy was momentarily stunned. "Mr. Miller, please don't get the wrong idea. I just want to chat with Chloe."
"It's okay, it's Ms. Jenkins. She's always been good to me." Chloe whispered, trying to comfort Howard.
She knew Howard was being a little overprotective.
"Then I'm coming with you." Howard's grip on Chloe's hand tightened.
"Okay, you can come along." Chloe had no choice but to humor him.
Then she gently soothed him again. "Come on, get some more sleep."
Howard closed his eyes softly, his breathing gradually steadying.
But that night, he didn't sleep well at all.
He kept jolting awake for no reason, and throughout the entire night, Chloe lost count of how many times she wiped the sweat from Howard's forehead.
Howard couldn't help but pull Chloe into his arms. "Chlo, I'm sorry."
"I'm fine now." Chloe comforted Howard.
"I can't bear to think what would've happened if I'd been even a minute later..." Howard's voice broke, and he couldn't continue.
Chloe had never seen Howard like this—like a scared little kid.
The next morning, when Chloe woke up and saw Howard still sleeping, she planned to go downstairs to make breakfast.
But the moment she turned over, Howard woke up. "Chlo, where are you going?"
Chloe said helplessly. "Get some more sleep. I'm just going downstairs to make breakfast."
"I'll come with you." Howard climbed out of bed.
"I'm at home—nothing's gonna happen." Chloe said, looking at Howard's haggard face with a pang of sympathy.
"It's fine, I've slept enough." Howard insisted.
Chloe had no choice but to let him have his way.
Downstairs in the kitchen.
Howard sat at the dining table with his chin propped on his hand, his gaze never leaving Chloe as she bustled around the kitchen.
At the breakfast table, Chloe took small bites of her sandwich, occasionally glancing at Howard. Finally, she couldn't help but speak up. "You can't just never go to the office."
Chloe naturally understood how crazy busy Howard's work was.
Ever since she'd moved into the Miller Villa, Howard had already moved most of his work home.
And now he wasn't even going to the company at all—it was getting ridiculous.
"Teddy's handling things, it's fine." Howard said casually.
At Miller Group, Teddy was frantically dealing with a mountain of documents.
Out of nowhere, he sneezed.
He rubbed his nose weirdly. "Strange, am I getting sick?"
After breakfast, Howard briefly handled some work, then drove Chloe to meet Remy.
However, since they hadn't given Remy a heads-up, Howard tactfully parked where he could keep an eye on Chloe and waited like a good boy in the car.
The bell at the coffee shop entrance chimed a few times, and Remy instinctively looked toward the door.
Chloe, wearing a white dress, was walking toward her with a smile.
Remy's hands, resting beneath the table, unconsciously clenched into fists.
As for what exactly she was nervous about, she couldn't say.
"Ms. Jenkins." Chloe sat down across from Remy.
As she leaned forward, a necklace that had been hidden beneath her collar suddenly fell out.
Staring at that necklace, Remy's expression froze on the spot.
Noticing the subtle change in Remy's expression, Chloe carefully tucked the necklace back inside her clothes. "This necklace is something my dad left me."
"Is that so? It's gorgeous, and totally unique." Remy's voice carried a tremor.
"Was your father's name Edward?" Remy asked for confirmation.
Chloe was still kinda surprised that Remy could so easily mention her father's name. "Ms. Jenkins, did you know my dad?"
Remy nodded. "Your father and I were close friends. He was an incredible designer and a wonderful person."
She didn't want to mess with Chloe's memories of her parents' relationship.
So she only said she was Edward's friend.
Chloe nodded. "What a small world."
"I actually helped design this necklace." Remy said hesitantly.
This necklace was a joint design between her and Edward.
She just hadn't known that Edward treasured this necklace so much. So did that mean she still held a place in Edward's heart?
Remy didn't dare hope.
"I think you're incredibly talented. You're even more gifted than your father. So many times, your expressions are almost identical to his." Remy squinted, her gaze distant, as if her memories were drifting back to their youth.
"Could you tell me about my dad when he was young?" Chloe's eyes immediately lit up.
When Edward died, she was still really young.
As for Karen, she never seemed willing to mention Edward's name.
So in her memories, Chloe had heartbreakingly few recollections of Edward.
She only remembered that Edward was amazing to her.
She also remembered that Edward was an incredible designer.
"You're so much like your father." Remy thought for a moment before slowly speaking.
She thought about the first time she'd met Chloe.
The similar handwriting, the design style...
Remy gently took Chloe's hand and began talking about Edward.
However, she didn't mention a single word about their romantic past.
"Now I get why you wanted to buy that house from me." Remy said to Chloe with a smile.
"Thank you, Ms. Jenkins. I learned so many things I never knew before." Chloe's eyes grew slightly misty.
All these years, Karen had treated her like garbage.
What kept her going were her memories of Edward and that necklace.
And now, Remy had given those memories flesh and blood.
"Yesterday, your mother came to see me." Remy mentioned, remembering Karen's request.
"She did?" Chloe's face immediately went cold.
Seeing Chloe's face turn icy in an instant, Remy frowned and asked, "So... what exactly did Avery do wrong?"
Chloe considered Remy a good friend, so she willingly told Remy about the past.
Remy's expression gradually darkened. "What gives her the right to treat you like that?"
"Probably because Avery's more lovable than me. So even after all that, Ms. Jenkins, do you still want me to forgive her?" Chloe suddenly looked up at Remy.