Chapter 156

Chapter 156
Chloe's POV:

I turned to stare at Parker. "Are you crazy?"

Parker pulled his lips into a smirk. "You want to get married right now, don't you? Let's do it. I have my ID. Driver, take us to the County Clerk's Office."

I froze for a second. "I don't have mine. Driver, stop the car."

The taxi pulled over. I grabbed the door handle and scrambled out. Parker followed me immediately.

"I'll drive you home to get your documents," he said.

I looked up at him, exasperated. "Parker, stop being impulsive. Marriage isn't a game. You need to be cautious."

"I need to be cautious?" He scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're the one trying to marry a stranger you just met. That seems pretty careless to me."

I had no comeback.

Parker continued his accusation. "You haven't even broken up with me, and you're already looking for other men. You're a player, Chloe! You have no conscience!"

What? I’m a player?

"Am I wrong?"

I didn't want to argue with him. I turned around and started walking away fast. Parker followed me, keeping a steady distance.

I spun around and glared. "Stop following me!"

"Does this sidewalk have your name on it?" he asked.

I was furious. When I reached the gate of my parents' apartment complex, I turned back to him.

"I'm home. You can get lost now."

Parker looked at me silently for a moment. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away.

He actually left? I pouted, standing there and watching his back. The jerk didn't even look back once.

I stomped into the complex. The moment I walked through the front door, my mother ambushed me.

"Where did you go?"

"Shopping," I lied, kicking off my shoes. I tried to sneak into my room, but she grabbed my arm.

"Stand still!"

"Mom, I'm tired. I want to rest."

"Don't give me that. I want to know why you didn't like Gary. He is such a catch."

"Mom, please, mercy," I begged. "Gary is great. I'm the problem. I'm not good enough for him. He didn't like me. He thinks my job is just serving coffee to a boss. We have no future. Please stop thinking about him."

Mom frowned. "He looked down on you?"

"Yes. He said he doesn't like girls who lived in the big city."

Her face fell. She finally let go of my arm. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

A knock on the door interrupted us.

"Who is it?" Mom muttered, walking over to open it.

"Good evening, Mrs. Vance."

That voice... I whipped my head around.

Sure enough, Parker Palmer was standing in the doorway. He was holding a massive bouquet of flowers and several boxes of expensive wine.

My mother looked confused. She clearly thought this handsome young man had the wrong apartment. "Who are you looking for?"

Parker looked past her, his eyes locking onto mine.

"I'm Chloe's boyfriend. My name is Parker Palmer."

My mother froze.

I rushed forward and tried to push Parker out. "What are you talking about?"

My mother snapped out of her trance. She smiled like she had just won the Powerball. She grabbed me by the collar and shoved me aside. I stumbled, barely keeping my balance.

Parker looked surprised, but my mother grabbed his arm enthusiastically. "Parker! Come in, come in!"

She dragged him to the sofa and sat him down. "I was just about to start dinner. You two talk." She winked at me and practically ran into the kitchen to give us space.

I glared at Parker coldly. "Did you investigate me?"

"I had to," he said calmly. "If I asked you for your address, you wouldn't have given it to me."

"Parker, what are you doing?"

"Chloe, isn't it obvious?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

He stared at me intensely. "We can get married anytime."

I pressed my lips together. "You are being impulsive. I don't want to talk about this."

"I'm not impulsive."

"Really? You only ran here because you knew I was on a blind date."

Parker didn't answer.

A bitter smile touched my lips. If I hadn't gone on that date, he wouldn't be here. He liked me a little, sure. But not enough to commit. Mentioning marriage was just a reaction. Once he calmed down, he would regret it.

Parker slid closer on the sofa and reached for my hand. "Stop being mad. Let's make up."

I looked at him, feeling a tightness in my chest. I looked down at my shoes.

He sighed, his voice low and serious. "Chloe, why don't you trust me? I didn't contact you because I was angry, too. I was mad that you have zero faith in me. You always have one foot out the door, ready to break up. Do I make you feel that insecure?"

I stared at him, stunned. I didn't know he realized that. "Parker, you come from a wealthy family. You're better than me in every way. Why me?"

"Chloe, you hit on me first."

"I was wrong. You didn't have to take it seriously."

"But I did."

I stayed silent. I couldn't look at him.

Parker squeezed my hand again. "Chloe. Trust me."

I turned my head. My eyes were burning.

Parker’s expression softened. He pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry. I should have come sooner."

I leaned against his chest, tears soaking into his shirt.



Dinner was awkward. My mother kept piling food into Parker’s bowl.

"Parker, eat more."

"Okay. Thank you, Aunty."

"Don't be polite. Do you like the food here?"

"I like it very much."

"Good, good. Try this soup."

I rolled my eyes. Parker’s bowl was overflowing.

After dinner, I dragged Parker outside. I couldn't handle my mother anymore.

We walked out of the complex.

"Did you book a hotel?" I asked.

"Not yet."

"I know a place. I'll take you."

He laughed. "Okay."

I frowned. "What are you laughing at?"

He squeezed my fingers. "Ma'am, are you thinking about..."

"I am not!" I interrupted quickly.

I took him to the best hotel in town. "Here. Go check in. I'm going home."

Parker grabbed my wrist. "Come up with me."

My heart skipped a beat at the look in his eyes. But I shook my head hard. "No. My parents won't let me stay out overnight."

He laughed. "Suddenly you're a good girl? Who was the one who couldn't take her eyes off me the first time we met? You practically dragged me into the room."

My eyes widened. "You liked me too! You kept stealing glances at me. Don't act like I forced you."

"True. You didn't force me. I took the bait willingly."

He stepped closer. "Ma'am, just come up for a bit. We can talk."

"No!"

"Why? Are you afraid you can't control yourself?"

"As if!"

Parker grinned. "If your self-control is so good, then come up."

I straightened my back. "Fine. Who's scared?"

We went up to his room. But the second the door beeped open, Parker pushed me against the wall.

His voice was rough. "Ma'am, I can't control myself."

This boy was getting manipulative.

"Ma'am, I missed you so much..."

I couldn't resist him when he used that low, raspy voice. He called me 'Ma'am' in a way that melted my bones. After that, whatever Parker wanted to do, I couldn't refuse.

An hour later, I sat up, rubbing my sore waist. Parker hugged me from behind.

"Stay."

"I can't. My parents will call." Out here, I could do whatever I wanted. But at home, I had to follow the rules.

Parker sighed and started getting dressed. "I'll walk you back."

"No need. I'll take a cab."

"I'm walking you."

I didn't argue. He walked me all the way to the gate before heading back to the hotel.

When I entered the apartment, my parents were still awake. They were sitting on the sofa, waiting.

I lowered my head, feeling guilty as I changed my shoes. "Why aren't you asleep?"

"Come here," Mom said sternly. "We have questions."

I sat down next to them. "What?"

"When are you and Parker getting married?"

"We haven't been dating that long," I said. "We haven't discussed marriage."

"You're turning thirty after New Year's," Mom said. "You need to date with marriage in mind. You can't just play around."

"What's wrong with thirty? Late marriage is trendy."

Mom looked at me suspiciously. "Is it Parker? Does he not want to marry you?"

"No. We just haven't talked about it."

"Then bring it up. You can't just be together confusedly and then break up later. Look at your last boyfriend. Years wasted, and for what? Nothing."

When I was with Marcus, I told them I had a boyfriend, but I never told them he was my boss or about his family situation. They kept asking to meet him, and I kept making excuses. When I finally told them we broke up, they were upset for months.

I couldn't promise them that Parker and I would definitely get married. Parker was infatuated right now, but who knew if he would regret it later?

"Fine," I said, just to end the conversation. "I'll find a time to ask him."