Chapter 3 The room fell silent, except for their heavy breathing.

She lowered her head and leaned against the chair. Suddenly, a packet of cookies appeared in front of her. Following the slender arm upward, she met Caleb's handsome but emotionless face.

"Thank you." She accepted it, gripping it tightly in her hand.

Caleb coldly removed his coat, curling up on the sofa again. After a few seconds of contemplation, he said: "I know you do nothing to benefit. As long as you take good care of Lily and keep her happy, I won't treat you unfairly."

Chloe bit her lower lip so hard it bled. Her eyes stung with pain, but she knew she couldn't cry. Crying would only make him despise her more.

-

Chloe didn't dare disturb him anymore. Forcing herself to sleep, she fell into a troubled dream. Painful, troubling memories replayed in her mind, filled with panic and tears. The agony of being separated from her flesh and blood tormented her with every nerve, every cell, suffocating her.

Hearing a child's cry, she jolted awake, her eyes still clouded with darkness.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the window, revealing that the sun was already high. Chloe gently turned to observe the child, her chubby limbs comfortably sprawled out in a deep sleep.

Looking towards Caleb, she saw he was still asleep. She sighed in relief and touched her face, finding it wet with tears.

Her stomach growled with hunger. The cookies from last night remained uneaten. Everything he gave her, she cherished as a treasure.

She quietly tidied up her belongings, stood up, and went out the door. The morning mist was still lingering. The food in the hospital canteen was definitely not good, and buying it on the street was unhygienic. Besides, Caleb would surely despise it as he had an extreme case of "cleanliness."

Chloe took the subway home to prepare breakfast for Lily and also planned to request leave from work. She meticulously calculated everything in her mind. When she arrived home and opened the living room door, a flying object greeted her.

The throw wasn't strong, purely meant to vent frustration.

The glass cup shattered on the floor, the sound of it breaking, bringing Chloe back to her senses. She slowly looked up and saw Nathan Thomas, whose appearance, demeanor, and spirit were all in decline.

-

The curtains were not fully drawn, and the sunlight shone on the glass shards, casting a faint glow on Nathan. The man, usually robust, now seemed deranged. A layer of black stubble covered his chin, and his eyes were swollen, with dark, bruised circles around them...

Oh no, she forgot to inform Nathan last night.

Nathan sat quietly on the sofa, his face stern as he tried to mask the coldness in his eyes: "Where were you?"

Chloe didn't dare look at him and hurriedly squatted down to gather the broken glass pieces and throw them into the trash.

Nathan's anger was uncontrollable. He abruptly stood up from the sofa, taking a few strides to stand in front of her. Not giving her a chance to react, he roughly grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet.

She was so light that she stumbled a few steps before regaining her balance.

Chloe looked at him in horror. Nathan's eyes were bloodshot, his thin lips curving into a cruel smile, staring at her unblinkingly: "Why didn't you answer me? Did you go to see him secretly once more?"

Chloe clutched the thermos tightly and calmly nodded: "Yes, but because Lily is sick."

"Lily-" Nathan laughed coldly, increasing the pressure on her. "How is her sickness relevant to you? Do you think you're her mother?"

Chloe's face, already pale, turned even whiter, as if doused in cold water, freezing her to the bone.

Nathan knew he had struck a nerve, but he couldn't help himself. Just thinking about her gently caring for that detestable father and daughter duo made his whole body ache as if twisted in pain.

Seeing the ferocity radiating from him, Chloe didn't want to argue further. She continued squatting down to clean up the remaining shards: "Step back a bit, or you'll hurt your feet."

Look at that. In her mind, he was nothing but a useless person. If only he were more useful, if only his body matched others in health.

Nathan's chest heaved as he tried to release his clenched fists. At this moment, lowering his gaze, he could see the top of her black head. She was just a fragile woman, yet why did she stubbornly bury such a negative feeling deep in her heart?

He couldn't help but shout: "Chloe, do you know what you're doing?"

-

Chloe's movements halted slightly. She looked up, her dark eyes filled with a reassuring smile: "Nathan, I only care about Lily. There's nothing more."

Nathan silently observed her for a long time, his bloodshot eyes filled with fear and his jaundiced skin forming a stark contrast.

After cleaning up the glass shards, Chloe stood up and gently supported his arm: "Have you taken your medicine? I saw the box in the trash and remembered it was empty. I'm sorry, I've been busy lately. I visited the hospital for additional medicine. It will continue for a few more days."

Hearing her gentle voice, the anger in Nathan's heart slowly dissipated, but he still turned his head away, snorting: "Maybe it would be better if I died, then you wouldn't be burdened by me anymore."

"Nathan!" Chloe shouted directly at him, her almond eyes wide open.

Over the years, life's hardships had worn down her spirit, making her more tolerant and subdued, rarely revealing her true feelings. Her sudden outburst startled Nathan. The imposing figure standing before her seemed to shrink.

Chloe stared at him, her voice firm: "You are not a burden to me. You are my last remaining family. Remember, I never see you as a burden."

Nathan bowed his head, looking at her delicate features. His heart ached, losing control for a moment. He gripped her shoulders: "Chloe."

His voice was hoarse, completely losing the previous anger, replaced by a gentleness that spread in his eyes. The strength in his hands carried a hint of ambiguous affection.

"You know, I've never wanted to just be your family." With that, he leaned closer, the clean scent of her body intoxicating him. His heart in his chest felt overwhelming satisfaction, as if it wanted to leap out.

Chloe watched his familiar face approaching. When their lips were almost touching, she suddenly woke up, pushing him away. She stumbled back, hitting the wall hard.

The room fell silent, except for their heavy breathing.

"I-" Chloe stammered, trying to explain. When she met his eyes, she quickly looked away: "I haven't brushed my teeth since I woke up."