Chapter 9 My strange husband

Chloe was still in the kitchen when Nora entered, her face lighting up with a bright smile.

"Aunt, your food is the best! I love it," Nora exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with genuine appreciation.

Chloe's heart warmed at the compliment.

"Really?" she asked, kneeling down to Nora's level.

"She's right," Danis added from the doorway, his voice sincere. "The food was nice."

"Thank you, brother-in-law," Chloe replied, her gratitude evident.

She gently patted Nora's head, a tender smile on her face, before heading upstairs.

Upon reaching her room, Chloe noticed a sharp pain in her hand. She had burned herself while preparing the meal, and the injury was more severe than she had realized.

She searched the room for a first aid kit and eventually found it in a drawer.

As she began to treat the burn, Nicholas entered the room. His gaze immediately fell on her injured hand.

Chloe quickly tried to hide it, but Nicholas had already seen.

He approached her, his expression unreadable, and gently took her hand from behind her back.

"How did you get hurt?" he asked, his tone cold.

"When I was cooking," Chloe replied softly.

"You should have been more careful. Why are you being so clumsy?" Nicholas remarked, his words sharp and unfeeling.

His criticism stung, and Chloe felt a surge of anger. She withdrew her hand from his grasp.

"If you're not going to help, fine. But don't add to it," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. She turned and walked out of the room, leaving the burn untreated.

Determined to check on the children, Chloe made her way to their room. She found the door ajar and entered quietly.

"Don't you know you're supposed to knock before entering someone's room?" Daniella snapped, her tone harsh. Daniel remained silent, his eyes avoiding hers.

"I'm sorry, that slipped my mind," Chloe apologized, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course it will," Daniella retorted. "That's why I told you to go back to where you came from."

Chloe felt the sting of her words but tried to remain composed.

"What are you even doing here?" Daniella demanded.

"To check on you," Chloe replied, striving to keep her voice calm.

She approached Daniel, intending to touch his shoulder, but he grabbed her hand firmly.

The pressure on her injured hand made her wince, but Daniel didn't release his grip until he was ready.

"Get out!" Daniella shouted, standing by the door, her arms crossed.

Chloe stood up, her heart heavy with sadness. She had promised herself not to cry, but the constant rejection and hostility made it nearly impossible. As she walked away, she couldn't help but feel the weight of their words and actions, each one a reminder of how unwelcome she was in this family.

Later, as Chloe sat alone in her room, she reflected on the day's events. The burn on her hand throbbed, a physical reminder of her efforts to fit in and care for the family. Yet, despite her best efforts, she felt more like an outsider than ever.

She wondered how much longer she could endure the coldness and rejection. The dream of a happy family seemed increasingly distant, and the path ahead appeared uncertain.

But Chloe was resilient. She had faced hardships before and had always found a way to overcome them. As she gazed out the window, she made a silent vow to herself: she would not give up. She would continue to try, to care, and to hope, no matter how difficult it became.

With that thought, she stood up, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead, ready to prove her worth and find her place in this complicated family.

Chloe took a deep breath, gathering her strength. As she walked through the hallways of the mansion, she could feel the weight of her emotions pressing down on her, but she refused to let it consume her. She was determined to make it through, no matter the obstacles.

When she reached the living room, she found Laine sitting by the window, looking out at the garden. Laine looked up as Chloe entered, her expression softening when she saw the exhaustion on Chloe's face.

"Hey," Laine said gently. "How are you holding up?"

Chloe hesitated for a moment, then sighed, sitting down beside her. "I don't know how much longer I can do this," she admitted, her voice quiet. "Everything just feels so... impossible."

Laine nodded, understanding all too well. "It's not easy," she said softly. "This family can be difficult, but you have to remember-you're not alone. I'm here for you, and I know it's tough, but you've got strength inside you."

Chloe glanced at her, appreciating the kindness. "Thank you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I just... I just want to make things right. I want to be a good wife, a good mother to the kids, but no matter what I do, it feels like I'm always one step behind."

Laine's gaze softened as she placed a reassuring hand on Chloe's. "You don't have to be perfect," she said. "No one expects you to be. Just do your best, and eventually, things will change. They always do."

Chloe gave a small nod, feeling a little lighter. "I'll try," she said, determined to keep pushing forward.

As they sat there for a while in silence, Chloe couldn't help but think about Nicholas. She had spent so much time trying to earn his approval, but it felt like she was constantly walking on eggshells. His coldness was hard to read, and every time she thought she was making progress, something seemed to push her two steps back. She just didn't know what to do anymore.

The door to the room opened suddenly, and Nicholas walked in. His presence seemed to fill the space, his sharp gaze briefly locking onto Chloe before moving to Laine.

"Everything okay?" Nicholas asked, his voice low, as if trying to mask any concern.

Chloe straightened up, wiping away the sadness that had begun to creep back into her expression. "I'm fine," she said quickly. "Just... thinking."

Laine stood up, giving Chloe a gentle smile before walking past Nicholas and leaving the room. Nicholas lingered, his gaze falling on Chloe once more.

"How are you really?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

Chloe felt a twinge in her chest. He was asking, but did he truly care? She wasn't sure anymore.

"I'm fine," she repeated, though the words felt hollow. "Just trying to figure things out."

Nicholas looked at her for a long moment, as if debating whether or not to say something more. Finally, he sighed and stepped closer.

"You're not alone in this," he said, his voice quieter now. "I know it seems like everyone is against you, but it's not like that.

Chloe's heart skipped a beat. was he trying to protect me? After everything that had happened, those words were unexpected, and for a moment, Chloe wasn't sure how to respond. She wanted to believe him, to trust that he had her best interests at heart. But after everything that had occurred, she couldn't bring herself to fully accept it.

"Thank you," she said, her voice trembling. "But... it's hard. So hard."

Nicholas stood in silence, his expression unreadable.

Chloe wasn't sure if she could trust him just yet, but she nodded anyway. She knew that the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with every small step, she would figure things out.

As Nicholas left the room, Chloe sat in silence, reflecting on everything he had said. Was it possible that he was changing? Or was this just another act, another layer of his complicated personality?

For now, Chloe didn't have the answers, but she was determined to find them. And if she was going to survive in this house, she knew she would have to keep pushing forward, no matter how hard it became.