Brian kept his head lowered as he stood close to Chloe. His dark, beautiful eyes, once cold and lifeless, now flickered with something that almost seemed like a hint of longing.


    Longing?


    Chloe almostughed at the thought that shed through her mind.


    She couldn’t believe what she was imagining. No matter what, Brian wouldn’t long for a bodyguard.


    “There are plenty of people in this world who wouldn’t leave you behind, Mr. Steele. I’m not exactly indispensable,” Chloe said.


    The elevator chimed softly as it reached the first floor, and Chloe quickly stepped out as the doors slid open.


    “Mr. Steele, you should probably go to the hospital to get checked. It’s safer. I’ll head back first,” she said, turning to leave.


    Someone like Brian exuded an air of danger, and her instincts told her it was best to stay away.


    Brian quietly watched her retreating figure, then slowly turned to William and said, “How do you think I can win Chloe over?”


    Standing beside him, William was momentarily taken aback.


    As Brian’s personal secretary, he knew Brian was nearly a man without desires. For someone like Brian, getting whatever he wanted had always been effortless–things woulde to him without him even lifting a finger.


    Yet now, William was surprised that Brian actually wanted Chloe.


    “Well… from what I’ve seen of Ms. Quall’s background, she’s not the type to be easily swayed by money. Even though she’s no longer in the military, she still carries a soldier’s pride,” William said carefully.


    William had been the one to thoroughly investigate Chloe’s background, so he knew her history very well.


    “Exactly! She’s not the type to be swayed by money. But if it were an order… would she obey?” Brian murmured thoughtfully.


    William froze. It seemed Brian really did want Chloe.


    Yet, he didn’t know whether this would be a blessing or a curse for her.


    Chloe returned to the vi and dropped the blood–stained outfit she’d changed out of at the mall into theundry, nning to clean itter.


    Chapter 21 How to Win Her


    <i>2/4 </i>


    The clothes Brian had given her were from a luxury brand, and on the way home, she’d checked online and discovered that the set was worth 70 thousand dors.


    Money truly meant nothing to the wealthy, especially someone like him.


    Once the clothes were dry–cleaned, Chloe nned on returning them.


    Just then, her phone rang with a call from Lena.


    As soon as she answered, Lena’s anxious voice red through the speaker. “Did you really face a bomb in


    the mall today? Are you hurt?”


    “No,” Chloe replied. “You sure get your information fast. How did you find out?”


    “You called that guy, Ethan. Of course I’d know! You ran into danger and called him first instead of me!”


    Listening to the yful jealousy in Lena’s voice, Chloe couldn’t help but smile. “Ethan can evacuate the


    mall in record time. Could you have done that?”


    Lena went silent instantly.


    Of course, she couldn’tpare to Ethan. She knew his background -he was the scion of the Hughes family, his father was a militarymander, his mother a renowned scientist, and his connections were


    extensive.


    “But speaking of which, back when you married Curtis without telling Ethan, you really drove him crazy. And now after just a call, he’s willing to help you? He’s not mad at you anymore?” Lena said.


    “Even if he’s still a little upset, he knows how to prioritize what’s important,” Chloe replied.


    “That’s true. After all, he used to serve in the military,” Lena muttered.


    Back when Chloe had been in the special forces, Ethan had been one of her team members. They’d faced


    life–and–death situations together, forming a bond forged inbat.


    “Used to?” Chloe blinked. “He’s out of the military?”


    “Yeah. Not long after you got married, he left the service and went abroad for three years. He just came


    back recently,” Lena exined.


    Chloe was surprised. She had always assumed the Hughes family would want him to stay in the military


    and gradually climb the ranks.


    “Whenever you’re free, let’s get together with Ethan and catch up,” Lena suggested. “He’s been mad for


    three years. It’s about time he got over it.”


    “Sure,” Chloe said with a small smile, remembering the young, spirited Ethan, who used to call her “Clo” with boundless energy and enthusiasm.


    She thought about how she’d gotten married quietly back then, without telling anyone, and admitted to herself that maybe she hadn’t handled that properly.


    Chapter 21 How to Win Her


    At that moment, Curtis entered theundry room. Chloe frowned slightly and put her phone away.


    Curtis hade because he’d heard her voice, but when he saw the blood–stained clothes in the sink, he froze. “What happened? Are you hurt?” <fn2892> Follow current nov?ls on findnovel</fn2892>


    He looked at her with concern and reached for her hand, as if checking her for injuries. “Where are you injured? Did you go to the hospital?”


    Chloe studied him with surprise. At that moment, his expression reminded her of how he’d been three


    years ago.


    Back then, he’d worried about her just like this. It was partly because of that and partly because of Jenna


    and Walter’s unfulfilled wishes that she ultimately chose to marry him.


    But after their marriage, his care and attention toward her gradually faded, reced by constant thoughts


    of his first love.


    Perhaps for some men, what they could never have was always the best, and what came easily was never truly cherished.


    “I’m fine. The blood on my clothes is someone else’s,” Chloe said calmly, withdrawing her hand.


    “Someone else’s blood? What happened?” Curtis asked, puzzled.


    “Someone got hurt at the mall while I was there. My clothes just happened to get a little stained with blood,” she said, deliberately downying the bomb incident. She didn’t intend on telling him what really


    happened.


    “Good, as long as you’re okay,” Curtis said with a sigh of relief.


    “What about you? Why are you back so early? Weren’t you supposed to be with Sonya?” Chloe asked


    casually.


    Curtis‘ expression shifted slightly. “Sonya and I are just friends. You’re my wife. I know you’ve been


    through a lottely. I’ll spend more time with you from now on.”


    “From now on?” Chloe thought bitterly. There would be no “from now on” for them.


    If he’d truly ever considered her his wife, he wouldn’t have repeatedly left her for Sonya.


    “So, you came back early today just to spend time with me?” she asked, staring at him.


    In that instant, Curtis felt a wave of awkwardness, as if Chloe could see right through him. “I… of course, I


    came to spend time with you. I also wanted to discuss somepany matters. I hope you’ll consider returning to work at thepany.”


    Chloe smiled knowingly. So that was the real reason he came back early.


    “I’ve already joined a friend’spany. I don’t n to return to Green Tech.”


    “I know you’re at Skyline Tech, but you’re my wife. Isn’t a husband supposed toe before a friend?” he


    Chapter 21 How to Win Her


    said.


    “But for you, your wife doesn’t evene before your friend, Sonya, does she?” Chloe said sarcastically. Curtis froze, then said after a moment, “Enough! Let’s not argue. I just want you to return to thepany.”


    Chapter 22 Only to Repay a Favor