Chapter 438 I Haven't Held a Woman in These Years
As soon as Chloe walked in, Maurice was right on her heels.
The vibe was kinda awkward.
Chloe glanced at Andrew and said, all soft and slow, "Here to see the kids?"
Andrew was still holding Natalie. He checked them out, and yeah, they did look good together.
His eyes got a bit darker.
Lately, he'd been dropping by to see the kids a lot, but he hardly ever bumped into Chloe. She was busy with work and dates, and he didn't plan his visits around her schedule. But today, he walked right into this scene.
Most folks would find it super awkward.
But Andrew didn't show any sign of being bothered. Instead, he got up and offered his hand to Maurice, "Hey there."
Maurice looked a bit surprised.
Andrew turned to Chloe, "Your clothes are soaked; go change."
Then he added, "If Maurice wants, he can change and shower too. Frederick's clothes should fit him."
Maurice was speechless.
It felt weird, but also kinda made sense.
Andrew and Chloe had history, but he was also part of the Hawkins family and Frederick's elder, so his words weren't out of line.
Chloe helped him out, saying softly, "You should head out first."
Maurice nodded, "Alright, I'll call you later."
Maurice left in a hurry.
Chloe looked at Andrew but didn't say anything.
She shook her hair and started to go upstairs. Andrew asked softly from behind her, "Did you have a good time?"
She paused. After a moment, she said lightly, "It was fine."
Andrew smiled warmly. After she went upstairs, he kept teaching Natalie to walk, looking all fatherly and happy, not a hint of being upset.
Frederick chuckled softly. "Andrew, you're pretty adaptable."
"What do you mean?"
Natalie was tired and didn't want to walk anymore, fussing to be held by her dad.
Andrew held her with one arm and made formula for little Natalie, but there wasn't enough.
He called a servant over.
The servant quickly apologized, "Mr. Devereux, I'm sorry. I forgot about the formula with everything going on today!"
Natalie got it. She lay on her dad's shoulder, unhappy.
Andrew didn't give the servant a hard time.
He held Natalie with one arm and made her formula with the other, then sat on the sofa to feed her.
Natalie loved it, holding the bottle with her little hands.
Andrew's eyes were full of tenderness.
Frederick watched quietly, feeling a bit uneasy.
Andrew had been back for a while and had taken over the company, acting all decisive and ruthless, not like someone who had just bounced back from a serious illness.
It was totally different from the loving dad vibe he had now.
He was really good at keeping it together!
Andrew was super chill, acting like a family friend, at most the best ex-husband.
He finished feeding Natalie.
Natalie, tired and full, lay on his shoulder and slowly closed her eyes.
Andrew carefully carried her upstairs.
Frederick looked up and watched but didn't stop him. He just shook his head lightly.
On the second floor, Chloe had taken a shower and changed into loungewear since Andrew was home.
Her long hair was also dried.
Andrew walked in, cradling Natalie. He looked at Chloe for a few seconds and said softly, "She's out cold. Can you watch her for a bit? We're out of formula, so I gotta run and grab some."
Chloe took the baby.
She gently placed Natalie in the crib.
After a moment of thinking, she spoke softly, "If you wanna see the kids, come on weekends; it's easier."
Andrew was a bit taken aback.
After a beat, he still spoke gently, "You worried Maurice will get ticked off if he sees me?"
Chloe nodded, "Yeah, it's kinda awkward."
Surprisingly, Andrew nodded, "Alright, I'll try to swing by on weekends. If I come during the week, I'll bounce before dinner to keep things chill."
Chloe pressed her lips together and didn't say anything.
She focused on her daughter.
Andrew didn't leave right away. He asked, sounding like a concerned elder, "You and Maurice getting along?"
Chloe felt a bit awkward.
They'd met a few times, but she wasn't into him.
She didn't wanna say that in front of Andrew.
She mumbled something vague.
Andrew smiled lightly, "It's good if you get along. If you end up with him, I can handle the kids. You young folks, after all, like to have fun."
Hearing this, Chloe couldn't hold it in anymore. Her eyes got a bit red.
Andrew didn't push it, his voice soft, "I'll go grab the formula."
After he left, Chloe finally let out a sigh of relief.
She sat down, lost in thought. She didn't know what she felt for Andrew now; she just knew that seeing him alive was enough.
She didn't want anything else.
So when the family set her up with Maurice, she didn't object.
Andrew was back.
She figured she had to find something to do.
Andrew drove himself out.
Frederick was worried. "Andrew, it's pouring out there! Let me go!"
Andrew put on his coat. "It's cool."
He grabbed an umbrella, walked to the parking lot, and opened the car door.
Just then, Gavin had finished school.
He hopped out of the car and saw Andrew. Andrew called out to him, "I'm off to buy formula for Natalie. Wanna come? We can grab dinner out."
Gavin bit his lip. Riding in his dad's car and having dinner alone with him was something he used to dream about, but now...
Gavin's little face tightened. He clutched his small backpack, "I got homework."
Andrew looked a bit bummed.
The driver, Jared, got out and saw this, trying to comfort him, "Kids, you know, teachers will give 'em a hard time if they don't finish their homework."
Andrew was polite. "Thanks for looking after Gavin."
After a moment, Jared watched the car drive away.
He always felt that Andrew was a bit different this time around.
Andrew drove out around six in the evening. Unfortunately, the formula he needed was super popular, and there had been some issues with imports lately, so it was out of stock everywhere.
The rain was coming down harder.
By 9:30 PM, Andrew still hadn't come back.
Gavin had moved a small table to the doorway, doing his homework while keeping an eye on the entrance.
Natalie wanted milk again.
She looked at Chloe expectantly.
Chloe called Andrew, and he picked up, explaining the situation.
"Come back," Chloe said softly, glancing at the heavy rain outside.
She got ready to feed Natalie some solid food.
Andrew was just stepping out of a baby store, half-soaked, as he got into his car. He grabbed a towel and wiped himself down, saying, "I'll check a few more stores."
Chloe's voice was tight. "Do you even know what time it is? Do you see how hard it's raining?"
Andrew sat in the car, holding his phone, speaking softly, "But Natalie needs her milk at night. I'm her dad. Hitting a few more stores for her formula is no big deal."
Chloe couldn't hold back anymore, her voice cracking a bit. "Andrew, now you remember she's your daughter? What about the past two years? Sure, you were unwell, but what are you doing now? Trying to get soaked and catch a fever so I'll feel sorry for you?"
Silence hung between them.
Andrew gently stroked the steering wheel, his voice incredibly tender. "Chloe, if I did that, would you feel sorry for me?"
"No!" She said it, but she didn't hang up. "Andrew, where are you?"
He told her the location and added, "Don't come out."
Chloe had already grabbed her car keys and was heading out, "Wait there! I know Syeattel better than you and know where to buy formula."
Andrew held his phone, sitting quietly as the rain kept falling and the wipers swayed back and forth. He heard the most beautiful sound—she said she was coming to find him.
After being back for so long, he could finally see her alone. Yes, he was that despicable; he knew Chloe loved him and couldn't let him go.
Half an hour later, Chloe's car slowly pulled up beside him. She got out and sat next to him.
Andrew turned his head to her.
Chloe stared straight ahead, her voice very soft, "There's an alley on the street ahead, a store there should have this brand of formula."
Andrew leaned back in his seat. He gazed at her and said softly, "You drive."
As he spoke, he gently squeezed her hand. "I might have a fever."
Chloe frowned. He did feel a bit hot. She couldn't help but scold him, "Are you stupid? Your health isn't great to begin with, and you come out in this rain." Her voice choked up.
Andrew couldn't help but touch her hand again, his voice very gentle, "I can't go back. Adeline would be upset if she knew! Take me to a hotel, and I'll be fine after a night's rest."
Chloe couldn't possibly go to a hotel with him. It wasn't appropriate. Besides, he needed a doctor now.
She checked and found that they were very close to Broadway, only a 5-minute drive away. She said softly, "I'll take you to Broadway! Let Nathan take care of you."
Andrew didn't object. But he insisted on buying formula for Natalie first, and they ended up buying a whole case.
Chloe drove her own car. When they arrived at the house on Broadway, Andrew's skin was burning hot. Chloe didn't feel comfortable letting him go upstairs alone, so she helped him into the elevator.
Andrew was very gentlemanly. It should be said that since he came back, for quite some time now, he hadn't done anything inappropriate or said anything suggestive. They were like any ordinary separated couple. The kids were their only connection.
When the elevator door opened, Andrew walked a few steps and leaned against the door, "The key is in my coat pocket; help me get it out."
Chloe reached into his coat pocket.
She was so close to him that he could catch the scent of her body wash and that subtle, unique fragrance of a mature woman.
Chloe searched for a while but couldn't find it. She looked up, "It's not there!"
Andrew seemed very uncomfortable.
He tilted his head slightly, his throat moving gently, quite enticing.
He lowered his eyes to look at her.
After a moment, he said, "It's in my pants pocket."
Chloe half-supported him, reaching into his pants pocket with one hand, and found a bunch of keys.
But as soon as she touched it, her hand was held.
"What are you doing?" Chloe looked up, her voice soft, as if afraid of disturbing the neighbors.
Andrew, through a thin layer of fabric, held her hand and didn't let go. He even gently caressed it.
He had a fever. His eyes were slightly red, but there was a hint of charm.
"Chloe, I haven't held a woman in these years. Do you have someone by your side?"
These words made her eyes turn red.
She gently pulled her hand out, used the key to open the door, her voice rustling. "It's none of your business."
Andrew hugged her from behind.
She resisted, struggling, but even though Andrew was sick, he was strong enough to hold her.
He hugged her entirely, whispering, "Do you? Chloe, tell me."
Chloe's eyes were very red. She tilted her head slightly, "What's the point of saying this? Andrew, did you plan all this tonight just for this? We broke up long ago, and now I have someone I'm seeing."
"You don't like him! I can tell."
Chloe was both ashamed and angry. She opened the door and went inside, intending to argue with Andrew.
Her face was cupped. Her body was pushed against the door, a bit rough, and it hurt a little. But soon, that hot body pressed against her.
She refused to kiss him, but her chin was gripped, and her mouth was forced open. The sensation was hot and slippery, as he kissed her deeply and softly.
"Andrew!" Chloe dodged him wildly, thinking he was crazy because he not only kissed her but also touched her body.
Her body hadn't been with a man for years, making it extremely sensitive.
Chloe refused, and as he became more passionate, she bit his neck hard.
Andrew regained a bit of sanity. He didn't kiss her further or touch her anymore. He just panted, leaning against her neck, speaking very softly, "I'm sorry, Chloe. I lost control."
She turned her head, eyes red, feeling very embarrassed.
Andrew gently hugged her. She struggled a few times, finally giving in and not moving.
In his arms, she felt his body, a bit thin but not without muscle, covered with a thin layer of muscle.
Chloe closed her eyes, "Andrew, are you really back?"
He held the back of her head. "I'm back! Chloe, I won't leave again!"
She suddenly pushed him away hard, then slapped him fiercely.
The previous tenderness was gone.
Andrew took the slap without getting angry. Instead, he gently held her hand and rubbed it.
Chloe shook him off again. She took a step back, tears in her eyes.
This man was someone she loved deeply and also hated intensely. These complicated feelings left her unsure how to treat him.
She thought if he no longer flirted with her anymore, she could live a peaceful life.
But he wouldn't; he clearly still wanted her.
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