Chapter 443 Do You Still Like Andrew?
Chloe was up at the crack of dawn.
The door creaked open just a bit, and there was Andrew, locking eyes with her.
She'd had a rough night, looking a bit worse for wear, not as dolled up as she was last night. But to Andrew, this raw version of Chloe made his heart skip a beat even more.
He asked, "How's Natalie doing?"
Chloe wavered for a second, then opened the door fully and stood halfway out, saying, "The fever's mostly gone. You can go check on her."
Andrew gave her a deep look and walked in.
After a restless night, Natalie was out like a light.
She was in her light pink PJs, curled up on her side. A lock of her golden curls was sprawled on the pillow. She looked super cute.
Andrew reached out and gently touched Natalie's face, then couldn't help but lean down and kiss her.
The fever was definitely down.
He felt a wave of relief and knew it wasn't cool to hang around her bedroom.
He really wanted to be with Chloe, but he didn't want her catching flak from others. She was still with Maurice, and if they were gonna split, it should be 'cause they didn't mesh, not 'cause of her weird thing with her ex.
Andrew caressed Natalie with a sense of reluctance to part.
He walked out, and Chloe looked kinda surprised.
Andrew spoke softly, "Maurice might swing by later. It's not cool for me to stay, so I'll bounce."
Chloe's fingers tightened a bit. She looked up at him, like she wanted to say something, but then she let it go.
Andrew reached out his hand. He wanted to gently touch her hair like he used to.
In the end, he just let it drop.
As Andrew slowly walked downstairs, sunlight streamed through the hallway glass, casting a golden glow on his back. Chloe stood there.
They knew what was up with each other. So close, yet so far. So many memories, yet they had to let them go.
"Andrew!" Chloe called out. "Take care of yourself."
Andrew's body stiffened a bit.
After a moment, he looked back at her and smiled gently, "It's chilly in the hallway. Go back inside."
Chloe didn't budge.
Andrew kept that gentle smile, then waved at her before disappearing into the stairwell.
Gavin woke up. He ran downstairs barefoot, "Daddy!"
Andrew turned around and scooped up the little guy.
He was just in his PJs, with bare feet, and his feet were freezing.
Andrew carried him to the sofa, wrapped him in a wool blanket, and found him a pair of indoor slippers.
Gavin looked at him, panting.
Andrew reached out and ruffled his little head, "Silly boy!"
"Daddy!"
Andrew's movements slowed down a bit. He said softly, "I'll come see you guys next time."
"Daddy."
Andrew hugged him, half-kneeling and holding his son close. His lips brushed against Gavin's soft hair by his ear, and he whispered, "I won't let you call anyone else daddy."
After he said that, he stood up and ruffled the little guy's hair again.
When he left, Gavin snuggled into the wool blanket, still feeling the warmth of his dad's touch.
Andrew left. He got into his car and was about to start it when a Cayenne pulled up.
The cars were side by side.
Through the window, he saw Maurice in the other car.
Maurice was also divorced, but no kids.
Natalie was sick, and since he was with Chloe, it made sense for him to come check on her.
Unexpectedly, he ran into Andrew.
Andrew gave Maurice a slight nod through the window and slowly drove away.
Maurice felt uneasy. He turned off the engine, sat in the car, and lit a cigarette.
He really liked Chloe.
He'd liked her since they were young, but they never had the chance back then.
Later, they both had other partners, and he thought they'd never cross paths again, but eventually, they both ended up single again.
He knew about Chloe and Andrew's deep, unforgettable bond.
He could accept it, and he trusted Chloe.
But just now, when he passed by Andrew, he felt a sense of crisis.
Andrew would always be part of the Hawkins family, and he'd always be the father of the two kids. These things wouldn't change, just like today, when the kid was sick or when the Hawkins family had important events, Andrew would be there.
He had to accept it.
Maurice lowered his eyes and thought, 'I might never measure up to Andrew.'
Men were always more rational than women.
Maurice had already come to a conclusion in his heart, but he was a gentleman. Since he was here, he'd see the kids and Chloe.
In the early morning, the villa was quiet.
The housekeeper greeted him and then went upstairs to announce his arrival.
He couldn't help but wonder if Andrew could come over without being announced, stay overnight, or even enter her room.
While he was lost in thought, Chloe came downstairs.
She was clearly tidied up, with her long hair tied up and dressed appropriately.
She wasn't even wearing slippers.
When she came over, he looked at her delicate and beautiful face and thought, 'Andrew must have seen her haggard look; just like last night when Natalie had a fever, and she chose Andrew without hesitation.'
Chloe might not have noticed her own unconscious behaviors.
Maurice took out a toy, something the little girl liked.
Chloe took it and smiled slightly, "Thanks."
Maurice looked at her and asked softly, "Can I go see her in the bedroom?"
Chloe was a bit taken aback. When she snapped out of it, she nodded.
They went upstairs one after the other and entered her bedroom. Natalie was still asleep.
A very lovable little girl.
She looked a lot like Andrew.
Maurice couldn't help but touch her soft golden curls and said softly, "I actually had something to tell you last night."
In his pocket, there was an engagement ring.
He had planned to propose to her last night, but she left first.
Chloe looked up in surprise. Then she realized something and didn't say anything, just looked at him.
Maurice was very gentle, "Let's find a time to talk."
Chloe held Natalie's hand.
She called the nanny to take care of the child and then said to Maurice, "Let me walk you out."
She meant to clear things up now.
So, they silently went downstairs. As they passed through the hall, they saw Gavin with his little backpack, ready to go to school, with the driver holding his hand.
Gavin saw Maurice and nodded slightly.
Maurice thought, 'Gavin's gesture is just like Andrew's!'
Gavin went off to school, and Chloe walked Maurice to the parking lot. The morning sunlight shone on both of them.
They were at a good age, looking infinitely beautiful.
Maurice didn't take out the ring. Instead, he said, "Chloe, we might not be right for each other."
Chloe was no longer at an age where she was inexperienced.
She guessed his concerns. She thought that the one who made him decide must be Andrew.
Regarding Andrew, she couldn't make any promises because it wouldn't be fair to the two kids. She couldn't pursue her own happiness at the expense of not letting them see Andrew.
Chloe didn't hold any resentment. She lightly kicked a pebble at her feet and nodded gently, "Alright! I'll let my parents know."
Maurice looked at her.
He was the one who made this decision first. But when Chloe agreed so readily, he felt a sense of loss.
Maybe he was still a bit unwilling. But he knew that he could never compare to Andrew.
He still got into the car.
Chloe stepped back a little, watching his car slowly drive away.
A black Maybach pulled up.
Frederick got out and casually lit a cigarette.
He leaned against the car door. "Broke up?"
Chloe was surprised, "How did you know?"
Frederick smiled, "I just ran into Maurice. He was wiping his tears while driving!"
Frederick waved her over.
In the sunlight, he wore a beige wool sweater, looking approachable and handsome.
Chloe walked over.
Frederick gently put his arm around her shoulders, his voice softening, "Do you still like Andrew?"
Chloe's eyes turned slightly red.
Frederick lightly tapped her head. "Charlotte asked me to come over! She was worried about you."
Chloe's eyes reddened even more.
Frederick looked at her, "Pathetic! That's not how my sister should be acting!"
Chloe bravely retorted, "You're not much better yourself!"
Frederick sneered.
Chloe backed down. After a moment, she gently leaned her head on his broad shoulder and said softly, "Frederick! I can't deceive myself! But I also can't move on. I can't let go of the past!"
Frederick ruffled her hair and didn't say anything.
These days, he had been watching from the sidelines, and had already known Chloe and Maurice were not a good match.
Rather than tormenting each other in the future, it was better to end it cleanly now.
Maurice was rational, but his rationality only showed that he didn't love enough.
Chloe breaking up with Maurice wasn't without any hurt.
They had spent some time together. Now that they were apart, both families had to explain, and news of such matters spread quickly in high society. By noon, the news had reached Andrew.
This was unexpected for him.
Chloe and Maurice breaking up seemed too fast.
Nathan closed the door and whispered, "It was Maurice who initiated it."
Andrew thought of their encounter that morning.
He was good at reading people and guessed the reason. His wish had come true, but he wasn't happy.
Chloe's emotional failures were all related to him.
If it weren't for their failed marriage and her having his children, how could she be rejected?
Andrew really wanted to smoke a cigarette to ease his mind. But there wasn't a single cigarette around him, so he could only close his eyes lightly, "I've wronged her too much!"
Nathan poured him a glass of water.
He was good at comforting people, speaking softly, "You can make it up to her double! How about bringing the kids over tonight to give Chloe a break? Taking care of two kids is exhausting."
Andrew knew that Natalie couldn't be without Chloe.
He thought of taking care of Gavin himself, but he didn't know if Gavin would be willing.
In the evening, Andrew got off work on time.
He went to the Hawkins Mansion.
There weren't many people in the hall. A housekeeper was accompanying Gavin with his homework, and upstairs, the sound of a child could be heard, probably Natalie.
Andrew looked upstairs.
Then he walked over to Gavin and sat down, reaching out to touch his little head. "The third question is wrong!"
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