Chapter 55 I Don't Want to Be Just A Sister
Victor hurried over cautiously, mindful of his previous experiences. Not wanting to touch Chloe, he merely said politely, "Miss Musk, please come with me."
Of course, Chloe was reluctant, sobbing, "Francis, let me stay and take care of you. Don't worry about my health. I'm fine."
Francis's face darkened, and he said coldly, "Chloe, I've decided not to divorce. You should stop clinging to me and making things unclear to avoid giving people something to gossip about."
"What? Francis, what are you talking about?" Chloe couldn't believe her ears, thinking she had misheard.
She was speechless, truly crying now, "Francis, you mean not to divorce, for now, right? I can wait. I'm still strong enough..."
"We're not right for each other." Francis frowned slightly, showing a touch of mercy, "Chloe, I've always seen you as a sister. I don't want to hurt you."
"I don't want that! I don't want to be just a sister. I want to be your wife!"
Chloe's voice was hoarse from crying, "What's wrong with me? Tell me, and I will change!"
"Listen, go home and think over what I've said. If you want, I'll care for you just as I do for Simone..."
"I don't want that. I don't want to be your sister, Francis. I don't!"
Her cry was loud and heart-wrenching.
Yet Francis only slightly furrowed his brow, his voice emotionless, "If that's not what you want, then we don't need to see each other anymore. I'll give you a sum of money or meet any other demand you may have."
Chloe became frantic, clenching Francis's arm tightly, crying out, "But I don't want anything but you!"
"Chloe! Contain yourself!" Francis, losing his patience, flashed a hint of irritation.
Having been groomed as the heir to the Getty Corporation, he habitually concealed his true feelings and didn't like wasting time or delving too deeply into emotional matters.
For a while, he felt indebted to Chloe. If being his wife was truly her desire, he was willing to fulfill it. But recently, things spiraled out of control, particularly his deepening feelings for Harper.
He couldn't quite tell if it was jealousy or the need to dominate that was driving him. But when it came to the bottom line, he knew one thing for sure. He wasn't ready to file for divorce just yet.
Since he didn't want a divorce, it was only fair not to lead Chloe on any longer. It would only hurt her more in the end.
With this in mind, he spoke up again, his voice cold, "Please escort Miss Musk out."
Chloe felt like the sky was collapsing around her. Francis addressed her as Miss Musk, denying any hint of affectionate familiarity. How did it come to this? She was only trying to regain what was hers, yet it felt like she had lost everything.
'What had that woman, that temptress, done to him?
'How could Francis discard our history with such conviction?'
Victor stepped up to her side and asked straightforwardly, "Miss Musk, would you like assistance, or will you manage on your own?"
Chloe wanted to lash out at him, tell him to piss off, but she had to keep herself composed in front of Francis. Xenia had advised her to stay calm, suggesting that pulling back now could be strategic, and surely, Francis wouldn't abandon her.
She rose slowly, her voice soft. "Francis, I'm sorry for being emotional. Please rest well. I'll consider what you've said, but could I perhaps have a bit more time?"
Her eyes brimmed with sorrow, her complexion deathly pale as if she might faint at any moment.
Francis softened, remembering her frail health, and relented, "Chloe, it would be for the best if you could make peace with this."
Chloe noticed the flicker of compassion in his eyes and felt her anger dissipate. Xenia was right. Francis couldn't truly want to let her go. that other woman must temporarily bewitch him.
Her plan now was to wait for the perfect moment, then eliminate that woman and the trouble brewing inside her.
"Francis, I'll take my leave. Let Victor take care of you. My driver is waiting for me downstairs."
She wiped away her tears and walked out, frail but poised.
Francis watched her leave, his gaze impenetrable, his thoughts a mystery.
Victor decided to remind him of Harper, "Mr. Getty, I believe Mrs. Getty was at the door earlier, then she rushed out."
...
Harper lingered alone downstairs. She didn't want to wait around, but she had left without her phone. She couldn't just leave without it.
The evening was chilly, the wind biting. She wanted to go back up to get her phone from Victor, but as she ascended the stairs, she ran into Chloe.
Chloe marched up to Harper, her usual fragility replaced by fury, her hand raised to slap her.
But Harper caught her wrist in a firm grip.
"Have you lost your mind?" she asked, her voice sharp as ice.
Chloe's eyes bore into Harper's without any attempt to hide her disdain.
She couldn't believe she'd been bested by such a woman, someone who used her looks to ensnare men.
Even Amelia and Whitney could do any harm to Harper.
Amelia had intended to teach Harper a lesson but instead found herself schooled.
Now, with Francis insisting he didn't want to see Amelia in Westerlyn again, Amelia's mother was already making arrangements for Amelia to go abroad.
A valuable pawn, wasted.
Chloe seethed with frustration.
Grinding her teeth, Chloe spat out, "Harper, I used to think Francis and I owed you something. Little did I know you had such ambition. How could you keep Francis's injury a secret from us?"
Harper shook off Chloe's hand with a cold laugh.
Francis had wanted to keep his hospitalization private.
With Dylan also in the hospital and Abigail's health failing, he didn't want to worry anyone since his own condition wasn't serious.
Harper knew it was their place, perhaps Abigail's or Dylan's, to question such matters, but definitely not Chloe's.
Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed. "Miss Musk, have you forgotten that I am Francis's wife? And who exactly are you to question me about my husband?"
Chloe, taken aback and furious, stomped her foot. "What are you even worth? You're just Francis's toy, a mere stand-in, and you actually think you're something special. It's pathetic!"
Harper's response was to laugh outright. "A stand-in, am I? Then why would Francis prefer to be intimate with me rather than with you? Aren't you the pathetic one?"
Seeing the certainty in Harper's face, Chloe's expression shifted.
'This wretched woman even knows that Francis had never touched me!
'Could Francis have told her that?'
Her face pale with defeat, Chloe hurled an insult, "Shameless!"
Harper's amusement was clear. "We're lawfully wedded. How is that shameless?"
"You...!"
Chloe's face twisted in rage, wishing she could just throttle Harper.
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