Chapter 165 She's Just an Outsider
Chloe had been setting off fireworks in the yard, refusing to return to the living room.
"Why isn't she coming in?" Donovan took off his coat outside and changed into his loungewear.
"Madam likes to play, so let her play for a while," Maya said.
Donovan observed her figure crouching in the yard: she probably didn't enjoy playing, but rather feared coming in to be mocked by him.
If she hadn't done anything wrong, why fear what others might say about her?
During dinner, Chloe and Donovan didn't sit together either.
Donovan sat at one end of the long dining table, while Chloe sat at the other end, indicating the hosts' positions but also keeping the farthest distance.
"Here's to the first year. Cheers," Donovan's gaze passed over Chloe and scanned the people present.
Chloe didn't understand what he meant by "the first year," but she still drank a large glass of red wine, her face gradually flushing.
"Chloe, come here." After dinner, Mom called Chloe to her room.
Mom's room was on the first floor. After dinner, Layla went home to celebrate, leaving only a few servants from the Blake residence.
Grandpa had also gone back to his room to rest.
"What's up?" Chloe asked after closing the door.
Mom took out a bright red outfit from her suitcase.
"Chloe, I bought you this. Try it on, see if it looks good," Mom said with a smile.
"In the blink of an eye, I'm already twenty-four," Chloe muttered as she changed clothes.
"Yeah, isn't Donovan thirty-two this year?" Mom said. "I remember when he was twenty-five."
Chloe hesitated for a moment. "That's... about right."
"You don't know how old he is?" Mom asked.
Chloe calmly replied, "In this modern age, who remembers ages? I often forget my own age, so how could I remember his?"
"Oh, you. Donovan is getting older, have you ever considered..." Mom began.
Chloe knew what Mom was going to say, so she quickly changed the subject. "Mom, how do you think I look in this outfit?"
"Beautiful, you look good in anything."
Chloe looked at herself in the mirror. The red loungewear could also be worn out, but Chloe felt that wearing a full red outfit out would be strange.
After leaving Mom's bedroom, Chloe didn't see Donovan in the living room; he probably went upstairs.
Chloe crouched down to play with the cat. The TV was on, fireworks were loud outside, but Chloe was not afraid of being alone in the living room.
"You're here? I'll open the door for you," Donovan came down the stairs while talking on the phone.
He took the remote control for the front door and opened it.
"Who's here?" Chloe asked, looking up at him.
Before Donovan could answer, a cheerful voice came, "Donovan, happy holidays. Also, wish Grandpa a happy holiday."
Paisley's voice made Chloe inexplicably uneasy.
Paisley seemed to have just seen Chloe squatting over there, then she sat on the couch next to Donovan.
Donovan casually picked up the remote control and changed the channel.
"Oh, Donovan, my new drama is airing on prime time during the holidays. Tune in to the Maple Valley Lifestyle Channel," Paisley said to Donovan with a smile.
Donovan caught a glimpse of Chloe playing with the cat toy, seemingly unconcerned about everything happening around him.
"Is that so?" Donovan began searching for the lifestyle channel.
His body unconsciously leaned slightly toward Paisley.
"That's the one," Paisley pointed at the screen. "The one filmed at Maple Valley People's Hospital, where you also met Chloe."
Donovan remained silent.
Bringing this up reminded him of Chloe and Brayden holding hands at the hospital.
"Donovan, I have something to tell you," Paisley leaned in close to Donovan's ear.
"What?" Donovan asked.
Paisley gestured toward Chloe with her lips, indicating that it wasn't a good time to talk with her around.
"Chloe, why don't you go upstairs first," Donovan said to Chloe.
Hearing her name, Chloe raised her head suspiciously, seeing Donovan and Paisley staring at her as if she were just an outsider.
"Okay," Chloe said, then turned and went upstairs without looking back downstairs.
When a couple is chatting, she's just in the way here.
She really lacks insight, being a third wheel downstairs.
She's always been an outsider.
Donovan's gaze remained on her: in a red outfit, from behind, with a slim waist and plump buttocks, swaying gracefully, somehow stirring an itch in Donovan's heart.
As Chloe turned the corner and disappeared from view, Donovan finally tore his gaze away from her.
"Donovan, I lied to you about something," Paisley said.
After all, Paisley was an actress; tears came easily to her.
"What is it?" Donovan asked her.
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