Chapter 29 Please Let Go
Throughout the week, Chloe made an extra effort to keep Samuel happy. With Samuel in good spirits and Donovan occasionally sending her money – and her not minding the times when he didn't – Chloe had enough for her computer. On Sunday, she asked Donovan for time off to attend a CPA review course.
However, at the review course's hallway, Chloe ran into Ellie, a former colleague from her past. "Are you also studying for the CPA exam? I didn't see you here before."
Encountering Ellie, Chloe felt a tinge of guilt since she had ended up filling a position that had knocked Ellie out of the running. "I just started at a new company, and enrolled in the course this Wednesday," Ellie said casually while sipping her coffee.
"Did you get a new job?"
Ellie replied nonchalantly, "Mr. Blake referred me to an accounting firm where the salary is twice what it was at New East International Group, and once I pass the exam, I'll be an official accountant."
Hearing this made Chloe feel somewhat relieved. Just then, Brayden walked over, and Ellie's face lit up. She had come specifically to see Brayden, who was a senior from Pearl Peak Institute of Technology, sharing the same advisor and having met at several seminars. Ellie had long held an affinity for Brayden.
"Brayden, I bought you a cup of coffee," Ellie said eagerly as she extended the extra cup to him.
Brayden shook his head: "Thanks, but I can't drink coffee. It keeps me up. No need."
After declining the coffee, Brayden furrowed his brows and pulled Chloe aside. "Nothing happened with Donovan last time, right?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
Chloe shook her head, "No, nothing happened. Why do you ask?"
"I think he's pretty aggressive. I'm just glad you're okay. I was actually worried he might hit you!" Brayden recalled the scene where Donovan threw his shirt out of the car.
He looked at Chloe's face and asked, "What's your relationship with Donovan? Why did you get into his car that day?"
Chloe was taken aback by the question. After all, her marital status with Donovan was supposed to be a secret. Even though Donovan didn't seem to care too much about it later, she could sense that Donovan and Brayden were at odds. If she shared their personal affairs with Brayden, Donovan would surely be upset.
"We're colleagues at work, and friends in our personal lives," Chloe said, deciding to lightly skirt around the subject.
"Just friends?" Brayden seemed to relax and even appeared to be happy upon hearing this.
"Yes," Chloe nodded, thinking to herself, 'Sorry, to avoid upsetting Mr. Blake, I have to keep this from you for now.'
The two of them continued to talk quietly on the side. Ellie watched them closely, clenching her fists. 'Why does Chloe have to compete with me for everything?'
Ellie sneakily took a photo of Chloe and sent it to her half-brother, Ethan Roberts, along with a message: "Do you like this girl? She's my classmate. Pretty, isn't she? Take a look when you come to pick me up after class tonight."
Ethan sent back a laughing emoji. He agreed. Ellie knew Ethan was a notorious playboy!
The bell rang, signaling the start of class, and the students filed into the classroom. Although Brayden was lecturing, his gaze kept drifting toward Chloe. This did not escape Ellie's notice, and her resentment grew.
After class, Chloe stayed behind in the classroom to read for a while. When she descended the steps to the main hall, she was approached by a thuggish-looking man who reached out to touch her face.
"You're pretty cute," he said.
Chloe regarded him coolly. "Who are you? There are cameras here. This is harassment."
"Ethan, what are you doing?" Ellie pretended to dissuade Ethan while standing still, secretly enjoying the escalating commotion.
"Come on, let's go eat. My treat," Ethan Roberts said, reaching out to pull Chloe towards him.
Chloe responded with a sharp slap across Ethan's cheek.
Ethan's face instantly burned with pain, his eyes bloodshot. "You dare to slap me? You have no idea who you're messing with."
Ellie, seeing the confrontation about to escalate, felt an inexplicable thrill.
Just as Ethan raised his hand to retaliate with a slap of his own, someone grabbed his wrist.
"This is a place of learning, not your personal playground. Stop it!" The speaker was Brayden, who had just come downstairs and found the lobby in chaos, where a thug was harassing Chloe.
Seeing Brayden stand up for Chloe only made Ellie angrier.
"Who the hell are you? Her lover boy?" Ethan Roberts sneered.
"Watch your mouth," Brayden's eyes flared with fury.
"You jerk!" Ethan Roberts said, pulling out a switchblade from his shoe.
"Watch out!" Chloe shouted when she saw the weapon.
Instinctively, she grabbed her bag and swung it, hitting Ethan Roberts squarely in the head. The zipper of her heavy, book-laden backpack connected, and blood poured from Ethan Roberts' wound. Onlookers quickly dialed 911.
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