Chapter 34 So He Was a Substitute
The test for Economic Law was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, from 5:30 to 7:30. Chloe arrived at the testing center only to realize she had forgotten her license. She couldn't remember where she had put it. She was extremely reluctant to trouble Donovan, but without his help, she wouldn't be able to take the exam.
She dialed Donovan's number, requesting, "Babe, could you help me find my license? I forgot to bring it." Though anxious, she tried to keep her voice low while talking to Donovan.
"Where's your brain?" was Donovan's unruffled response.
"I left it, apparently. It's super urgent. Please, I'm begging you," Chloe pleaded.
"Hold on," Donovan responded, hanging up the phone.
Donovan addressed Paisley, who sat on the couch, "Wait for me downstairs, will you?"
"What's the matter?" Paisley asked with feigned concern.
"Chloe has an exam, and she forgot her license," Donovan explained before heading up the stairs.
"Really? Well, you better go find it then," Paisley replied with a feigned smile.
Paisley had come over to the Blake residence that day under the pretense of visiting Samuel. it was perfect timing since Samuel was napping.
She had intended to chat with Donovan, and with Samuel out of the picture, she had the perfect opportunity.
Internally, Paisley twisted with a mixture of emotions as Chloe sent Donovan an errand, although she tried not to show it.
Having searched high and low to no avail, Donovan called in Maya to aid in the search. After all, women knew best where other women might store their belongings.
On the balcony, Donovan stumbled upon a leather suitcase belonging to Chloe. He effortlessly cracked the code to open it.
He didn't find Chloe's license but discovered a worn notebook.
Something felt off to Donovan, especially because Chloe had hidden it in such a secluded spot. He picked it up to take a closer look.
A photo fell out. He picked it up to see an attractive man surrounded by a group of kids – the man was strikingly handsome.
"Sir, I found Chloe's license. It was in the secret pocket of her old canvas bag. The one she washed, it's in the bathroom," Maya said, her cheerful voice ringing out behind Donovan, jarring him from his thoughts.
"Take it to her. I'll send you the address. Get a taxi," Donovan instructed.
"Sure," Maya replied before hurrying downstairs.
Passing through the living room, Paisley noticed Maya's haste and questioned, "What's the rush, Maya? Where are you headed?"
"Oh, Chloe's license turned up. I'm about to deliver it to her," Maya responded before practically sprinting out the door.
Paisley pondered, 'If the license was found, then why hasn't Donovan come back downstairs?'
Meanwhile, Donovan upstairs was engrossed in the diary. It was hefty, documenting around three years' worth of entries.
The diary belonged to someone named Andrew Price, whose name and home address were written on the cover.
This was the first time Donovan had ever heard the name Andrew Price.
Three years ago, Andrew Price met a girl pure as newly fallen snow, her eyes curved like crescents and her smile radiant. He fell for her at first sight.
As their love blossomed, they attended study sessions together, dined together in the cafeteria, built snowballs in the winter, and swam together in the summer.
They were the most harmonious couple in the world.
The girl, Chloe, even met Andrew's parents. They were simply waiting for the day they could get married.
But then, upon graduating, Andrew had to leave for a teaching assignment in the mountains.
Almost every diary entry Andrew wrote bore a special name: Chloe.
Andrew's love letters to Chloe were passionate and heartfelt, filled with his compassionate desire to help the children in the mountains and his empathy for the suffering of others.
In the last diary entry, Andrew had written only half a page before the handwriting changed to Chloe's: "We planned to get married right after graduation, but you are never coming back!"
Andrew's greatest wish was to provide two hundred computers for the schoolchildren.
Chloe's annotated comment promised: "I will help fulfill your dream."
Donovan's mind slowly replayed the events——the day Samuel arrived, Chloe returned disheveled and unresponsive to calls. He offered her to move into Samuel's house, and surprisingly, she haggled over the price—a first. If his hunch was correct, that money wasn't for her mother but for her late first love.
As he realized this, Donovan clenched his fist.
For the first time in his life, he felt like someone had taken advantage of him.
No wonder she had been so sweet these past few days!
Her niceness had been a facade. She was cozying up to him to get money for her deceased ex-boyfriend!
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
