Chapter 49 A Real Marriage
After breakfast, Chloe and Donovan went to the hospital.
Donovan didn't need to ask Chloe where to go. The car automatically headed to the Maple Valley General Hospital.
Chloe knew about Donovan's influence and was aware that he knew everything about her mother's condition.
When they arrived at the parking lot, Chloe wanted to get out of the car.
"You better not go see my mom," Chloe said.
She wasn't quite clear on why she was scared.
"What's in the room? You don't want me to see?" Donovan asked while lighting a cigarette.
He squinted his eyes and spoke carelessly, like a world-weary man teasing a naive young woman.
And it was that look, that manner, that inexplicably attracted Chloe. Whether she flushed from wanting to argue or from shyness caused by his allure, Chloe's cheeks turned a bright red.
"Hospitals are public places, too many gossipers. It would be beneath your dignity," she countered.
Donovan looked at his watch, "Four o'clock, I'll come back to pick you up."
"Okay, sounds good," Chloe exhaled a sigh of relief.
It seemed that today, he hadn't intended to come in to see her mother. His offer to drive her was merely out of obligation to Samuel's commands.
Chloe then headed to the neurology department.
The corridor was packed as Chloe noticed the bright lights and cameras, unsure of what was being filmed. Just as she was about to pass through the crowd, Chloe suddenly caught sight of a woman with a seductive figure, dressed in a dark green gown and holding a cigarette, exuding an indescribable allure and charm. It took her a moment to register - it was Paisley.
Turned out Paisley was shooting a movie there.
Chloe didn’t have a high opinion of Paisley, always feeling that she was extremely calculating and that one could easily fall into her traps without caution.
Rushing, Chloe hurried into her mother's hospital room. To her surprise, today her mother's room was bustling with activity, not only were Jacob and Brayden present, but there was also a middle-aged woman that appeared to be a caregiver.
"Did Chloe arrive?" The caregiver saw Chloe and said politely, "I'm your mother's caregiver. My name is Riley White."
"Was it Dr. Johnson who hired you?" Chloe's heart warmed.
Although she had only glanced briefly, she could tell that Riley White was skilled and professional, having just finished tending to her mother's bedsores.
"Wasn't it you?" Riley White was clearly puzzled.
"No, not me."
"Chloe, wasn’t it you who asked Dr. Johnson to find someone for mom?" Jacob also looked at Chloe with a questioning glance.
"It was Mr. Blake who arranged for Riley White, our most expensive caregiver, at thirty thousand a month," Dr. Johnson said as he entered.
"Mr. Blake?" Both Jacob and Chloe were surprised.
And Brayden seemed dejected. After all, he wasn't the one who had secured the caregiver.
"Yes, didn't you know?" Dr. Johnson elaborated.
A wave of warmth flooded Chloe’s heart.
After handing over a few care instructions to Riley White, Dr. Johnson left.
"This Donovan is a real enigma. Who knows what he’s up to? Chloe, has he made any excessive demands of you recently?" Jacob said, but his comment was intended for Brayden, making it clear that the relationship between Donovan and Chloe was purely transactional, reassuring Brayden that he could pursue Chloe without any reservations.
"Don't talk nonsense," Chloe dismissed Jacob's attempts to stir the pot with indifference.
Brayden gave Chloe's hand a little tug. "Come outside. I need to talk to you."
Chloe followed him out.
"It’s been a while, Miss Baker," she said with an easy grace outside her mother's hospital room.
"The classes are over. You don't need to call me your teacher anymore," Brayden responded generously.
Brayden had seen Chloe several times but never found the right moment to ask her some pressing questions, especially after what had happened last time at the training course.
He had heard from Jacob that Chloe visited their mother every Saturday. Brayden had dragged Jacob along. otherwise, Jacob wouldn't bother to see his mom.
"What's on your mind, Mr. Perez?" Chloe asked.
"If you're short on money, you can tell me. I know you needed money when we didn't know each other, but it's not too late now. Once you get your CPA license, your worth is going to change. Why would you choose a marriage of convenience with Donovan?" Brayden said through clenched teeth.
At the mention of a marriage of convenience, Chloe’s brow furrowed slightly.
She suspected that Jacob had guessed from Donovan's attitude and, failing in his blackmail attempt, was trying to set her up with Brayden.
He might have even insinuated that her marriage to Donovan was one in name only. She didn't want to get caught in an awkward love triangle while married.
"Mr. Perez, the truth is, my relationship with Donovan is not as you think. We have a legitimate marriage," Chloe said, managing a small smile at Brayden.
Brayden's brows knitted together tightly, and he couldn’t help but grasp Chloe's hand. "Chloe."
"Mr. Perez, I'm married."
With that, Chloe turned back to her mother's room.
She needed to set the record straight, lest the rumors of an agreed marriage reach Samuel's ears. After all, it was a small world.
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