After talking with Adrianna last night, Chloe felt more at peace. It felt like she had found a solution. Her mind became more focused on one point: Darren. Adrianna had supported her relationship with Darren from the beginning compared to Leonel. Although her feelings couldn't be denied, she realized—just now, in fact—that she still had some lingering feelings for Leonel. It was foolish. She was especially considering how much her ex-husband had hurt her: the betrayal, the frustrating behavior, and his treatment of Chloe in the past.
Based on this, Chloe kept her distance from Leonel. She didn't care what actions he might take or how he tried to disrupt her life. Chloe continued living her life as if Leonel wasn't a disturbance. Although she grew tired of it and sometimes needed the help of others to push Leonel away, she couldn't avoid him forever, right?
Chloe hoped for Darren's return as soon as possible. The news he gave her was brief. Chloe tried to understand; perhaps her behavior before Darren left for Surabaya triggered how he was treating her now. She attempted to be patient and understanding, determined to improve herself and her relationship with Darren.
A week it was passed.
The news of Darren's return made Chloe happy again. Even though it was just a short message and their chat conversations were not extensive. It differed from their chats before Darren went to his parent's house. It felt wrong to ask too many questions on the phone or through messages. After Darren returned, Chloe would surely ask him everything.
Darren: [I'm coming back tomorrow. I'm still getting ready. If I contact you during the journey, I'll let you know. Take care of your health, Chloe.]
Chloe had memorized every word displayed on her phone screen from reading it many times. She smiled faintly. Her heart also started to warm up. At least when Darren met her, he would have much to say. What else made Chloe happy? Well, she could meet and tightly hug her beloved. Her day wouldn't be empty and certainly be more colorful because Darren would be back. Whether it was spending time together finishing work and commuting or simply having lunch together. It made Chloe happy. Just imagining it, Chloe couldn't wait to meet and embrace Darren.
Tonight, even though it was late, there was a glimmer of hope that Chloe began to plant, hoping it would grow stronger. She let the breeze tangle her loose hair for a moment. From the balcony of her two-story house, she also enjoyed the beautiful view of the night.
"You have to choose between the two of them. If you still have feelings for Leonel, then go back to him! But never blame the circumstances, talk, or confide in me about how Leonel treats you again, causing you to be hurt once more and possibly even worse. Have you ever thought, let's fantasize, Chloe? What if... Ester hadn't done anything? Truly, she was a faithful snake sitting by Leonel's side and continuously tempting him until you two divorced. Would Leonel now chase after your love? I don't think so, Sa," Adrianna said with a determined look. "Leonel is behaving like this because he feels guilty. But it's a different kind of guilt. We don't know the future of you, me, Leonel, Darren, and everyone else on this Earth. But at least you've experienced something bad. Don't you want genuine happiness? But if you don't want to get hurt, start a new chapter with someone new,"
That statement always danced in Chloe's mind, leaving her feeling torn. Adrianna's words were not wrong. Chloe thought they were very accurate. She couldn't deny that she felt comfortable with Darren. What hadn't Darren done for her? If Chloe were to compare, Darren had sacrificed too much for her. So why was she still hesitating? However, there were still lingering feelings toward her ex-husband's transformation. Chloe felt haunted by the dilemma of choosing between the two, especially now.
Not wanting to dwell in negative thoughts, Chloe reached for her flat object on the nightstand and scrolled through her phone to find Adrianna's name. She asked Adrianna to come to her house urgently. More than talking to Adrianna was needed for Chloe.
[Can you come to my house now?]
Send.
While waiting for Adrianna's response, Chloe walked toward the balcony. She stood with half of her body leaning against the railing. Chloe felt relieved, often enjoying the view from that tall building as if she were appreciating the entire world. Then she took a slow breath, trying to calm her mind and the dilemma in her heart, but it had been half an hour, and Adrianna had not yet responded to her message.
However, there has yet to be a response from Adrianna. Suddenly, a new message appeared on Chloe's phone that morning.
Ding!
Chloe quickly reached for the flat object to see who notified her. She hoped it was Adrianna because Chloe still wanted to talk to her more. Especially now that her mind was in chaos and she needed some enlightenment. It seemed that Chloe couldn't make up her mind.
However, what Chloe hoped for didn't match reality. It was Darren. He sent Chloe a message stating that he was on his way back. Darren would hurry home to Beverly Hills and resume his usual work, especially to meet Chloe.
Darren: I'm heading to the airport. It is the last flight. I still have some business to attend to this afternoon. I see you're online, Sa. It's already late. Get enough rest, Chloe.
A sweet smile formed on Chloe's face. She looked happy when Darren informed her about his return, which was currently underway.
[Take care on the road. I'll be waiting for your return here. Don't overthink about me. Take care of yourself too, Darren. If you're not tired, can we meet tomorrow?]
Send.
Chloe held her phone close, smiling, taking a slow breath, and vividly remembering Darren's face and voice. She couldn't wait to meet her lover, who had been separated for a week due to distance and other matters. Darren had to go to his parent's house in Santa Monica for something.
But Chloe's thoughts turned gloomy when she remembered her message to Adrianna, which received no response from the girl. She hoped Adrianna would quickly reply to her message because she wanted someone to talk to. But unfortunately, Adrianna seemed busy and had yet to answer or even read the news.
"Just wait; if we meet later, I'll give you a lesson for making me annoyed, waiting for a response to my message that you didn't even bother to reply to," Chloe grumbled, looking at her message to Adrianna that hadn't been read, let alone replied to by the girl.
Wait.
Why was she so foolish? What was going through her mind? Adrianna was in New York City, Chloe! It was Beverly Hills. How could Adrianna come to her house now? Did she have a magical bag that could open doors anywhere? Not to mention. Oh God, Tisa was indeed losing her mind. Adrianna was probably already asleep. Tomorrow was a workday, and Adrianna would be busy with her activities at the kindergarten.
Chloe lightly slapped her forehead. She cursed her stupidity, which turned out to be quite outrageous.
She pocketed her phone that had been in her grasp. Adrianna would probably laugh at her foolishness tomorrow. But she wasn't ready to leave her balcony just yet. Chloe looked around, admiring the beautiful lights as far as her eyes could see. The house she lived in was located in a high area. She deliberately chose this location because it reminded her of one of the villas she used to visit with Agatha Theodore.
From this height, she could see how the lights of the surrounding residents illuminated the area, adding to the beauty of the night view just like she was doing now. She surveyed the scenery of the entire complex where she currently resided. The house she lived in had an idea that made her very comfortable. Especially the tall trees she could almost reach. But that was only a perspective from the view that entered her eyes.
Chloe calmed herself again, choosing to close her eyes for a moment. Even though Adrianna was absent and she felt foolish for still having doubts in her heart, she had to make a decision. She was startled when the flat object vibrated again. However, it wasn't a text message but a phone call that caught her off guard. She wondered momentarily who the caller could be at this late hour. Could it be Darren? Excitedly, she grabbed the phone from her pocket, hoping to see Darren's name on the screen. But it made her widen her eyes in surprise instead. Leonel's name was displayed in the call.
Chloe shook her head softly. Why was her ex-husband calling her for no reason at all? Had she been neglecting Leonel all this time? Completely disregarding his existence? Her behavior also gave the impression that Leonel was a nuisance. Chloe didn't want to answer the call, but she couldn't help it. Agatha's face haunted her. If it weren't for Agatha Theodore, Chloe would be reluctant to respond to anything related to Leonel. She still felt uneasy.
"Hello, are you busy now?" Leonel asked through the connected call to Chloe. But before Chloe could answer, she scanned her surroundings, and her eyes stopped at one of the silver cars in front of her house's gate. She recognized the owner of the car, none other than her ex-husband Leonel. The man seemed to look up toward where Chloe was. It made Chloe take a step back and enter her room.
What does he want here? Tisa wondered to herself. She also gripped her phone tightly. There was frustration she was holding back due to Leonel's behavior tonight. How dare he!!!
"Hello, why are you silent? How about we go out now?" Leonel asked again through the call. But Chloe didn't want to answer him at all. Once again, Leonel stared in the direction where she believed Chloe was just now. "Chloe?"
But before she could respond, Chloe immediately ended the call. She didn't want to have anything to do with Leonel anymore.
"Oh my God, I wanted to take her to see the beauty of Beverly Hills at night," Leonel complained.
***
This morning, Chloe got ready to head to the cafe. Although there were lingering questions about Leonel's presence last night, Chloe ignored them. It's not like she wanted Leonel to come to her, right? Besides, the man seemed to have nothing better to do. Chloe also wanted to return to her postponed activities because she took a day off yesterday. That's right. Leonel's presence around her often made her lose concentration. Even though she didn't entertain his disruptions, the discomfort still lingered.
The aftermath of her day off had a noticeable effect. She felt more relaxed and refreshed because she could enjoy fresh air without being chased by work.
Still getting ready in front of the mirror, Chloe suddenly received another notification from the flat object she had placed on her vanity table. Initially, Chloe was reluctant to see who the sender was. She still remembered Leonel's disturbances last night. She suspected that the incoming message on her phone was from him.
But her curiosity outweighed her indifference, so Chloe reached for the flat object and saw who had sent the morning message. If it was Adrianna, she was sure she wouldn't want to reply to it at all. They could talk on the phone, right?
However, Chloe's assumption was wrong. It was Darren who sent her the message that morning.
"Darren?" Chloe whispered. Even from his last message last night, Darren still needs to reply. Maybe he was busy with airport matters? This morning, Darren informed her about his presence in Beverly Hills.
Tring!
"How have you been in the past week?" Chloe read the message from Darren, and a slight smile appeared on her face. Because of Darren's concern, she immediately typed a reply to his message.
"I'm fine, Darren. How about you? Are you working today? I suggest you take a rest." Send.
Chloe wrote her message and sent it to Darren. She was worried about Darren's condition. Exceptionally since he had just returned from Surabaya last night, he might have been exhausted if he had to go to work this morning. But there was a furrow on her forehead. Did Darren not mention her request to meet today? Was it true?
Tring!
"Maybe I won't work today. Maybe tomorrow. I still feel tired, Sa. But I want to drop you off and pick you up while you work. Are you ready? I'll pick you up this morning, but before that, I want to talk about something."
Chloe's heart raced even more as she saw Darren's message, which talked about something to her.
"Of course, I'm ready."
Tring!
"Come down. I'm downstairs now!"
Her eyes widened as she read Darren's message, realizing he was already in front of her house. She quickly tidied herself up as beautifully as possible. She remembered to spray her favorite perfume a little bit. Chloe hurried downstairs.
"Brad, I'm being picked up by Darren," Chloe said as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Her driver was ready to take her this morning.
"Yes, ma'am. Mr. Darren met me earlier."
Chloe's smile widened. "I'll let you know if I need to be picked up."
"Understood, ma'am. Hopefully, there won't be any messages for pickup."
"What?" Chloe blinked in disbelief.
"Yes, ma'am. You must miss him because you haven't seen your lover for a week."
Chloe didn't expect Brad to tease her now, especially with Tia and Peni, who still needed to leave for the cafe. They all seemed to be smiling because of Budi's comment.
"You guys," Chloe pretended to pout, although she wasn't at all. Her face emitted happiness again. "I'll go now."
Left with their happy smiles, the three people Chloe trusted also prayed for her happiness. Despite her strong and somewhat indecisive feelings, Chloe deserved happiness, right? That's what Peni hoped for shortly. After all, Darren was the best thing in Chloe's life.
Seeing Chloe's arrival, Darren immediately opened the car door for his lover and greeted her warmly that morning. Likewise, Chloe settled herself in Darren's car. After a week of not seeing each other, they hugged and felt comfortable being close.
"What do you want to talk about?" Chloe asked Darren, who looked at her for a moment before smiling.
"I'll tell you later. Be patient, Chloe." Darren felt the urge to pinch Chloe's cute nose playfully. "But for now, we should hurry to the restaurant. I'm sure you haven't had breakfast, right?" Darren always seemed to guess correctly regarding things related to Chloe, so she nodded softly in agreement.
Unbeknownst to them, Leonel was following Chloe's every move, and he felt annoyed when he found out that Darren had returned from Surabaya and Chloe was going with him this morning. Seeing the closeness between Darren and Chloe, Leonel felt frustrated and quickly followed the car driven by Darren.
"Damn it! Why did you come back and ruin my plans to get closer to Chloe?" Leonel grumbled as he angrily hit the steering wheel of his car. But Leonel didn't want to give up now. He continued tailing Darren's car, now leaving Chloe's residence.
Eventually, Darren's car stopped at one of their favorite restaurants for breakfast.
Upon arrival, Darren immediately exited the car and opened the door for Chloe to enter the restaurant together. He didn't forget his special treatment, which made Chloe widen her smile even more. Moreover, how he treated her was so special, holding her hand as they entered the restaurant, just like they always did. Also, the employees and security guards there were already familiar with the couple.
"Good morning," Darren greeted the staff, and Chloe responded by bowing her head.
Seeing Darren's extraordinary treatment towards Chloe at that moment, especially when he held hands with his ex-wife, Leonel felt highly frustrated. He felt an urge to punch Darren, but what could he do? He was no longer Chloe's husband but her ex-husband.
Leonel didn't stay idle; he entered the restaurant and sat near the couple. Leonel grew even more frustrated and jealous as he saw Darren and Chloe becoming closer after Darren's return from Surabaya. Leonel appeared desperate after all his efforts to get closer to Chloe, gain her attention, and try to improve himself in her presence seemed to be pointless.
"What would you like, sir and miss?" the waiter asked Darren and Chloe, who promptly picked up the menu and ordered their desired food. Meanwhile, Leonel occasionally saw Chloe laughing that morning. In contrast, when he could meet her, she seemed reluctant and behaved differently compared to when she was with him.
Jealousy welled up in Leonel's heart that morning, and he felt frustrated. But what could he do? He was no longer anyone to her. He had to accept this disgusting sight. Leonel also witnessed an intimate scene that angrily burned him as Darren tucked Chloe's hair behind her ear.
"How was your business in Santa Monica? Is it finished?" Chloe asked Darren, who suddenly fell silent. He wanted to discuss this with Chloe but needed help figuring out where to start. He couldn't just blurt it out; he was worried it would panic and confuse Chloe.
"It's finished, but there are a few things I need to do with you to complete everything," Darren said to Chloe, embracing her body and drawing her closer to his chest. Chloe continued because being in Darren's embrace was incredibly comfortable.
"Oh? What is it about, and why must I be involved?" Chloe asked again. The restaurant Darren chose provided enough privacy for them. They weren't too disturbed by the people around them. Darren, trying to calm his emotions at the moment, decided to kiss the top of Chloe's head. He loved the woman in his arms so much. He loved her deeply. But he didn't want to worry her about the sudden news he would give her.
Before Darren could answer, the waiter who had offered the menu earlier approached with their orders. It allowed Darren to think about what he could say to Chloe. He still had fears about their relationship.
"Thank you," Chloe and Darren said almost simultaneously, exchanging glances and smiles.
Leonel, who witnessed Chloe and Darren's growing closeness, felt his jealousy burn even hotter.
He had hoped that Chloe still had him on her mind, but it turned out that after Darren's return, Chloe seemed to be getting closer to her ex-husband.
"Damn it!!!"