Edward took a moment to breathe. Any layperson would think the same as Hans. But deep down in his heart, he believed that Chloe’s assistant had spoken the truth.
“This time, I trust Samuel, Hans. He convinced me that he doesn’t want Chloe to target the wrong person and get into bigger trouble. And there’s something else you need to know.”
Hans raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
“This is about Damian Dimitri,” Edward replied with a hint of reluctance. It was clear that he didn’t like mentioning his cousin’s name.
“What else do you have to do with that damn kid, Ed? He’s always been a thorn in your side.”
Edward laughed for a moment. Hans knew very well that Edward and Damian had been at odds for a long time.
“I don’t know how it started, but somehow Damian dared to approach my wife and work together to destroy me. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?”
“Damn crazy!” Hans exclaimed loudly. “I’ve been telling you all along, why don’t you just put him in jail? That guy really enjoys causing trouble for you.”
Edward responded with a slight smile to Hans’s frustration. “Never mind, for Damian’s matter, I’ll handle it myself. What’s important now is that I want you to move quickly on the investigation of Nathalie’s death and also about Chloe’s birth mother. I really hope everything can be revealed and resolved soon.”
Hans nodded in understanding. He stood up, getting ready to leave Edward’s room. But before he left, he spoke one last time.
“As for the diary, I’ll start searching for it tomorrow. Just send me the clear address.”
“Alright,” Edward replied. “I’ll wait for good news from you, Hans.”
****
As promised earlier in the morning, Edward picked up Chloe after work. He waited for a while in the VIP parking area, and finally, the woman he was waiting for arrived and got into the car.
Without feeling awkward and without saying much, Edward leaned forward with confidence, landing a kiss on Chloe’s cheek and lips.
“Did you have a good day?” he opened the conversation.
Chloe kept her gaze straight ahead. While tidying her hair, she nodded and replied shortly, “Not really.” Her face seemed as expressionless as usual.
Being reluctant to engage in lengthy conversation, Chloe chose silence, asking Edward to focus on the road.
Even when they both arrived home and entered their room, silence still hung between them. Edward wasn’t surprised; this woman often acted cold like this.
“What’s wrong with you?” Edward asked, puzzled, as Chloe finished showering. She seemed serious, choosing clothes in the walk-in closet. “Is something bothering you? Work? Or-”
“I’m fine,” Chloe quickly interrupted. “Maybe just tired.”
Edward nodded in understanding. It could be true what she said.
“Oh, really?” Then Edward approached Chloe’s position and pushed her body until she leaned against the wall. “If you’re tired, that means you won’t be able to satisfy me tonight?”
Chloe raised an eyebrow. She responded lazily, “Stop teasing me.” She allowed Edward’s hands to continue caressing the exposed parts of her body. “I’m not in the mood to play,” she added.
Edward chuckled softly. “Honestly, I’m not teasing you. Weren’t you the one who said yesterday that from now on until three months from now, you’ll be ready to please me whenever I ask?”
Damn! Chloe cursed herself. She must have been heavily drunk or lost consciousness when she said that. How stupid was she to surrender to the man she hated?
On the other hand, Edward was still upset about what happened today. If he remembered how Chloe deliberately set him up, he wanted to get angry. But he held back the anger when recalling Samuel’s words from earlier this afternoon.
“Whatever happens, please don’t hurt your wife. Truly, she did all of this because she loves Mrs. Nathalie so much.”
Edward nodded in understanding.
“Let alone hurting her, I don’t even have the slightest desire to let her go. But it seems Chloe will leave me in the future.”
“There is one thing you can try to keep Mrs. Chloe bound to you and prevent her from leaving you, Mister Edward.”
Edward furrowed his brows. “What should I do?”
“Get Mrs. Chloe pregnant as soon as possible.”
“Pregnant Chloe?” Edward repeated Samuel’s suggestion.
“Yes, when she’s carrying your child. Of course, Mrs. Chloe will think a thousand times before leaving the father of her future child. Just so you know, Mrs. Chloe doesn’t want her children to have the same fate as her, where both parents are separated, leaving her and Nathalie lacking love.”
Upon hearing this, Edward made up his mind. He would never allow Chloe to betray him, let alone leave him. His current goal was clear: to make her pregnant, no matter what it took.
Meanwhile, Chloe tried to ignore her husband’s words and attempted to leave. But Edward only stuck closer to her.
“Where are you going? Do you dare to refuse me?”
Without hesitation, Edward kissed Chloe again, teasing her persistently and being aggressive.
Chloe didn’t respond to what Edward was doing to her. She tried to keep her sanity, not falling into his provocation.
“Ed, I need to put on-”
Not yet finished responding, Edward moved his hand again, tracing the exposed parts of Chloe’s body. He pulled away the towel covering her body, intentionally teasing the sensitive areas of his wife’s body. His actions made Chloe’s heartbeat even more uncontrollable.
“Ed…” Chloe whispered softly. The look in her eyes signaled for the man to stop his actions. But, it seemed useless because Edward continued to tease her. He brought his lips to kiss her cheek, then down to the hollow of her neck, leaving a moist trail behind.
“I don’t like being rejected,” Edward whispered. “You don’t need to reciprocate; let me adore your body.”
Finally, Chloe’s defense crumbled, and she surrendered. Without a word, Edward lifted Chloe’s body, carrying her to their bed. He did what he had wanted to do since earlier, hoping that after this, Chloe would truly conceive their child.