He Cheated I Rose Making Him Regret Everything (Chloe and Arthur) novel Chapter 538

Chapter 538 Returning Home

“Don’t apologize,” Eugene said quietly, his gaze steady on her face. “Not to me.”

Chloe offered a small nod. “I’ll try. I know those memories matter. I know you matter.”

9 Finished

A soft knock interrupted before Eugene could respond. The door opened, and Oralia walked in carrying a massive bouquet of flowers–so large it nearly obscured her face. Melinda followed close behind, still in the heels and tailored blazer she’d worn straight from a runway show downtown.

“Hey. How are you feeling?” Oralia rushed to the bedside, then stopped short. Her eyes landed on the bandages, the bruises peeking out from beneath the hospital gown, and her face crumpled. A choked sound escaped her, and then the tears came.

Chloe rolled her eyes–gently, but she rolled them. “I’m not dead yet. What’s with the waterworks?”

The bluntness of it cut through the tension.

Oralia let out a wet laugh and wiped her face with the back of her hand. She leaned against the bed and pressed her cheek to Chloe’s fingers. “God, don’t ever do that to me again. I can’t handle it. My heart can’t take it.”

“Okay. No more scares.” Chloe’s voice softened. She lifted her hand and patted Oralia’s head, affection clear in the gesture. “I’ll be out of here soon.”

Melinda set her things down on the side table, her movements careful, controlled. She was holding it together–just barely–but doing her best to look natural about it.

“Zachary sent this,” she said, placing a small wrapped box beside the flowers. “He’s buried in that equity transfer you set up before the accident. Said when you’re back, you owe him a raise. Non–negotiable.”

Chloe laughed–a real one, short but genuine. “Sounds about right. Tell him done.”

The mood in the room lifted. Oralia started chattering about something trivial, Melinda chimed in, and for a few minutes, it felt almost normal.

Eugene watched Chloe laugh and talk with them, watched the tension ease from her shoulders, and quietly slipped out,

In the hallway, he lit a cigarette, Leaned against the wall. Let the smoke curl up toward the ceiling.

Robert was there too, standing a few feet away, back pressed to the wall, hands in his pockets.

“Not going in?” Eugene asked.

Robert glanced up at him. “Waiting till they settle down.”

Eugene almost smiled. The kid always acted so grown–up. Six years old, carrying himself like he was twice

that.

He wondered if the accident had left marks Robert wasn’t showing. Wondered how to help him when he didn’t even know what the boy needed.