I Stopped Loving Him When He Let Me Bleed Out novel Chapter 25

Chloe's voice sliced through the tension from behind, soft and laced with practiced grievance.

She pushed through the crowd, walking up to Finn and latching onto his arm.

She eyed the wet tissues in his hand, then the damp patch on Sienna's dress, and her eyes instantly welled up, though no tears fell.

"Honey, I was calling you and calling you, and you just ignored me. Honestly, if Dr. Sterling spilled something, you should have told me. I would've helped her clean it up. It's totally inappropriate for a grown man to be doing that."

She turned to Sienna and smiled.

The same manufactured, perfect smile.

"I am so sorry, Dr. Sterling. York is just too wild sometimes. His father and I will have a serious talk with him when we get home."

Sienna turned to leave.

But Chloe stepped right into her path, blocking the only exit, her tone dripping with condescending pity:

"Dr. Sterling, next time you come to a show, you really should bring a date. It's terribly inconvenient when accidents happen and you don't have anyone to take care of you. Look around—everyone here is either on a date or a lovely family of three like us."

She paused, her smile widening.

"You can't keep bothering other people's husbands, right?"

"Chloe." Finn cut her off, his voice quiet but dangerously heavy.

Chloe instantly shifted into a mask of apology, though the remorse didn't reach her eyes.

"Dr. Sterling, I am so sorry. Please don't take this the wrong way, I only want what's best for you. A woman your age really needs to lock someone down, otherwise it's just going to get harder. You don't want to end up entirely alone, do you? That would be so tragic."

Finn grabbed Chloe's arm in a vicious grip:

"You need to shut up," he ground out, every word pushed through clenched teeth.

But Chloe acted as if she couldn't feel the pain, determined to finish her thought through her saccharine smile:

"Dr. Sterling, if you're really having that much trouble finding a man, I could set you up. I know a few guys who are pretty decent..."

Finn brutally yanked Chloe to the side.

Chloe stumbled, nearly eating the floor.

Finn had to shoot an arm out to catch her before she hit the ground.

Chloe immediately collapsed against his chest.

"What's wrong?" she asked, tilting her head up with wide, innocent eyes. "Did I say something wrong? I'm just trying to help her out."

She blinked over at Sienna:

"Dr. Sterling, you aren't mad, are you? I'm just so blunt, I always say exactly what's on my mind. Please don't take offense."

"Are you done?" Sienna asked.

Chloe faltered.

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