Reborn, I Dumped the Cold Heir novel Chapter 7

It was nearly midnight when she finally returned to the Lennox estate, but the living room lights were still blazing.

The moment Chloe walked through the door, a familiar figure hurried over.

"Chloe?" Eleanor wore a soft cashmere loungewear set, her brows knitted with worry. "Didn't you say you were staying at your apartment tonight?"

Chloe stood frozen in the foyer. Looking at the face she thought she would never see again, her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She practically threw herself into Eleanor's arms. The impact forced Eleanor back half a step, and she quickly hugged her daughter back.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Chloe held her in a death grip, terrified that if she loosened her hold even a fraction, her mother would vanish into thin air.

"Mom," her voice broke. "I had a nightmare."

"What was it about?"

"I dreamed that you didn't want me anymore."

Eleanor frowned and gave her a gentle swat on the arm.

"Don't be ridiculous. When have I ever not wanted you?"

Chloe squeezed her eyes shut, a lump forming in her throat.

But what if I'm not your real daughter... would you still want me?

She held onto her mother for a long moment before finally remembering her priority.

"Mom, have you been taking painkillers lately?"

Eleanor blinked in surprise. "I have, yes. You noticed?"

In her past life, Eleanor's health was always fragile. Headaches and insomnia were chronic issues for her. Since the family employed a private physician and she never lacked round-the-clock care, no one really took these minor ailments seriously.

That was until a year later, when she suffered sudden liver failure. It was only after a thorough examination by Dr. Hughes that they discovered her long-term mixture of prescription medications and supplements had caused severe, irreversible liver damage.

If it hadn't been for that critical illness, the extensive testing and organ matching would never have happened. Her true identity would have stayed buried forever.

Chloe grabbed her mother's hands. "Stop taking them immediately. Have Dr. Hughes come over tomorrow for a complete, head-to-toe examination."

Eleanor looked exasperated.

"I'm perfectly fine."

"Fine or not, we'll talk after the tests! And stop taking random pills. If your head hurts, tell me, and I'll have Dr. Hughes prescribe something safe."

Eleanor looked at her, a warm smile gradually spreading across her face.

"Since when did my little girl become such a caretaker?"

Chloe paused. In her previous life, she had died before ever getting to see Eleanor one last time. She lowered her head and tucked herself back into her mother's embrace.

"I'm going to spend a lot more time with you from now on."

Eleanor was slightly taken aback, but she tenderly smoothed her daughter's long hair. "What exactly happened today? Did someone upset my baby?"

Chloe choked up, whispering silently in her heart:

I'm so sorry, Mom. But I desperately want you to be my mother for the rest of my life.

Eleanor suddenly remembered something. "Chloe, did you see the trending news?"