The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 153

"Caroline, if it weren't for Quentin, would I have gone the rest of my life without ever seeing you again?"

Dr. Sharpe spoke without any warning.

Chloe had barely sat down before she shot back up in a panic, waving her hands defensively.

"Of course not..."

Dr. Sharpe looked at her, her tone flat. "Then why haven't I received a single message from you in all these years?"

She paused, then added, "Do you genuinely want me to take on a new apprentice?"

Chloe's eyes instantly darkened. Her long lashes fluttered down, concealing the storm of emotions in her gaze.

"I'm sorry... I just..."

She just felt deeply ashamed.

She had hidden away for three whole years, hiding from the world, but also hiding from herself.

She had forced herself to forget everything from her past, pouring all her focus into Preston and Vantage. She had deliberately erased the name 'Caroline Monet,' burying all her passion and her glory.

Now, under her mentor's piercing gaze, she didn't dare lift her head. She didn't dare look her in the eye. It took every ounce of strength she had just to force out a single sentence:

"Teacher, I'm... no longer Caroline Monet."

As she spoke, Chloe's fingertips brushed against her left ear. A sudden, sharp ache hit the back of her throat, and she couldn't say another word.

Dr. Sharpe kept her eyes locked on her. "It's not your ear that's stopping you from being Caroline Monet. It's your own cowardice."

"With a gifted ear, you are Caroline Monet. Missing one ear, you are still Caroline Monet."

Chloe felt the lump in her throat grow heavier.

Over all these years, clawing her way through life, she had never been afraid of pain or hardship. She was only afraid of not being strong enough.

Dr. Sharpe had said enough to make her point, finishing with a cold edge to her voice:

"Caroline, if Quentin hadn't personally asked this of me, to tell you the truth, I would have already considered you dead to me."

"Now, I'm only going to ask you one thing. It's been three years. Have you finally made up your mind?"

"Are you going to face the Caroline Monet who fell from grace, or are you going to spend the rest of your life as the comfortably pampered Mrs. Hayes?"

Chloe snapped her head up, all hesitation vanishing.

"Teacher, I've already made up my mind. No matter how many obstacles I face, I am choosing to come back."

Seeing the fierce light returning to Chloe's eyes, the coldness in Dr. Sharpe's gaze softened slightly.

Beside him, Jenna was frantically rubbing her bright red hands together. "It's freezing. My fingers are completely numb."

Preston didn't react.

Jenna turned to him, confused, and suddenly noticed where his gaze was fixed.

Her heart lurched, a primal sense of alarm flaring in her chest. She forced a stiff laugh. "Preston... are you waiting for Chloe?"

Preston snapped out of his daze, his eyes darkening. "No."

With that, he turned around. "I'll take you back."

...

When Chloe finally stepped out of the RV, she felt lighter than air, as if a massive boulder had finally been lifted off her chest.

"Quentin, thank you."

She walked down the steps with a bright smile, only to slam face-first into a freezing, familiar stare.

The smile instantly vanished from her face.

The snow was falling exceptionally hard tonight. Preston had been standing out there for God knows how long, his entire body radiating ice and winter storms.