The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 280

Chloe lowered her head. "I just feel awful."

"It feels like ever since I was little, I've never been able to protect the things I wanted to keep."

"It's like... I'm constantly losing everything."

"Maybe I'm just meant to be alone."

Quentin poured her a glass of warm water, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Am I not standing right here?"

Chloe didn't take the glass, murmuring softly, "One day, you'll leave too."

"..." Quentin stayed quiet for a moment before letting out a soft laugh. "Chloe, are you cursing me to die?"

He suddenly crouched down.

His striking face was suddenly so close it made her breath hitch.

The alcohol had blurred her vision, but it amplified all her other senses. She could clearly smell the warm, crisp scent radiating from him.

"N-no..."

"Chloe."

Quentin locked his gaze onto hers, speaking with utter seriousness. "Unless you don't want me, I'm not going anywhere."

Chloe didn't say anything.

She assumed he was just comforting her and didn't take it to heart.

But his gaze was simply too intense, entirely different from his usual aloof demeanor. It made her avert her eyes in a fluster, and she stood up, taking half a step back.

"Yeah, I got it... thank you."

Quentin snapped back to reality, his voice softening. "Get some rest. I'll clean this up."

"Who knows, you might wake up tomorrow and Yuri will be back."

Preston's face flashed unexpectedly in Chloe's mind. She offered a self-deprecating smile.

Just then, Quentin's phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window to answer.

On the other end of the line, Preston's voice was suppressed with towering rage.

"Mr. Shaw, don't you think you've crossed the line?"

"The Shaw family has never acted so recklessly before. You know exactly what you're doing. But Chloe is my wife. What right do you have to interfere?"

"Aren't you being a little too blatant about stealing someone else's wife? Are you absolutely sure you want to go head-to-head with Vantage Group?"

Quentin listened quietly. He turned his head to look at the figure curled up asleep on the sofa and spoke calmly.

*Eat up.*

*You need your strength to work. Being my assistant isn't easy, and being Caroline Monet is even harder.*

On the other side of the screen, Gabriel stared at the messages Quentin had sent, groaning in sheer frustration.

"You idiot! What kind of nonsense are you sending?"

"You clearly want to show her you care, so why are you bringing up work? What is going through your head?"

Compared to his exaggerated reaction, Quentin remained perfectly composed, speaking lightly.

"She'd feel pressured."

"I don't even know what to say to you anymore!" Gabriel fumed. "If you keep this up, you're going to end up crying!"

Quentin glanced up. "Why would I cry?"

Gabriel let out a cold scoff, his tone sinister.

"With Ms. Reed's stunning looks and incredible talent, the second she's single, do you have any idea how many men will be lining up to court her..."

"Especially foreign guys. They're smooth operators, way more romantic than you. When she actually gets swept off her feet by someone else, we'll see who's crying then!"

Quentin's brow furrowed slightly.