The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 282

Chloe frowned, her first instinct to pull her arm away. But seeing the older woman looking so genuinely heartbroken and wronged, she held back. "Is Preston inside?" she asked.

Wendy was entirely consumed by her own grievances, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mrs. Hayes! I regret it so much! I regret the way I treated you! I regret ever mocking you behind your back!"

"Please forgive me, okay? I used to say you weren't good enough for Mr. Hayes, but now I know you are the only true Mrs. Hayes!"

Chloe gently tried to pry her arm loose. "Calm down first. Just talk to me."

But Wendy refused to let go, clinging to her like a lifeline. "I'm begging you! Please stop fighting with Mr. Hayes and move back in! Please?"

"After you left, that Jenna Cameron started staying here every few days. She parades around like she owns the place, acting like she's already the lady of the house!"

"She purposely makes my life miserable! She makes me run her baths, complaining that the water is either boiling hot or freezing cold. It's so obvious she's just torturing me! And she always forces me to run errands across town in the middle of the night to buy her things, refusing to just order delivery!"

Wendy looked visibly haggard. The fiery arrogance she used to carry was completely gone, replaced by a deep, hollow exhaustion.

"I really can't take her anymore, but I need this job! I tried complaining to Mr. Hayes once, but she's such a good actress. She turned it around, played the victim, and almost got me fired! I'm truly terrified of her!"

Chloe listened quietly, her expression impassive. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you. Maybe you should start looking for another job."

Wendy panicked at those words. "Mrs. Hayes, you can't do this! I only offended that toxic woman because I tried to defend you! Please, have some pity on me!"

In truth, finding another housekeeping job in Sterling Bay wouldn't be difficult. But Wendy knew she would never find another position that paid so well for such little work. She couldn't bear to leave.

Her only hope was for Chloe to return.

"Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Hayes misses you so much too! He truly loves you! I've heard him calling your name when he's drunk so many times. He can't live without you!"

Chloe didn't respond to that. She simply pushed past her and walked into the house.

Ken stammered, "Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Hayes is..."

The phone was suddenly snatched away, and Preston's voice came through the speaker.

He was always so composed, a man who had everything under control. He rarely sounded this frantic. But right now, his voice was laced with an undeniable, heavy guilt.

"Chloe, I'm sorry. Something came up on my end..."

"Just wait there for a little while, okay? I promise I'll bring Yuri to you as soon as I can."

Chloe gripped her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. "I am giving you exactly thirty more minutes. Do not lie to me."

"Preston, you know perfectly well that I have zero trust left in you."