The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 37

"Utterly lacking in decorum!"

Percival marched toward them, heavily supported by Jenna. His wrathful eyes locked entirely on Chloe.

"What could you possibly have to take care of? And why did it have to be today?"

Although he had long surrendered his position as the head of the Hayes family, decades of surviving the ruthless arenas of business and politics had carved an intimidating, almost violently oppressive aura into his very bones.

His imposing presence was suffocating, causing Chloe's muscles to lock up.

Normally, she would have shrunk back, completely paralyzed by insecurity and terrified of stepping out of line.

But today, she refused to cower. Forcing her spine steel-straight, she met his tyrannical gaze head-on.

"Grandfather, I have been at Cloudrest Manor for less than an hour, and you have already scolded me for 'lacking in decorum' three separate times. Tell me, exactly what lines have I crossed?"

Everyone froze. Not a single person expected Chloe to talk back.

Preston's face darkened as he immediately intervened. "Chloe, how dare you speak to Grandfather that way? Apologize right now..."

Percival's heavy, suffocating glare bore into Chloe's face. After a long pause, he let out a dark sneer.

"You should be asking yourself what shameless things you've done! Since you had the nerve to pull those stunts back then, don't stand here acting like the victim now!"

His words were entirely merciless, dripping with a raw, unfiltered disgust that sliced right through Chloe's chest like a serrated blade.

Choking down the lump in her throat, she maintained her poise. "Grandfather, if you have a problem with me, spit it out. I am all ears. At least tell me what I need to fix!"

Preston snatched Chloe's wrist, his voice low and threatening. "Enough! What the hell are you trying to prove?"

Chloe tore her arm away from his grip. "What did I do? I'm asking for an answer. I'm asking for a shred of respect. Is that a crime?"

Jenna seized the perfect moment to interject. "Mrs. Hayes, please stop throwing a tantrum. Grandfather just wanted you to stay at the manor a little longer. You guys rarely come back to visit, so you really should spend more time with him! That's perfectly reasonable, right? Why are you flying off the handle?"

Percival continued to glare daggers at Chloe. "Jenna, don't waste your breath on her! Someone whose very nature is rotten will always act shamelessly!"

"I have always maintained that men and women alike should build their own careers! Not spend their lives plotting filthy schemes to take shortcuts to the top! A person like that does not deserve an ounce of respect!"

The old man was clearly harboring some massive, unspeakable secret. It was a truth he was choking on, fueling this irrational, targeted hatred for her!

But looking back at the last three years of their marriage, she had never done a single thing to harm Preston or the Hayes family!

What in God's name was lodged so deeply in his throat?

She wanted to demand the truth, but Eleonora's tight grip anchored her.

"Chloe, please. Stay at Cloudrest Manor tonight and just keep me company. Okay?"

Eleonora looked at her, her eyes brimming with genuine, heartbreaking affection.

Chloe's first instinct was to decline, but seeing the quiet desperation in the older woman's eyes, she couldn't bear to disappoint her. She nodded. "Okay."

The atmosphere in the gardens was suffocatingly tense, and the group quickly scattered.

Eleonora brought Chloe to a quiet side parlor to look over some international runway analyses. Given the older woman's failing eyesight and Chloe's effortless fluency in English, French, and German, she easily translated the complex design breakdowns aloud.