Blood immediately began to drip from Preston's hand, but he didn't even flinch. Taking advantage of Chloe's momentary shock, he wrested the sickle from her grip and tossed it far across the yard.
Without missing a beat, he pulled her into a crushing embrace, trying to envelop her stiff, shivering body with his own warmth.
"Chloe, don't be afraid. Just take a deep breath..." Preston's chest tightened with agony. He kept his voice soothing. "This is my fault. I got here too late. I will take you to pick out the most beautiful, peaceful cemetery in the city, and we'll lay your father to rest properly. Okay?"
"No!" Chloe shoved him away with all her strength. Her eyes were devoid of anything but bone-chilling disappointment.
"Preston, you found out he was Jenna's brother today, but did you conveniently forget everything he did yesterday? You had Ken run a full background check on him. Are you seriously going to stand there and pretend you don't know exactly what kind of scum he is?"
Preston looked genuinely exhausted. "That's a separate issue entirely. I just wanted to—"
"You just want to take their side. You want to pressure me into backing down, and then you'll offer me some grand, theatrical compensation to make yourself feel better."
Chloe let out a broken, cynical laugh, her eyes stinging. "But I never wanted your money."
She looked up, delivering her next words with crystal-clear finality. "Leave, Preston. You don't have to stand here and play mediator. I don't want your help."
Right at that moment, a sleek black sedan sped up the dirt road, slamming on the brakes. Two tall figures stepped out and marched briskly toward the yard.
Preston's face instantly darkened into a lethal scowl. "So you don't need my help because you already ran crying to him. Is that it?"
Quentin Shaw took one look at the chaotic, destroyed scene, and a terrifying, suppressed fury settled over his features. Bypassing everyone else, he walked straight to Chloe and draped a thick, warm parka over her trembling shoulders.

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