Chapter Forty Four
Chloe woke up with a lingering sense of anxiety, a feeling that she had grown accustomed to over the past few days. Her mind was preoccupied with the ongoing trial of Emily, who had been remanded in house arrest for attempting to poison her. As she walked to Janet’s garden, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over her.
Janet was overjoyed to see Chloe and welcomed her with open arms. “My dear, how I have missed you!” she exclaimed as she hugged her tightly. Chloe smiled and reciprocated the hug. “I’ve missed you too, Janet,” she replied.
Janet asked Chloe how she could be of service, but Chloe told her that she was her friend now, and she didn’t need to act like her servant. Janet was surprised but pleased to hear this, and she smiled warmly at Chloe.
Chloe then told Janet about the trial of Emily, and how she hoped that justice would be served. “I really hope that she gets what she deserves for almost killing me,” Chloe said, her voice laced with frustration.
Janet listened attentively, and then asked Chloe why Emily hadn’t been convicted yet. Chloe sighed and replied, “They say that they need more evidence to prove that she actually did it.”
Janet shook her head in disbelief. “It’s not fair. I can’t believe that they would let someone like that walk free,” she said.
Chloe nodded in agreement. “I know, but we just have to have faith in the justice system. I believe that the truth will prevail in the end,” she said optimistically.
Janet smiled at Chloe’s words of encouragement. “You’re right. We just have to keep pushing until we get the outcome that we want,” she said.
As they walked through the garden, Chloe couldn’t help but feel grateful for Janet’s support. She knew that she could always count on her friend to be there for her in times of need.
Suddenly, a group of young kids approached them, laughing and playing around. Janet’s face lit up as she saw them. “Ah, my little ones! Come over here and say hello to Chloe,” she said, gesturing towards Chloe.
Chloe smiled warmly as the kids gathered around her, asking her questions and telling her stories. She listened attentively, enjoying their innocent chatter and playful banter.
Janet watched on with a fond smile, happy to see the children enjoying themselves. “These little ones are the joy of my life,” she said. “They remind me of the good in this world, and give me hope for the future.”
Chloe nodded in agreement. “Yes, they are truly a blessing,” she said.
As they continued their walk through the garden, Chloe couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm wash over her. Being surrounded by nature and the laughter of children had a way of soothing her worries and easing her troubled mind.
Janet noticed the change in Chloe’s demeanor and s@miled. “I’m glad that you’re feeling better, my dear. Sometimes, all we need is a little bit of sunshine and laughter to brighten our day,” she said.
Chloe smiled gratefully at Janet. “Thank you for always being there for me, Janet. You truly are a gift,” she said.
Janet smiled back at her. “And you, my dear, are a blessing to all those who know you. Never forget that,” she said.
Chloe listened intently as Janet poured out her heart to her. She could see the frustration and concern etched on Janet’s face as she talked about Jason’s nightmares. Chloe couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sympathy for her friend.
She took a deep breath and said, “I know it can be tough, but you have to be patient with him. Jason has been through a lot, and it takes time to heal from emotional wounds.”
Janet nodded slowly in agreement, her expression softening. “I know,” she said, “but it’s just hard to watch him suffer and not be able to help.”
Chloe placed a reassuring hand on her friend’s shoulder. “You’re doing everything you can, Janet. Just be there for him, and he’ll come around eventually.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Janet smiled weakly and leaned into Chloe’s embrace. They sat there in silence for a moment, enjoying the tranquility of the garden. Then Chloe broke the silence by saying, “So, tell me more about your intimate moments with Jason.”
Janet blushed again and playfully slapped Chloe’s arm. “Oh, you know me too well,” she said with a giggle.
Chloe chuckled and leaned back on the bench, crossing her legs. “Come on, spill the beans. I want to know all the juicy details.”
Janet laughed and shook her head. “No way, Chloe. That’s between me and him.”
Chloe feigned disappointment. “Aw, come on. You can’t leave me hanging like that.”
Janet rolled her eyes and smiled. “Fine, I’ll give you a little taste. Let’s just say he knows how to make me feel special.”
Chloe raised her eyebrows and grinned mischievously. “Ooh, I like the sound of that. You’ll have to teach me some of his tricks.”
Janet laughed and shook her head. “No way, Chloe. You’ll have to find your own tricks.”
They both laughed, and Chloe felt grateful for the moment of levity amidst all the drama in her life. She was glad she could be there for her friend and help her through her own struggles.
As they got up to leave, Chloe turned to Janet and said, “Just remember, everything will work out in the end. We just have to be patient and stay strong.”
Janet nodded and gave Chloe a tight hug. “Thanks, Chloe. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Chloe hugged her back and smiled. “You’ll never have to find out.”
Chloe’s eyes widened in surprise as she caught sight of Liam standing outside the courtyard. She hadn’t expected to see him there, but the fluttering in her chest told her that she was happy he was. Janet excused herself, leaving the two of them alone, and Chloe approached Liam with a small smile on her lips.
“Hello, Liam,” she greeted him, feeling a bit nervous but also excited to see him again.
“Chloe,” he replied, his own smile lighting up his face. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Chloe took a deep breath, feeling a little shy as she looked up at him. “I know. It’s just that… Aiden told me what you did for me. That you agreed not to mark me and fight for my love fairly.”
Liam’s expression softened, and he nodded. “Yes, that’s true. I wanted to show you that I’m willing to do things differently this time. That I’m willing to prove my love to you in a way that’s fair and right.”
Chloe’s heart swelled with admiration for Liam’s sacrifice. She had always known he was a kind and honorable man, but this took it to a whole new level. “It’s a crazy risk you took, Liam,” she said, her voice laced with emotion. “But it’s also earned my respect.”
Liam’s eyes sparkled with warmth as he reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face. “That means everything to me, Chloe. And I hope we can start off by being friends.”