Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Chloe Montclair

I was sitting on the couch right by the door that leads to the kitchen when he walked in. Maybe, he has no idea I was sitting there because I watch him make his way up to his room.

"I'm right here, I hope you know that." I said and he slowly turned to face me.

"What are you doing here by this time of the day? Shouldn't you be asleep by now?." He questioned me.

"No. As I have something important to do, I have to wait up for you to come back home. Here, is the flash I was asked to give to you." I pass him the flash and he took it from me. He planned to leave again but my voice stopped him.

"Don't you have anything to say to me?." I asked him.

He turned to look at me slowly and scoff. "what were you expecting from me? The last time I checked, I have no business whatsoever with you. For now, your job is to stay here in my house and do not leave without my permission." He said with so much arrogance in his tone.

"Kenneth, you called me earlier and told me to wait up for you that, you would like to talk to me about something. I waited for you for hours. I called you and yet, you never picked up the call... You got me worried and now, you came back and didn't say a word? Who does that?."

"So now, you want me to apologize to you or what?."

"Of course, I deserve an apology. You kept me waiting up for you for no reason. That was wrong of you to do."

"Really?." He scoffs. "Apologize to you as what? My wife? My mom?." He questioned me as he take steps closer to me.

"W... Wh... What are you doing?." I stuttered.

"I brought you here, feed you, and clothe you... Do not dare, question me again... Is that clear?." He whispered dangerously to my ear. I couldn't find myself answering him, I couldn't move nor say a word to him.

"Am I well understood?." He asked again.

"Yes." I mumble.

"Good." He steps back a little bit.

"Ken, I need to talk to you."

"We can do that tomorrow, I'm so exhausted right now." He said in a nonchalant tone. He wasn't even ready to listen to me at all.

"Please Ken, it's important." I tried to stop him again from moving.

"Fuck! What's it that you want from me woman?." He asked in an irritated tone.

"I... Can you at least listen to me first?."

"I'm doing that already and that's why I'm still standing here with you."

"Okay. I... I would like to go for the surgery." I said.

"What?!! Are you shitting me right now?!!!" He busted angrily at me.

"I know, you might be surprised by what I had just said but, that's what I truly want. I've thought about it several times and, I believe that's the best decision to take. I've come to realize that to have my revenge, I need to change my identity ... Everything about me need to be changed."

"And you believe, I'm going to listen to you? We've talked about this and there's no further discussion on it anymore. I helped you already. I found someone who took the blame for your mistakes already. You're now a free person so, what are you still so scared of? Are you scared he might find you and hurt you?."

"Isn't that the reason why you stopped me from going outside your house? You told your guards not to allow me out of the house. That's because you believe he might hurt me and you wouldn't want that to happen. Besides, I believe this is the best way to go about it. Changing my appearance completely will help with our plan."

"No, I'm not doing that."

"Please, I beg of you. This is what I want."

"Fine! Whatever!" He hissed and went up straight to his room.

I feel like, a heavy load has been lifted off my mind... I feel so relieved and took a deep breath out at the same time.

Jerk! He didn't even bother to apologize for what he did. Always full of himself.

I slumped lazily on the sofa and I felt someone place their soft hand on my shoulder.

I jacked up in fear only to be face by my friend. "Oh my goodness! Tiana!! You scared me." I said rolling my eyes at her.

"I'm sorry... Did I scare you that much?." She asked smiling.

"It's not funny!" I glared hard at her even though, I wasn't mad at her.

"Sorry. I was only joking. Are you okay?." She asked in a concerned tone.

"Of course, I'm fine. Tell me, what are you doing here?."

"I should be asking you such question. What do you think you're doing?."

I looked at her with a confused look on my face. What is she talking about? It's not like she heard my conversation with Ken, did she? "What do you mean?."

"I heard everything. Do not pretend to me." She said and I sighed.

"Chloe, do you think this is the right decision to take? I mean, why would you what to go that far to do that? What exactly are you scared of? Ken helped you already! A lot of people are saying good things about you out there, some regret ever cursing you for what you haven't done."

"You and I both know, it was all lies. I was the reason for my mother's death and you know it. I caused her death!"

"I know but, it wasn't intentional. Besides, he helped you clear the view so, what are you so afraid of? Why would you go to that extreme?"

"Please, do not question me Tiana, this is what I wish to do and there's no one that can change that... Not even you." I said with finality laced in my tone.

"But I-"

"Please Tiana, we talk about this no more."

"Fine! Can you at least go up to your room now? It's almost midnight. You need to get some sleep." She said in a soft tone.

I got up, and wrap my hand around her neck. "Come on, why are you giving me that tone? Cheer up, okay? I know what I'm doing. This is what I want and you know, you can't change that no matter what." I tried to cheer her up. I do not know why she's like this all of a sudden.

It was the first part of the agreement with Ken to go for facial surgery and she was never against it. I do not know why she's like this now.

"Chloe, I'm just worried about you. I don't have good feelings about this."

"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine. You don't have to get yourself so worked up about this." I tickle her and she started laughing.

Everyone get into their respective room and I slept right after that.

•

Three Days Later.

"Chloe, I'm scared. Are you sure this is the best decision to take? Please, just stop this madness once and for all. You don't have to do this, please. Come to think of it, I do not think this makes any sense at all. Just come back to your senses please, you still have the chance to change your mind... Huh?." Tiana said to me in a worried tone as she clutch my hands tightly. I'm on a hospital wheel bed, in my hospital gown outside the operating room.

I'm the one going in there for the surgery but, she's the one getting scared. Sometimes, she amazes me. I wonder if she's truly the tough girl I knew back then in the prison.

"I will be fine. You ought to support me with courageous words, not to scare me like this." I tried to make a joke and she nod her head. The fact that she's this calm right now means, she's very scared.

I can't believe she can be this calm towards me. Yes, the only person I know I can rely on, the only person who can fight the entire world because of me.., is her. I will always cherish our friendship and nothing is going to change that.

Just let me get this done once and for all, I'm going to make those who make our lives miserable a living hell. I will make them pay for everything they've done to you and me.

Ken on the other hand was standing few feets away from us. The look on his face has always been the same as the one I knew him with.

Always keeping a straight face with no emotion at all over it. It's always hard to know what's going through his mind.

I look at his face for the last time and, his gaze suddenly fell on mine. He fixed his gaze on me for a long time before the nurses and doctor came and pushed my wheel into the operating room.

Yes, you can do this Chloe. Remember, all that you've been through all because of them. You're doing this to seek your revenge. This is the best decision you'll ever make in your entire life- my inner thought advised me.

•

Three Months Later

"Chloe! Chloe looks at this." My friend walked into my office with a newspaper in her hand.

Three months ago, while I was done with the facial surgery... I later regret my decision. It was so painful and unbearable... I couldn't believe that, those who undergo surgery, go through lots of pain.

But with time, I adapt to it. I was happy and not at the same time. I stood right in front of the mirror and was seeing a different person. The person standing right of this mirror is not the same old Chloe, the old Chloe who can easily get tramped on, who gets swayed easily, the caring and loving Chloe is gone and now, replaced with a different person... I'm totally seeing a different person.

Never, will I allow anyone to trample on me ever again!!

When I have gotten well, I finally signed the contract with Ken. I read every single line and understood it. In the contract, it states that no matter what, none of us is allowed to fall for another, and also, if this fake relationship leads to marriage, we have no other choice but to accept it, and after a year of the marriage.. we can end everything for good.

Ken did a lot in my life in the past three months. He changed everything about me, he literarily changed my life for the better within a blink of an eye. Not only did he give me the payment he promised but also increased it. He increased everything to $10, 000 million. He gave me half of the payment and promised to give the rest once the contract is over.

He also bought a house for Tiana and me. We stay there now. Then, he made me the acting CEO of the new company he had just launched recently. I truly do not know how to thank him enough for all he has done for me.

This is more than enough.

"What's it this time around? And, haven't I warned you not to call me by that name anymore? I'm now Vivian! Stop calling me that name, Tiana." I hissed angrily and said in an irritated tone to her.

"Erm, sorry about that." She apologized. "That still doesn't change the fact that your name isn't Chloe. I knew you with that name and that's never going to change."

Crazy girl. She will never listen to me no matter what I say. "So, what's it? Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be with Ken to meet with the Chinese investors?." I bombard her with questions.

"Yes but, it got canceled again. His secretary is to reschedule the meeting for tomorrow 5 pm. That isn't what brought me here. Take a look at this." She placed the newspaper in front of me on my desk.

"What's with you this morning?." I asked her suspiciously and look at the paper in front of me and then, the name got all of my attention.

The man I hated the most in the whole world, his name is well written boldly on the front page.