Chapter 17: Ungrateful
Madison couldn’t help but sigh. While she had never thought much of Chloe, believing that neither her education nor her family background was good enough for her son, at least Chloe had never embarrassed the family. After all, Chloe had taken care of her son for many years, so Madison could tolerate her to a certain extent.
However, tolerating someone and accepting them as a daughter–in–law were two completely different things.
“You’ve done well, taking care of my son for all these years. I doubt anyone else could have done what you did. But enough with the flattery; it’s distasteful if you overdo it,” Madison paused before continuing. But let me make one thing clear: no matter how long been with my son or how much you think
you’ve sacrificed for him, even if you were to bear his, I would never allow you to marry him. You two are simply not suited for marriage. A casual relationship is fine, but if you perform well enough, I might overlook any future contact you have with him.”
In her mind, Madison was being generous. Chloe had put in the effort to care for her son, so she could continue to be part of his life even after he eventually married someone more suitable. After all, marriages in their circle were about alliances and connections, not love. Whatever happened beyond that wasn’t Madison’s concem.
Now that she had the opportunity, Madison felt it was time to set the record straight. She was offering Chloe something better than most would receive–a chance to remain in her son’s life. Madison believed she was being incredibly kind.
She fully expected Chloe to be grateful for her offer, to respond with humility and thanks. But to her surprise, Chloe remained calm, and instead, a cold smile crossed her face.
“Madam,” Chloe said, her tone sharp, “If what you’re offering me is charity, then I suggest you save it for someone who needs it–perhaps the girl currently hanging around your son. She might appreciate it more than I do. As for me, I’m not interested. Julian and I have already broken up, and from now on, we’re strangers. There’s no need for any more discussions between us.”
Chloe’s voice carried an edge of bitterness. She had given up so much–a promising academic future and the life she could have built for herself. And now, Madison had the audacity to frame it all as if Chloe had been receiving handouts.
“Also, I have a bit of advice for you,” Chloe continued, “You might want to work on your delivery. Speaking so harshly only makes people want to hit you. Of course, you’re a refined woman, far too dignified for that kind of thing. But you could stand to read a few more books on communication skills. Otherwise, I’ll start thinking even I’m better than you.”
With that, Chloe turned and walked into the library, leaving behind a stunned Madison and Ella, whose faces were flushed with anger.
It wasn’t until Chloe was out of sight that Madison finally snapped back to reality. “Did you hear the way she spoke to me? No one has ever dared speak to me like that before. She said I was uncultured and harsh!”
Madison fumed. If it weren’t for her son, she would never have been so polite to Chloe in the first place. Now, she felt utterly disrespected. She would make sure Julian put Chloe in her place.
Ella, equally shocked, couldn’t believe what she’d just heard either. But what stood out to her the most was Chloe’s claim that she and Julian had broken up.
“Mom, did you hear her say she broke up with Julian? Do you think it’s true?”
Chaous 1.7 Imaratele
Madison scoffed. “Do you really think that’s possible? You know her as well as I do. She’s latched onto your brother for the financial benefits, and there’s no way she’d let go so easily. She’s just waiting for him to come crawling back to her, begging. Don’t pay attention to her words. We have more important things to deal with.”
Madison was convinced that Chloe and Julian could never truly break up. She dismissed the situation. turning her attention back to the more pressing matters at hand as she and Ella left to continue their errands.
Meanwhile, Chloe entered the library, pushing away the unpleasant encounter and refocusing on her studies. She wandered through the aisles of bookshelves, looking for useful materials when she spotted Wyatt’s name on a spine. Curious, she pulled the book from the shelf and started reading.
The book focused on interdisciplinary research betwee logy and physics–fields that Wyatt excelled in, given his switch from bioinformatics to physics. As Je delved deeper into the book, she couldn’t help but be impressed by Wyatt’s brilliance. The research was complex and groundbreaking, reflecting his exceptional intellect.
She settled into a seat, absorbed in the material. Despite the difficulty of some of the content, she was able to grasp the key concepts, thanks to her own strong academic background. By the time she finished the book, she realized that Wyatt’s knowledge far exceeded her own in many areas.
After returning the book to the shelf, she decided to take a break and get some food. Just as she leaving the library, her phone buzzed–it was Mia calling
was
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