hapter 68: A Strong Core
n the drive back, rain began to fall, the droplets pattering against the car windows, and the wind howled utside. The weather mirrored Chloe’s emotional state perfectly–her heart felt as though it, too, had a aping hole, the wind howling through it.
ren though the car’s heater was on, Chloe felt cold to the bone. At that moment, Wyatt draped his coat
er her.
he warmth of the coat settled on her, and Chloe couldn’t stop her tears from falling. She didn’t make a ›und, but the sadness and pain she felt were palpable.
earing her soft sobs, Wyatt’s heart ached. He pulled the car over to the side of the road, giving Chloe the ace to release her emotions. He knew that sometimes, you just need to let it out–especially after being a long, difficult relationship like hers.
took a while, but eventually, Chloe calmed down. After venting her feelings, she felt slightly better,
ough there was still a lingering sadness. “I’m so sorry about earlier, making you witness all that. I really dn’t expect…” Her voice broke, and she struggled to continue.
yatt shook his head gently. “I know you, Chloe. I don’t judge you based on a few hurtful words from hers. To truly know someone, you have to look deeper, not just listen to outside noise.”
e continued, “Julian’s words were out of anger. He said those things to hurt you, but that doesn’t define ho you are. In my eyes, and in the eyes of many others, you’re still the incredible person you’ve always een. What others did wrong is on them, not on you. Don’t carry their mistakes as if they’re your own.”
yatt’s voice was soft but full of strength, and his sincerity shone through. His words finally stopped
loe’s tears.
e looked at him intently, feeling as though a weight had been lifted off her heart. She needed this assurance, a reminder of her own worth. “Do you really mean that?” she asked, her voice small.
f course. You’ve done nothing wrong. You’re exceptional, Chloe.”
yatt smiled, and his eyes were filled with honesty. He truly believed in her. Relationships can be
mplicated, and sometimes good people get hurt–but that didn’t change Chloe’s value.
hank you,” Chloe said softly. “I feel a lot better now. Much better than before.”
yatt felt relieved. He had been worried that Chloe might spiral deeper into her pain. “How about we go
t something to eat? I know a great place. Consider it a small treat to lift your spirits.”
loe smiled at his suggestion and didn’t refuse. So, they headed to a restaurant together.
was a nice restaurant, much nicer than Chloe had expected Wyatt to suggest, given how absorbed he ually was in his research. Wyatt, who typically didn’t pay much attention to things like food or
biance, had brought her somewhere surprisingly pleasant.
e meal was delicious, and they both ended up eating more than they’d expected.
first, the emotional weight of the evening had still lingered in the background, especially for Chloe. But ter the meal, she felt noticeably lighter.
itside, the storm had worsened, but inside the cozy restaurant, they were sheltered from it. Wyatt’s mple kindness was helping Chloe heal, bit by bit. By the end of dinner, she felt much more at peace.
loe was deeply grateful to Wyatt. If it weren’t for his calm, steady presence and his thoughtful way of Iping her through this difficult moment, she might still be stuck in her spiral of self–doubt, questioning
Chapter 08 A Strong Lore
where she went wrong.
After all, the man she had loved for so many years had turned on her so suddenly, saying things that made her feel worthless. The hurt had been almost unbearable.
“I really want to thank you,” Chloe said, her voice filled with sincerity. “When you showed up earlier, I felt like I was being pulled out of hell and back into the light. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know where I’d be right now. You’re like a hero.”
Wyatt laughed softly. “Don’t call me a hero. I don’t think I’m anything like that. Besides, you have your own inner strength. Even if I were a hero, I couldn’t have helped you if you didn’t have that strength within you.”
He smiled warmly, brushing off her praise. In his mind, he hadn’t done anything extraordinary.
Wyatt truly believed that Chloe had managed to pull herself out of her dark thoughts. Sure, he had guided her a little, but most of the credit went to her own resilience.
Chloe chuckled. Wyatt’s words often struck her as amusing. He could be so serious and earnest, but in moments like these, his sincerity gave her a sense of strength.
They continued chatting casually. “How did you even find this restaurant ?” Chloe asked with a teasing smile. “From what I know about you, this doesn’t seem like the kind of place you’d discover on your own.”
Wyatt sighed, slightly embarrassed. “I’ll admit, you’re right. One of my students brought me here. But I have to say, they’ve got great taste.”
Chloe couldn’t help but laugh. “I think you should hang out with your students more often. They might introduce you to a lot of great places, especially when it comes to food.”
Wyatt nodded. “You might be onto something. But no matter how many places I try, I still think your cooking is the best. And I’m not just saying that to be polite–it’s the truth.”
Chloe laughed again, feeling lighter and happier than she had in a long time. Wyatt’s steady support and kind words had lifted her spirits in ways she hadn’t expected.
