Chapter 3 Let's Get Divorced

Chloe's eyes widened in shock. Instinctively, she clutched the urn tightly against her chest and shielded it from any harm. "How could you do that? These are my parents' ashes!" she cried out, her voice filled with fury. "This is my son's house! If you dare bring that unlucky thing inside, I'll smash it into pieces myself. We'll show your parents what a vicious daughter they raised—one who'd even curse my family with misfortune!" Helen spat venomously. Rage filled Chloe's eyes as she held the urn protectively. "Even if you're my mother-in-law, you have no right to insult my parents like that!" Curtis stepped in and said, "Just take the urn outside, Chloe. Don't upset Mom when she's barely recovered from surgery. I'll never forgive you if anything happens to her." Chloe's hands trembled as she held the urn, her rage burning hotter than ever. Even after three years of marriage, he couldn't show Jenna and Walter the smallest shred of respect! When she refused to leave, Curtis' expression darkened. "Why are you still standing here? Do you need me to throw you out myself?" Chloe was so angry that she laughed, lowering her gaze to the urn in her arms. It seemed like she'd married the wrong man. Three years ago, Curtis had looked at her nervously and asked, "I don't have a car or a house. Will you really marry me?" And she'd nodded. After all, on the day she lost Jenna and Walter, Curtis was the one who'd sat beside her quietly, wiping away her tears. After their deaths, Allen had earnestly told her, "Chloe, your parents were always worried about you settling down. Special forces are too dangerous, and I don't want you to end up like your parents or Daniel. I believe they would've wanted you to live a long, peaceful life." After Walter and Jenna died and her elder brother, Daniel Quall, went missing in action, Chloe was the only one left in their family of four. So, she'd resigned from the military and married Curtis. She used to believe that even if they didn't love each other as deeply as her parents had, they could at least treat each other with respect. But now, Curtis was stripping away even that last shred of dignity. Did he not remember that, back when he'd had nothing, the very first funds for his company had come from Walter and Jenna's death gratuity money? If they were looking down from heaven, how would they feel knowing that their son-in-law had used their sacrifice to build his fortune but wouldn't even allow their ashes into his home? "Fine. I'll leave!" Chloe raised her head, standing straight. She refused to let her tears fall. She could make sacrifices and even bleed, but she would never cry for a man this ungrateful. With that, she turned on her heel and walked out without looking back. Joanne seemed almost surprised. "Is she leaving… just like that?" "Of course! This is Curtis' house, so she has no say in it. She's just an orphan! Who does she think she is to do as she pleases?" Helen grumbled. Curtis watched Chloe leave, feeling a strange hollow ache in his chest as though something important had just slipped through his fingers. … Chloe carried the urn to a funeral home for temporary safekeeping. She planned to take Walter and Jenna's ashes back to Warlington for burial, but preparing the headstone and arranging everything else would take some time. So for now, she had no choice but to keep the ashes there. "Just wait a little longer, Mom, Dad. I'll take you home soon," she whispered, draping the folded flag over the urn reverently. "One day, I'll find Daniel, and we'll visit both of you together. I believe he's still alive." Daniel was a soldier as well. Five years ago, he'd vanished along the border during a mission and had been missing since then. Chloe had searched for him during her own service, but she hadn't managed to find any clues. Once she laid Walter and Jenna to rest, she vowed to go back to the border and search for him again. After placing the urn in the funeral home, Chloe prepared to leave. Rain drizzled steadily, pattering against her umbrella. As she walked, she overheard the passersby talking. "There are so many cars outside, and even government officials showed up. Someone important must have died." "Haven't you seen the news? Mr. Steele Senior died, and his memorial is today." "The Steeles? Who's going to take over now?" "That powerful madman from the Steele family, of course. If not him, who else would do it?" At that moment, Chloe realized why there were police barricades and heavy security outside the funeral home. It was Martin Steele's funeral, after all. The Steeles were a towering force, dominating all of Corvessia. Everyone knew them, yet no one dared to provoke them. Stepping out, Chloe saw the long procession of sleek black cars lined along the street, each one a display of the late Martin's influence. Just then, the door of the nearest car opened. Someone stepped out with an umbrella and then a tall, lean figure slowly emerged from the car. The black umbrella covered the upper half of the man's face, but Chloe could make out his sharp jawline, the prominent, narrow bridge of his nose, and thin, slightly moist lips. With long fingers and sharp bones, his hands looked as though they were made for killing. Then, he lifted his gaze, and his dark eyes locked with hers. They were beautiful eyes, tilted at the corners like a falcon's but cold and utterly devoid of life. It almost seemed as if nothing in this world could stir him. Though he was there for a funeral, his expression showed no sign of grief or any other emotion. The man holding the umbrella for him respectfully gestured. "This way, please, Mr. Steele." Steele? Chloe's heart jolted. Was this man one of the Steeles? While she was briefly caught up in her thoughts, he'd already walked past her. It wasn't until she was back in her car that she realized her palms were clammy with cold sweat. She took out her phone and saw a message from Curtis. "Mom and Joanne have left. Come back after you've arranged everything for your parents' ashes. We need to talk." After giving the text a cold glance, she started the car and drove back to the villa. In the villa, Curtis was waiting on the couch. He approached her the moment she stepped in and asked, "Did you arrange everything?" "Yes, it's done," she replied flatly. He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms. "Mom's old and probably has her superstitions. She didn't mean to make things difficult for you. I'm sorry I hurt you today. I promise I'll make it up to you." His words "make it up" stirred a wave of sorrow in Chloe. Even though his embrace was warm, it left her feeling utterly cold. Rather than her, it was Walter and Jenna who'd truly been wronged and disrespected. They were heroes and yet, their ashes couldn't even be kept in their own daughter's home. What could Curtis possibly do to make up for that? Once, Chloe had craved the warmth of his arms. But now, she wanted no part of this false comfort. She pushed his arms away and looked up at the man she'd once loved. "Let's get divorced, Curtis."