Ch. 261..265: Divorced My Scum Husband, Married His Evil brother Chapter 261-265

Chapter 261

Diamond went out of Vernon's office and closed the door behind her while keeping eye contact with her home girl, who stood near the secretary's desk with a worried face.

"Diamond, are you alright?" Chloe asked out of concern. "I heard a loud bang inside, and also Vernon yelling something."

"I'm alright, Gurl. Mr. Phoenix Gray is just mad at someone on the phone. You know— business stuff, it's not important," Diamond replied with a lie.

Chloe let out a relieved breath, "Thank god. I was scared that he might hurt you or something."

Diamond chuckled, "And would you do something if I got yelled at?"

"I—I mean, I will try to speak to him at home. Telling him not to abuse his power, because he is lucky to have a secretary like you!"

"Awww, gurl, no need to sacrifice yourself for me," Diamond said with a sincere smile.

"W—Why not? You're… um…." Chloe lowered her head ashamedly. She didn't know if she had the right to say this because she had never done anything worthy for Diamond.

But she wanted Diamond to know that—

"Y—You're my friend, Diamond," Chloe claimed. "So, I won't let you get hurt…."

Diamond felt warmth all over her body. She knew that Chloe was sincere with her words.

But that also saddened her because she realized Chloe had the courage to protect people she loved but didn't dare stand up for herself.

'Now I feel guilty for doubting her. She saw me as her friend, but it took some time for her to open up,' Diamond thought. 'Be patient, Diamond. Chloe was an abuse victim. If that scum Vernon can be so patient dealing with Chloe and all her problems, you can definitely do better than him.

Diamond opened her arms in response, "Another hug?"

Chloe nodded and hugged Diamond without hesitation. Diamond gently patted her homegirl's back, "Gurl, you don't need to do anything. Just make sure to protect yourself, okay?"

Chloe knew that Diamond must've been talking about the attack that she got, and she was embarrassed to think about it.

To show that kind of scar… if Chloe was still living with Vincent, that scum would've slapped her for showing it to someone else.

She nodded reluctantly, "I—I will try."

While they were still in a tight hug, Diamond heard a notification from the phone. She separated herself from Chloe and checked the text.

-

From: Mr Phoenix Gray

I've found the solution. Don't worry. I won't hurt the kids.

But I will make sure she will be scarred for life.

And also,

I want you to start investigating her family. Just ask around, don't let them know that they're being watched, understand?

-

Diamond's heartbeat skipped for a second. She lifted her gaze and looked at Chloe instinctively.

,m Chloe smiled at her in response and asked out of curiosity, "What's wrong, Diamond? It looks like you just saw a ghost or something."

"Ah— it's nothing, Gurl. I was just shocked by the new work that I have to do," Diamond replied hurriedly.

"New work? From Vernon?"

"Y—Yeah, I'll be busy after lunch. Why don't you serve his lunch first and then we can go to a nearby restaurant to grab ours?" Diamond suggested.

"Oh, yes, I need to serve this food or Vernon will start complaining."

Chloe turned around and grabbed the lunch bag she had prepared for Vernon.

Diamond stared at her homegirl's back and bowed slightly out of respect and guilt.

Because she would be spying on her homegirl's family without her consent, and her boss— Vernon, said he found a solution that wouldn't hurt the kids.

But Diamond knew her boss wasn't an angel that would punish Chloe's attacker fairly.

Vernon would definitely hurt her somehow, just to make sure it would scar her for life.

'I'm sorry, gurl. But this time, I also want that bitch to get a consequence of her action. I'm not as kind and forgiving as you,' Diamond said in her heart.

'So I will let the devil do cruel justice. I have to trust him that he will not hurt the kids, surely he's smart enough to think of a way, right?'

**

Diamond helped Chloe by opening the door, so she could deliver a tray full of food for Vernon.

When Chloe came in, she saw Vernon was so engrossed texting someone on his phone that he didn't notice Chloe coming in. He had a thin smile while texting. Chloe got the image that Vernon was a teenage boy texting his crush.

'Ah, is this the woman from last night? She has a sharp tongue, but if she is his type, I guess I have to support him in any way!' Chloe thought. 'Though, I shouldn't pester him too much, I don't want to be called weird for being overly nosey.'

Chloe was happy that Vernon finally found someone that could replace the woman in his heart.

After all, it wasn't good to dawdle in the past for too long. Maybe that woman had moved on by now.

Chloe hadn't been able to watch over Vernon as he grew up in high school, which was always her worry.

She was always thinking about little Vernon during the first few years of her marriage, even when she was pregnant with Mackie. She wondered if little Vernon still remembered that he had a family here, in New York.

So this would be the best time to support Vernon in all of his chase because Chloe really wanted Vernon to settle down and have a happy family.

Chloe put up a light smile and put the food on the long table.

"Vernon, it's time for lunch."

Vernon finally stopped texting and put his phone down once he heard the gentle voice reminding him to eat.

He looked straight and saw Big sis Chloe smiling at him, she had prepared everything, and Vernon's eyes lit up as he stared at the food on the table.

"About time! I'm starving already!"

Chapter 262

Vernon looked straight and saw Big sis Chloe smiling at him, she had prepared everything, and Vernon's eyes lit up as he stared at the food on the table.

"About time! I'm starving already!"

Vernon got up from his executive chair and walked to the sofa.

He sat on the sofa and drank his first banana milk before lunch. Chloe watched how excited Vernon was just looking at his lunch, and there was a warmth in her heart.

'Truly, taking care of my family is my passion. I really want everyone that I treasure to have a good life,' Chloe said in her heart. 'Is it wrong to be a regular housewife nowadays? I just have my family in mind, to be honest….'

Chloe sighed. She liked being a mom and a housewife. She dreamed of being a teacher once, but that was before she had Mackie.

After she got married and had Mackie, she just wanted to raise her right. She would support her daughter, who said she wanted to be a policewoman.

'Well, I'd love to take care of more children, I guess. Mackie will grow up and leave the house once she gets older, which would make me feel lonely….'

Chloe sighed as she realized that she wouldn't be able to have more babies. Vincent was an ass, and she refused to be pregnant with his baby, and she also had no plan to remarry.

Marriage was too traumatizing for her.

'Well, I guess I can take care of Vernon until he kicks me out once he marries a woman that he loves. I guess I should treasure these times with him too,' Chloe thought.

Vernon had just cleaned the plate when he realized that Chloe stood silently while staring emptily at the wall.

He stopped munching and carefully swallowed the food inside his mouth before checking on the empty plate. He ate so fast, probably around five minutes, because he was starving, and the food was too good.

So he forgot about Chloe, who hadn't eaten anything for lunch.

Chloe didn't hear the sound of utensils hitting the plate, so she looked down to check on Vernon, and the empty plate genuinely surprised her;

"Vernon, why are you eating so fast? That's not good for your digestion, you know that, right?"

"I—I'm not a baby! I can handle this!" Vernon retorted as he felt his Big sis Chloe treat him like a kid.

"But you still need to eat slowly… what if you choke on the food?" Chloe sighed. She bent over to pick up the dirty plate, but Vernon grabbed her arm to stop her from doing so because he wanted to ask her something.

Chloe turned her head towards Vernon, "What?"

"C—Can you cook some more for me?" Vernon asked.

"Eh? You want more? But I already cooked double portions for you, because you're a big man. If you eat more than this, you might be putting up too much weight," Chloe said.

"Oh, by the way—" Chloe used her other hand to reach Vernon's face and wiped a trace of mayo from the edge of his lips. "—See? This is why you shouldn't be eating too quickly."

Vernon's cheeks reddened in an instant. His Big sis Chloe made it so casual for her to touch the edge of his lips with her finger.

For her, that might be a small gesture that wouldn't change a thing.

But Vernon… he could feel the trousers tightening around his crotch area.

Vernon quickly released Chloe's hand as he didn't want her to notice his bulge.

"Anyway, don't forget to cook one more portion for tomorrow's lunch. I'm not full with this portion," Vernon instructed.

Chloe still didn't understand why Vernon needed more than this, it was already a big portion for a big man, and she always watched the food that she cooked for Vernon because she wanted him to always be in top shape while he was working.

"Are you sure you can eat it?" Chloe asked. 'I don't like someone who wastes food….'

"I—I will eat it! Why are you asking unnecessary questions anyway? Just do what I said!" Vernon insisted. Though, obviously, that extra portion wasn't for him.

"Alright, fine…" Chloe sighed. She cleaned the table and brought the empty plate with her. She turned around, but before she walked out of the office, Vernon asked;

"You— did you uh… have your lunch?"

"I will go with Diamond for lunch in a nearby restaurant. Do you want me to buy something?" Chloe offered.

Vernon shook his head in response as he was already so full.

"N—No need, just make sure you eat a lot," Vernon said.

Chloe pursed her lips. She actually disliked being told to eat a lot because she remembered how Vincent treated her when she was fat.

Chloe nodded, but she knew she wouldn't be able to do that. She would probably eat two or three spoonfuls of her lunch, but that should be enough for her, who could put on weight easily.

After Chloe left the office, Vernon slumped on the sofa, staring at the ceiling with one hand gently rubbing his bulge. His erection got bigger under his trousers.

"What? I am a man!" Vernon yelled into the air. "Which man wouldn't get hard on when a woman like Chloe rubbed your lips with her smooth finger? My bulge is totally justified!"

Vernon was about to go further and unzip his trousers when he heard a notification from his phone on the desk.

He got up and checked the text.

-

From: [Private number]

On it, Sir.

-

Vernon smirked as he read the simple text from an unknown number. He texted one of the private agents working with him for the past three years.

Vernon told his private agent to help Diamond inquire about Chloe's family. Then once he obtained the correct information, he would launch an attack towards that bitch who attacked Chloe.

The image of that woman being scarred for life gave him such bliss that he started smirking out of sadistic pleasure.

"I will teach her not to mess with my woman."

Chapter 263

​ Vernon had just finished the meeting at late noon. He lifted his sleeve to check the time and then texted Shailene for the second treatment.

—

To: Shailene Walsh

Yo, are you free tonight? I want us to meet because I hadn't told you anything last night.

I'll pay, don't worry.

—

He got a reply five minutes later;

—

From: Shailene Walsh

I just finished a session with my main client, that widow I talked about last night.

You can come to my apartment anytime after dusk. I'll be waiting.

And I don't need your money, for fuck sake!

—

Vernon sighed. Of course, he had to offer money. Because other than that, he had nothing in his arsenal to compensate for all the hassle Shailene had to go through to help him.

Vernon always thought that his worth was determined by the amount of money he could get. So when a woman said she didn't need his money, he got visibly confused and flustered.

'Just like when I realize that Chloe doesn't use my black card to buy anything extravagant…' Vernon thought. 'I thought all women love money, don't they?'

Vernon somewhat understood when Shailene said she didn't need money. She was born into an elite family that ensured she would be wealthy until her death.

But Chloe came from a middle-class family— almost lower class. Now she got the chance to experience all the luxury stuff she wanted, but she didn't seem interested in anything luxurious Vernon offered with that black card in her hand.

'If this is because of a trauma and abuse, I wonder what kind of abuse Chloe got until she didn't even want to use a lot of money for herself….'

'Big brother, why are you doing this to her in the first place? I really thought she would be happy with you….'

Ding!

Vernon heard another notification on his phone. He thought it was Shailene, but Vernon got nervous as he read the sender's name;

—

From: Chloe Gray

Vernon, do you want something to eat for dinner?

Mackie just got a high grade on her exam, so I'm planning to throw a little celebratory dinner at home.

—

Vernon gulped.

Of course, he wanted to join Chloe and Mackie. He started thinking about all the food Chloe had made for her and wondered if he could eat his favorite banana cake too.

But he had already promised Shailene, and he didn't know if Shailene would be available tomorrow.

'Focus on your priority, Vernon. This is for Big sis Chloe as well, so you will understand what she feels and what you can do to help her.'

Thus, Vernon reluctantly replied;

—

To: Chloe Gray

I have a meeting until late at night, so I'll eat outside.

No need to wait for me.

—

Vernon pressed send and put his phone on silent mode because he didn't want to read another text from Chloe.

"Urgh, stay with your priority! Vernon, PRIORITY!" Vernon yelled as he tried to toughen his resolution.

**

Chloe read the text from Vernon and giggled, "He must be meeting that woman again. Gee, he looks like a teenage boy trying to impress his first love."

Mackie sat on the chair while staring at her Mommy, who was giggling when checking the phone, "Mommy, did you see something funny?"

"Ah— no, dear. I was just happy for your Uncle Vernon," Chloe replied.

"Happy?"

"Yeah, he's searching for an aunt!"

"Aunt!" Mackie's eyes widened in fear when she heard 'aunt' coming from her Mommy.

She shook her head out of disbelief and said, "Mommy, don't let Uncle get an aunt! Aunt is bad! They are bad!"

Chloe rushed to her daughter and gave a warm hug to comfort panicking Mackie.

She forgot that Mackie had a deep trauma when she got kidnapped by one of her aunts from the Gray family. There were also many aunts with sharp tongues who mocked Chloe and her whenever they had a Gray family gathering.

"Mommy, I will tell Uncle not to get an Aunt!" Mackie said determinedly.

"W—Well, you shouldn't do that yourself. I will be the one who told him, okay?"

"Why not? I will make sure Uncle listens to me!"

"No-no," Chloe kept denying, afraid that Vernon might find Mackie annoying if she dared to pester about his love life. "Mommy is an adult, and this is adult talk. Your Uncle will listen to me more, so leave it to me, okay?"

"Um… okay then…." Mackie nodded weakly. She really disliked all her aunts because they were so mean to her and her Mommy.

"But if Big Bad Uncle got an aunt, that means we have to return to Daddy! I don't want to live with an aunt!"

"O—Okay, okay, now calm down, dear. It's not good to get worked up over it."

"Mommy, promise Mackie that we will return to Daddy if Uncle gets an aunt! You haven't promised!"

"Okay then, pinky promise, we will return to—" Chloe paused for a second. It was so difficult for her to let these words out. But she had to because she needed to calm her daughter down. "—your Daddy if Uncle Vernon got an aunt, okay?"

"Un… thank you, Mommy…." Mackie buried her face in her Mommy's chest, searching for safety that she could only get from her Mommy. "I don't want you to get hurt. Aunties mocked you, but you don't allow me to fight them…."

Chloe stayed silent.

She thought Mackie would forget about all the hurtful words those women had said to her since she was a toddler.

But it seemed that bad memories made during childhood would always stay in your mind until you were an adult.

'Ah, I guess we will have to move out sooner or later. Mackie is scared of aunt, and Vernon must be disturbed by our presence in his house once he brought his girlfriend here.'

'I just hope that woman will be kind to us, so we can visit Vernon sometimes. Maybe for Christmas and thanksgiving.'

 

Chapter 264

Vernon drove to Shailene's apartment. He knocked, and Shailene opened the door for him.

She was wearing a casual loose shirt and tight jeans, very different from what he saw yesterday.

"Huh, you're far more casual today," Vernon commented without intention.

But Shailene didn't take this kindly, "Why not? You're not so formal with your messy suit as well. You looked like a middle-aged salaryman."

Vernon's brow twitched. He wanted to continue the banter by arguing with Shailene. But he really had no time for bickering. He wanted to get this over with, so he could get an answer on what he should do next to help Chloe.

"Okay, okay, can we just skip to this bickering part and get straight to the therapy?"

Shailene responded with a scoff. She turned around and told Vernon to follow her to the same private office she had.

"Go lay on that chaise longue," Shailene pointed at the lazy chair while she walked to the desk to pick up a pen and a note.

Vernon followed her instructions and lay on the chaise longue while Shailene sat on a chair right beside it.

She crossed her legs and cleared her throat;

p "Now, Mr. Vernon Phoenix Gray, this will be our second therapy session. Though, this might as well be the first because you fell asleep and slept like a log last night," Shailene quipped. "Anyway, you're free to start telling me about Chloe, but don't fall asleep, you'll dirty that chaise longue with your drool."

"I'M NOT DROOLING!"

"You're snoring loudly and also drooling, admit it,"

"Urgh!" Vernon constantly got annoyed and really wanted to argue again. But he didn't want to waste more time, so he took a deep breath and started talking about Chloe.

"Well, Chloe and I-- we've known each other for so long. She practically raised me when I was a kid because she has been in my life since I was seven-years-old," Vernon said reluctantly, feeling a little vulnerable as he had to tell secrets in his heart to someone else.

"That long?" Shailene raised her brow while writing something in her note. "How did she meet you? Through family gatherings?"

"No, she was--" Vernon paused for a while. He glanced at Shailene, who was staring at him with a scrutinizing gaze as if she wanted to know everything in his mind, making him very uncomfortable.

After all, he was not really the type to open up about his problem.

Vernon took another deep breath and continued, "--she was my big brother's girlfriend in high school. My Big brother was in love with her so much, that was why he brought her to my family mansion."

"She took care of me when no nannies were mentally strong enough to endure my antics. She was the only one who could make me listen," Vernon said.

"She is the one who raised me right, the one who listened to my worries, and also the one who taught me many things. She did everything that my ever-ignorant parents didn't do."

He wanted to close his eyes to better visualize his childhood again.

But if he did it, he was afraid he might drown in his fantasy and fall asleep again.

"I see..." Shailene nodded. She continued writing on her note and asked, "So I assume that you fell in love with her because of familiarity, correct?"

"Familiarity--?"

"Yes, when you live with someone that is not blood-related to you, you will get familiar with them," Shailene explained. "When two people are familiar with each other, a romantic connection might develop. I think this is what happened to you."

"Now, the question is... if Chloe is replaced by someone woman who took care of you when you grew up, will you fall in love with that woman as well?" Shailene left a question that got Vernon thinking.

What she said made sense.

If Big sis Chloe was replaced by someone else growing up, would he fall in love with that person?

Vernon was thinking for a long while, and he hesitated, "I--I'm not sure. But... I don't think she is replaceable. She is the only one who could understand me. So there is nobody to replace her."

Shailene sighed, "That is what we call familiarity and dependency. That is not love, Vernon."

"What?!" Vernon got up from the chaise longue and glared at Shailene. "I've been in love with her for more than fifteen years, and you claimed that my feeling is not love?! What kind of stupid psychologist are you?!"

Shailene wasn't phased at all by Vernon's sudden outburst. She looked at the tall man and replied, "I am just analyzing within my field of expertise. No need to get worked up."

"I'm here to get help, so I can help my Chloe at home!" Vernon raised his voice as he found that statement to be very offensive for him.

He was in love with Chloe for fifteen years straight. Although he would never admit it in front of Chloe, he knew deep in his heart that she was the woman who kept him going every day.

Because if he had to be true to himself, he was a man who didn't give a shit about reputation, status, and such.

He started doing business because he knew that women wanted money, and if he wasn't as rich as his Big brother, then he had no worth as a man. He also thought that Chloe would laugh at him if he wasn't filthy-fucking-rich.

So when his love for Chloe got questioned, he felt that his whole existence was also being questioned.

Shailene shrugged it off lightly and added more fuel to the fire, "Do you want me to be more ruthless with my assessment? I think your 'Big sis Chloe' is a groomer who manipulated you to fall in love with her when you're a kid. That's why you're hopelessly in love with her now."

"Everything is just part of her manipulation tactic because she's a pedophile."

Chapter 265

"Everything is just part of her manipulation tactic because she's a pedophile."

Shailene dropped the bomb and stunned Vernon to the point that his face paled for a second before it got red out of rage. He clenched his fist and roared at Shailene;

"TAKE THAT BACK, YOU BITCH!"

"That's not a kind word to say to someone who wants to help you, Vernon," Shailene said nonchalantly.

Vernon thought she sounded callous and ingenuine right now. How could she say that she wanted to help him but also that Chloe was

a pedophile who had groomed Vernon since he was a kid!

She was framing Chloe for something that she didn't do at all!

"Listen, you dipshit. Big sis Chloe never did anything sexual, nor did she ever harrassed me when I was a kid. All she did was nurturing me, and teaching me to become a better human!" Vernon insisted.

But Shailene scoffed again as she found that ridiculous: "You're saying that because you see things on rose-coloured glasses. Maybe she did it when you were too young to understand. She is a pedophile."

"STOP SLANDERING HER, YOU—" Vernon could not hold his rage anymore. He walked towards Shailene. He wanted to punch her face, but when he saw that Shailene didn't feel scared, he knew that punching her would be a bad idea.

Because she came from an influential family, any lawsuit would be very troublesome for Vernon.

So he held himself from hurting Shailene and kicked the drawer right next to her seat until it flew and hit the wall.

Vernon was still angry and knew that he would eventually destroy everything here if he didn't get out.

"I'm leaving. I don't want to stay here for too long or I might accidentally snap your neck, bitch!" Vernon yelled. He walked to the door, and Shailene only stared in silence until she opened her mouth right before Vernon left the office;

"We're not done with the session, Mr. Vernon Phoenix Gray."

Vernon halted on his track and looked over his shoulder.

His eyes were filled with wrath. He was so close to jumping at Shailene and snapping her neck.

"Are you fucking nuts? Do you really think that I will continue this bullshit session?" Vernon sneered. "I'm here to get help, but what I got was a condescending bitch who can't stay professional with her work."

"Go on, you can call it off for today's session. But you should think about it once you get home," Shailene said. "Do you actually love her, or is it just because her presence has filled your childhood, that's why you have nobody other than her filling your heart."

"You're being manipulated, Vernon," Shailene said. "I am an expert in my field, and I know what I'm talking about."

"And I don't give a fuck, Shailene!" Vernon snapped. "You're not helping me, that's what I know!"

"… Question yourself first, and after you make sure that you got the answer, you can return here," Shailene said. "And I know you WILL return to me, I know that you picked me as your psychologist for this case because you're not someone who can open up easily, especially to strangers."

…

Vernon didn't say a thing after that and left the office. He slammed the door behind him and rushed out of the apartment as he didn't want to be close to that bitch, Shailene.

He entered his car and sat in silence for at least ten minutes before punching the dashboard, "HOW DARE SHE SAID THAT MY CHLOE IS A PEDOPHILE?! I SWEAR I WILL FUCK HER UP!"

Vernon remembered her words. She kept insisting and telling Vernon to question whether he was in love with Chloe or if he was just in love with her because of childhood dependence.

…

"Why am I thinking about this now?" Vernon asked himself. He started to doubt himself. He was so sure that he was in love with Chloe, even though he never admitted it in front of Chloe.

But Shailene said that he might've been groomed by Big sis Chloe since he was young, which was why he became so dependent on her.

…

"No, I don't want to think about it. The only reason I'm branching out in New York is that I want to meet Chloe, and ruin her as an act of revenge— initially. Everything that I do up to this point is because I have her in my mind…."

Vernon closed his eyes for a while, trying to dispel the lingering doubt about this in his mind.

But no matter how often he told himself not to think about it, he kept worrying, scared that his feelings might not be true.

So he had an idea;

"I have to meet her. I have to make sure."

**

Meanwhile, Shailene sighed as she heard the front door being slammed shut. She got up and put her notes on the table.

She sat on the chaise longue while staring at the vast skyscraper adorned with lights.

"I made a mistake," Shailene confessed to herself. "I know that as a psychologist, I shouldn't let my emotions cloud my judgment. But I got jealous when I heard from his mouth how he regarded his Big sis Chloe in such high regard. As if she was an angel on earth."

Shailene had never seen Vernon be so zealous over a woman. He treated Shailene like trash, but he was different when discussing Chloe. Even his eyes were glimmering with love.

It made Shailene feel so wronged as she had to sit here while listening to that scum Vernon who broke her heart, talking about his beloved woman whom he had been in love with since he was a kid.

So Shailene assessed the situation with a coldhearted approach and accused Chloe of being a child predator who groomed Vernon when he was young. That was why Vernon became so attached to his Big sis Chloe.

Shailene bit her lower lip as she tried to defend herself by doing the right thing;

"But it's true. There is a big chance that woman has groomed Vernon, right?"