[Warning: Trauma content.]
Vernon said nothing, but he gently tightened his hug, afraid that Chloe would disappear had he released his embrace.
"Why don't you tell me about your worries? Am I not good enough for you?" Vernon said with an unusually soft voice, something that was almost impossible coming from Vernon's mouth.
He was exceptionally tender for an unknown reason, and that scared Chloe. Because the warmth emanating from his body started seeping inside her cold, bony body.
She was scared she would get addicted to his embrace, so he struggled a bit, "V—Vernon, release me first…."
"I don't want to," Vernon refused. "I know you will run away again if I release my hug."
The way Vernon became so warm towards her actually terrified her. She was used to being treated harshly. Thus, when a man treated her this tenderly, she couldn't help but think that he secretly had malicious intent toward her.