Chapter 19

"Mommy, I want to leave this picnic and return home. I'm scared…."

Chloe smiled bitterly and caressed Mackie's hair. She had no answer to that because there was no way in hell she would return to Vincent.

But if she said no to Mackie, she would probably throw another tantrum. So she asked, "What if we moved to a better home instead? We can't return home because Daddy is still busy. But we can always move to a better home…."

"Ah! I would love that!" Mackenzie nodded happily. She was too accustomed to her old home, where she didn't need to shush-shush. "When will we move, Mommy? Tomorrow?"

"D—Don't worry. It won't be long," Chloe said.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Okay, Mommy, good night," Mackenzie felt a lot better after getting the promise that she wanted. She closed her eyes and fell asleep after such a long day.

The smile on Chloe's lips faltered after Mackie fell asleep. She sighed deeply because the worry in her heart grew even more. She was worried about her saving, her job hunting, Mackie's demand to move somewhere else, and also her school tuition.

Mackenzie's tuition fee was paid per semester, and the semester was about to end. Chloe needed to get a big sum of money to pay for that tuition through any means.

"Should I… call that bastard?" Chloe asked herself. She hated to call that bastard, but this was for Mackenzie's study. So it was a shared responsibility.

Chloe braced herself and grabbed her phone. She dialed a number, and after a few beeps, the man finally picked up.

—

"Calling me now?" Vincent asked as he picked up the call. He chuckled as he had already guessed that Chloe was desperate.

…

Chloe took another deep breath to calm herself. There was no reason to fight Vincent, at least not when it was about Mackie's future. She really wanted to curse this bastard for ruining all her chances of getting a job.

"This semester is about to end. You need to pay Mackie's tuition," Chloe said coldly.

"Tuition? Well, of course, that's my legal responsibility," Vincent replied lightly. "I thought you were the one who would take care of her. The 'brave woman' is nothing but a deadbeat, huh?"

"Shut up, Vincent. You're the one who ruined my chance to get a job!" Chloe went to the bathroom and closed the door so she wouldn't wake Mackenzie up while she raised her voice towards this asshole.

"Ruined your chance?"

"I know you're the one who forbids all of them to take me in!" Chloe accused, venting out her frustration. "You know how much of a dirty bastard you are? Does it feel good to see me not able to feed Mackie?!"

Vincent didn't really understand what Chloe was talking about. He did nothing so far because he had already expected Chloe to fail. She was nothing but a dumb woman, after all.

But, he liked that she thought her downfall was his cause. Just thinking of teaching this bitch a few things about humility and obedience gave him the thrill!

"Well, I don't care whether you got a job. I know an incompetent woman like you has no chance to work," Vincent mocked. "Anyway, if you want the money to pay for Mackie's tuition, you have to meet me at home. As long as you beg, I will give it to you."

"Fuck no!" Chloe responded harshly. "I will never step on that fucking house, not after you've done to me, Vincent!"

"Besides, do you think I can't bring this to the court? Mackenzie's future is also your responsibility!" Chloe continued raising her voice while sitting on the toilet seat. This was the only place where she could vent without waking Mackie up. "They will force you to pay up!"

"Haha! Chloe Gray, you're such an idiot!" Vincent ridiculed. "I can always give you the money as long as you're willing to meet me. Do you think that the court won't favor me? I'm the husband who wants you back, remember?"

"I bet they will force you to 'fix' our relationship through marriage counseling and consider it done," Vincent said. He smirked as he could sense the dread in Chloe across the call.

"You're not going to get anything from me without the divorce, you dumb bitch. And I will never sign that divorce paper. I will even plead for marriage counseling in the court instead," Vincent told his solid plan to Chloe, and the latter was too stunned to speak. "Honestly, my track record is so clean, and with the help of a few strings I can pull, you'll be the one who ended up with nothing but regrets, Chloe Gray."

…

"So, I'm just going to say this one more time before hanging up. Crawl back to me, and I will forgive you and your dumb decisions. It's that easy."

Beep.

Vincent hung up the call without waiting for Chloe's response, leaving her speechless and hopeless.

Chloe could hear a crack in her heart. For some idiotic reason, she thought that Vincent still cared for Mackenzie.

Of course, he wouldn't. He cheated on her while Mackie was still inside her belly. He never actually loved his own daughter.

Chloe lowered her head, staring at the tears that started dropping from his eyes to her thighs, "There is no point in calling that bastard in the first place. I'm all alone…."