Hearts Remember What Minds Try To Forget by Rex Wilder 7

I turned back, stunned, to see Chloe sobbing uncontrollably in Lucas’s arms. 

“Thorne…” Chloe choked out, her voice laced with accusation. “Your wife knows what her brother did to me. trauma. Yet she sent me this video as a birthday gift! She’s trying to drive me to my death!” 

Lucas held Chloe tightly, his head snapping up, eyes blazing with fury as they locked on mine. 

A sickening jolt. 

My heart plummeted. 

I’d never seen such a glacial indifference, such terrifying malice in Lucas’s eyes. 

She knows it’s my deepest 

He hated me–truly, deeply hated me. He hated me for the torment Chloe was enduring, and even more for the public humiliation I’d inflicted upon her. 

Chloe’s agony was his, a mirroring pain that seemed to carve itself into Lucas’s very soul. 

My eyes slowly filled with tears, blurring my vision. 

I’d thought I was already numb. 

Still, that look in Lucas’s eyes, so utterly alien, constricted my throat, the pain so sharp it stole my breath. 

“Don’t you worry, Chloe.” Lucas’s hand moved reassuringly over Chloe’s back, holding her tight against him. His eyes, cold as ice, pinned me where I stood as he rumbled, a fierce promise directed at her, “I won’t let anyone ever hurt you again.” 

Lucas had once spoken those exact words to me, countless times. 

Back when I was hustling to get my company off the ground, he’d be right there, my rock, softly whispering, “Baby, let me take on all that pressure. It breaks my heart to see you so exhausted.” 

“I’ll never let the woman I love suffer any wrong, not a single slight. Not while I’m here. I won’t let you feel a moment of sadness.” 

But now? 

Lucas would rather believe Chloe’s lies than use his eyes and heart to see the truth. 

Meanwhile, all the guests present were loudly adding fuel to the fire, gossiping: 

“Mrs. Thorne’s brother is utterly shameless, isn’t he? Daring to do such a disgraceful thing to Mr. Thorne’s darling? He must be asking 

for trouble.” 

“I heard Mrs. Thorne’s brother died yesterday. Serves him right for daring to cross Mr. Thorne’s beloved woman. He got what he 

deserved.” 

“Even if Mrs. Thorne did marry Mr. Thorne, she can’t hold a candle to the Vance family heiress. To bring out a video like that? She’s practically testing Mr. Thorne’s limits.” 

A cold dread crept up my spine, my face draining of color, as if I’d been plunged into an abyss of despair. 

Everyone was saying I was no match for Chloe, and even I was starting to agree. 

Lucas didn’t love me. Lucas loved Chloe. 

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The thought of it tore my heart to shreds. 

But what plunged me deeper into despair was that Lucas didn’t blame me. Instead, he pulled out his phone and instructed his secretary, “Go pick up the missus’s mother. Yes, right now. Do it immediately.” 

He slowly turned his gaze to me, his cold, indifferent eyes settling on my face. A cruel, punishing smile curved his lips as he added, “Tell her the missus misses her and wants to reunite.” 

My blood ran cold, and I gasped for breath, shaking my head frantically at Lucas. “No, Lucas, please don’t…” 

Lucas’s smile deepened, a wicked glint in his eyes. He hung up the phone, tightening his hold on Chloe, pulling her even closer into his embrace. Then, with a sigh of mock resignation, he looked at me. “Wife, you’ve been a very naughty girl. But I’m too soft–hearted for you, too fond to punish you myself.” 

“So, I guess my mother–in–law will have to take one for the team.” 

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