"I remember Lucas telling me that you’ve had a crush on a girl for many years, a girl whose back looks a lot like mine, so...you made me your substitute, didn’t you? Just like that kiss, it’s a substitute! Matthew, you’re too much!"
Her words were almost a certainty by the end, turning into accusation.
Watching her almost frantic state, Matthew did not respond, but there seemed to be a sense of shock in his eyes, and then something flashed past... before finally calming down.
These details were naturally unnoticed by Chloe Grant at this moment.
Chloe Grant collapsed powerlessly onto the bed.
Murmuring, "It must be ..."
She seemed to be constructing the beginning, process, and conclusion of a story.
Cause: She resembled the girl Matthew had a crush on.
Process: She got involved with Matthew.
Conclusion: She was made a substitute.
The sudden knocking on the door interrupted Chloe Grant’s self-construction, startling her.
"Chloe, you’re inside, aren’t you? Did something happen? Chloe, open the door..."
Isabella Gray’s anxious voice came through, "Quick, get the key for the third floor, something seems wrong with Chloe inside."
Almost as soon as Chloe Grant heard Isabella’s words, she jumped up frantically, "No, I can’t let her come in and see, no, no..."
Matthew pressed down on her shoulders, but Chloe Grant struggled fiercely, fear evident in her gaze at him.
That gaze momentarily made Matthew lose focus.
Outside the door, Mr. Morgan’s voice sounded, "What’s going on?"
"I don’t know. When I was upstairs, I heard Chloe shouting inside, I don’t know what’s happening, I’m worried sick. Hurry with the key, you’re so slow!"
Matthew blinked, then bent down to pick up the clothes on the floor, pressing Chloe Grant back onto the bed, pulling her worn-out shirt, and slipping a white T-shirt over her, urging her to cover herself with the blanket.
As Isabella Gray opened the door to come in, Matthew quickly darted towards the window and then leapt straight out...
Chloe Grant was completely shocked!
Hearing Isabella’s call, Chloe Grant quickly pulled up the blanket, wrapping herself tightly, exposing only half of her body in the white T-shirt.
Isabella Gray came over, sitting by Chloe Grant’s bedside, hands rubbing her shoulders, looking her up and down, "Chloe darling, what happened to you?"
Chloe Grant shook her head, "Nothing, nothing happened!"
Yet her gaze couldn’t help but drift towards the window...
This is the third floor, did he really go crazy and jump out like that?
"Don’t be afraid, if something’s wrong, talk to grandma," Isabella Gray was evidently very worried.
Chloe Grant didn’t look like something was wrong.
"I... I just had a nightmare!"
Seeing Mr. Morgan walk in, Chloe Grant quickly explained.
"I just drank a bit too much yesterday, feeling unwell, then had a nightmare."
Isabella Gray touched Chloe Grant’s face, feeling there was something odd about the room.
The jasmine scent was a bit too overwhelming, as if it was covering up some other smell.
"Yes, I’m just a bit tired, I want to sleep a bit more." Chloe Grant said, forcing a smile.
But her face was visibly pale.
"Since there’s nothing wrong, let Chloe sleep a bit more." Mr. Morgan said from the side.
"I’ll have someone prepare something for you, eat a bit before you sleep?" Isabella Gray still felt uneasy.
Chloe Grant quickly shook her head, "I’m not hungry, and eating would make it hard to sleep."
Isabella Gray pinched her cheek.
In the past week, Chloe Grant had lost a lot of weight, her face lacked the fullness it once had.