The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 188: Chapter 188

"I didn't do anything wrong. I just wanted to get along with my colleagues, so I ordered coffee for everyone," Chloe said, trying to defend herself.
She wanted to argue more, but deep down, she knew better than anyone what her actions truly meant.
So she just grumbled under her breath and then stopped talking.
Serena knew Keith was standing up for her, so she couldn't help but smile.
Chloe was like an immature young girl. Even though she had said some pretty harsh things before, Serena was willing to let bygones be bygones, since Chloe's father had once helped Keith.
But maybe that was exactly why Serena felt unsettled inside. She couldn't really blame anyone, but she just couldn't shake off the feeling of unhappiness.
"Also, I'll be pretty busy for a while. When you're at home, Chloe, be nice to Seri," Keith said.
Keith was openly taking Serena's side, but he never believed Serena'd go out of her way to make trouble for anyone.
Chloe's eyes were already red, but she still agreed.
Soon, the weekend rolled around.
Keith had been swamped lately, with the company busy negotiating new deals. Alyssa had been sent over to Nate for a round of therapy, so only Chloe and Serena were at home.
Serena was in her room sketching when Chloe suddenly knocked on the door.
"Chloe?" Serena called out.
When she saw it was Chloe, Serena set her pen aside, a bit taken aback, but she still gestured for her to come in.
Chloe looked a bit awkward, crossing her arms as she scanned the room.
This used to be Keith's study, but after Serena moved in, it had become their common space.
On one side were Keith's company documents and some dense, hard-to-read books; on the other were Serena's things, all warm and cozy, as if they belonged to two different worlds.
Yet somehow, they blended together perfectly.
Serena waited for a moment and then asked gently, "Did you want to talk about something?"
Chloe looked a little awkward, a flicker of discomfort crossing her face.
"I can't come to see you unless I have a reason?" Chloe muttered, then added, "I'm going to a bar. Will you come with me?"
'It's not weird for adults to go to a bar, but Chloe really doesn't seem like the type to invite me out for fun,' Serena mused.
Noticing the confusion and unease in Serena's eyes, Chloe immediately looked even more aggrieved, as if she'd been deeply wronged.
"Why are you staring at me like that? I swear I don't have any bad intentions. I'm just bored out of my mind here," Chloe huffed.
"Besides, didn't you just come back from abroad? What, are you scared or something?" she teased.
Hearing this, Serena shook her head.
"Are you coming or not? Why is it so hard to talk to you?" Chloe snapped, crossing her arms in frustration.
Serena hesitated for a moment but finally nodded.
Chloe was still pretty young, and she clearly wasn't in the best mood. If she went to a bar alone and something happened, it could be dangerous.
Plus, Serena had been stuck with her drawings lately—maybe getting out for a bit would help clear her head and spark some new inspiration.
When Serena finally said yes, Chloe got all awkward again, huffed, and spun around to go change her clothes.
Watching Chloe's little tantrum, Serena actually found her kind of adorable. She sighed to herself, 'I just hope everything goes smoothly and we don't run into any more drama.'
After changing, they headed downstairs together. Chloe seemed to know the area pretty well, so she picked the bar herself, and Serena just followed Chloe.
"Aren't you worried I might kidnap you?" Chloe teased, glancing back at Serena, who looked all gentle and sweet, totally not the type of person one would expect to see in a bar.
Honestly, Chloe was a little surprised Serena had even agreed to come.
"Why would I be scared? Besides, would you really do something like that?" Serena replied.
Chloe made a face. "Don't trust me like that. We're not that close, are we? Just so you know, I like Keith too. That makes us rivals now. So don't go acting like you're generous."
Serena had long suspected as much, but hearing Chloe admit it out loud still hit differently.
They walked into a bar tucked away around the corner, and Chloe started ordering round after round, looking like she wasn't planning to go home unless she drank herself under the table.
Serena knew she was a total lightweight—just one drink and she'd be out. In a place crawling with strangers like this, it was definitely safer to keep her wits about her and not drink at all.
"I've already told you I like your boyfriend. Why are you just sitting there all unfazed?" Chloe choked out, her voice trembling as the liquor hit her.
"I always thought that even if he never understood how I felt, he'd still be waiting for me," she said, her words starting to blur together.
"But what gives you the right to suddenly show up and butt in? Keith is the one I've loved since I was a kid. Do you even realize that?" she asked.
The alcohol was hitting her hard, and tears started falling down her cheeks. "You're always so indifferent, like everything should just go your way. But I've known Keith way longer than you ever have."
Seeing Chloe so heartbroken, Serena couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her. She pulled a tissue from the side and handed it over. "But you know, feeling is more important than order in a relationship.
"I can see how much you care about Keith, but my feelings for him aren't any less than yours."
Serena might have been gentle by nature, but she wasn't the type to just step aside for anyone. She and Keith were together because they truly loved each other. So even if she felt bad for Chloe, Serena didn't think she was in the wrong at all.
"I'm begging you. Please let me have him," Chloe pleaded, clutching Serena's hand tightly.
"If you break up with him, you can use any reason you want—whatever it is, as long as I can do it, I promise I'll agree," she begged.
"Please, just let me have Keith back, okay?" she sobbed.
Chloe reeked of alcohol, and Serena understood that everything she was saying came from a place of raw emotion and intoxication.
Still, Serena shook her head seriously. "Keith isn't some object you can bargain for, and our relationship isn't something that can just be traded away. I can't simply give up on our feelings.
"Honestly, maybe you don't really love him that much. It's just that you two grew up together, so you feel attached to him."
Serena's voice was gentle, but it carried an unshakable determination.
"If Keith and I weren't already together, maybe I would have agreed to compete with you fairly. But now, I'm already the one he loves, the one he's chosen to spend his life with," Serena said firmly.