The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 203: Chapter 203
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The employees were shaken, and with the studio in disarray, normal work was impossible. After a call with Lana, Serena decided to give everyone the rest of the day off. "Alright, everyone, go home and rest. I'm so sorry about today."
Chloe saw her colleagues out. Watching several girls break down in tears deepened her guilt. She thought, 'If it weren't for me, they wouldn't have been terrified like this. The studio wouldn't have suffered such damage.'
Serena, noticing Chloe's expression, stepped forward and gently ruffled her hair. "This isn't your fault. No one here blames you. Don't overthink it." Her eyes gleamed under the soft light, warm and reassuring.
Chloe's composure shattered. She buried her face in Serena's shoulder and sobbed, "I'm sorry, Seri. I've let everyone down. I never thought I would bring so much trouble. Maybe I shouldn't have come back or sought out Keith. It's all my fault!"
Her voice cracked. "Maybe I should leave the studio. If I'm not here, no one else will get hurt. I'll take all the blame. I deserve it."
Serena knew Chloe had reached her breaking point. No amount of comforting words would help now. Chloe needed to let it all out.
With a soft sigh, Serena gently patted Chloe's back, silently reassuring her that she had never blamed her.
Chloe cried freely, washing away weeks of pent-up frustration and guilt with her tears.
Once she had calmed down, Serena spoke, "Alright, Chloe, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear you say you'd leave. Like I said, no one blames you. Here. Check the group chat." She handed Chloe her phone, where a flood of messages—Thanks, Chloe.
Confused, Chloe blinked. She thought, 'Why would they thank me after this accident?'
Serena chuckled, "The compensation process will take time, so we can't work right now. Lana decided to give everyone three days of paid leave. All thanks to you."
Chloe was overwhelmed. Despite the trouble she had caused, her colleagues still comforted her.
Serena said softly, "Things might seem bleak now, but because of today, everyone gets a break. Chloe, I know you'll grow from this. And when it's all over, you'll find your happiness."
Chloe's tear-filled eyes finally flickered with a faint smile.
Soon, Lana rushed back to the studio after finishing her errands, only to find the place in ruins. Though Serena had told her, seeing the damage firsthand still ignited her fury.
She spat, "Ashton sure knows how to pick his moments. Attacking when I'm not around. If I'd been here, I'd have beaten him to a pulp!"
Serena handed her a glass of water, prepared earlier. "Easy. At least no one got hurt. And the Kingsley family will pay for the damages. Just consider it a free studio renovation."
Lana took the water just as a male voice sounded from the doorway. "Ms. Gray is right, you know. Lana, you're always so fiery and impatient."
Serena was a bit surprised, and Chloe looked confused. They looked up, squinting against the backlight to see a young man stepping inside. Though his features were shadowed, his presence alone screamed handsome.
Chloe blinked, momentarily stunned. "And you are..." she asked, glancing at Lana.
"Don't get any funny ideas. He's my brother." Lana clarified. She had mentioned him before—a sibling she never got along with, their personalities polar opposites. After he left for studies abroad, their contact dwindled. So even Serena, her closest friend, had never met him.
"Simon Quinn." Simon introduced himself, extending his hand with a charming smile. Noticing Chloe's tear-streaked face, he plucked a tissue from a nearby desk and offered it. "Such a lovely young lady shouldn't cry. It'd break someone's heart."
Lana kicked Simon's shin. "Ugh, you're so corny. Chloe's my friend. Keep your flirting to yourself."
From the moment Simon laid eyes on Chloe, he had found her utterly endearing, even with her tear-streaked face and disheveled appearance.
Serena sensed something off about Simon. Despite this being their first meeting, he was unusually attentive to Chloe.
"This place is a mess. Let's all head home and come back once the studio is fixed," Lana said through gritted teeth. "I'm squeezing every penny out of Ashton for this."
Serena couldn't help but chuckle. Honestly, it was typical Lana. Given how far Ashton had crossed the line, extorting him seemed justified.
"We'll get going first," Serena said, turning to Chloe. "Let's go. I'll cook you something nice tonight. What do you crave?"
Mention of Serena's cooking instantly lifted Chloe's spirits. Clearing her throat, she started listing dishes as they walked out, her tears forgotten.
Watching her like this, Simon suddenly broke into a grin.
"Are you insane?" Lana rolled her eyes.
Chloe saw her colleagues out. Watching several girls break down in tears deepened her guilt. She thought, 'If it weren't for me, they wouldn't have been terrified like this. The studio wouldn't have suffered such damage.'
Serena, noticing Chloe's expression, stepped forward and gently ruffled her hair. "This isn't your fault. No one here blames you. Don't overthink it." Her eyes gleamed under the soft light, warm and reassuring.
Chloe's composure shattered. She buried her face in Serena's shoulder and sobbed, "I'm sorry, Seri. I've let everyone down. I never thought I would bring so much trouble. Maybe I shouldn't have come back or sought out Keith. It's all my fault!"
Her voice cracked. "Maybe I should leave the studio. If I'm not here, no one else will get hurt. I'll take all the blame. I deserve it."
Serena knew Chloe had reached her breaking point. No amount of comforting words would help now. Chloe needed to let it all out.
With a soft sigh, Serena gently patted Chloe's back, silently reassuring her that she had never blamed her.
Chloe cried freely, washing away weeks of pent-up frustration and guilt with her tears.
Once she had calmed down, Serena spoke, "Alright, Chloe, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear you say you'd leave. Like I said, no one blames you. Here. Check the group chat." She handed Chloe her phone, where a flood of messages—Thanks, Chloe.
Confused, Chloe blinked. She thought, 'Why would they thank me after this accident?'
Serena chuckled, "The compensation process will take time, so we can't work right now. Lana decided to give everyone three days of paid leave. All thanks to you."
Chloe was overwhelmed. Despite the trouble she had caused, her colleagues still comforted her.
Serena said softly, "Things might seem bleak now, but because of today, everyone gets a break. Chloe, I know you'll grow from this. And when it's all over, you'll find your happiness."
Chloe's tear-filled eyes finally flickered with a faint smile.
Soon, Lana rushed back to the studio after finishing her errands, only to find the place in ruins. Though Serena had told her, seeing the damage firsthand still ignited her fury.
She spat, "Ashton sure knows how to pick his moments. Attacking when I'm not around. If I'd been here, I'd have beaten him to a pulp!"
Serena handed her a glass of water, prepared earlier. "Easy. At least no one got hurt. And the Kingsley family will pay for the damages. Just consider it a free studio renovation."
Lana took the water just as a male voice sounded from the doorway. "Ms. Gray is right, you know. Lana, you're always so fiery and impatient."
Serena was a bit surprised, and Chloe looked confused. They looked up, squinting against the backlight to see a young man stepping inside. Though his features were shadowed, his presence alone screamed handsome.
Chloe blinked, momentarily stunned. "And you are..." she asked, glancing at Lana.
"Don't get any funny ideas. He's my brother." Lana clarified. She had mentioned him before—a sibling she never got along with, their personalities polar opposites. After he left for studies abroad, their contact dwindled. So even Serena, her closest friend, had never met him.
"Simon Quinn." Simon introduced himself, extending his hand with a charming smile. Noticing Chloe's tear-streaked face, he plucked a tissue from a nearby desk and offered it. "Such a lovely young lady shouldn't cry. It'd break someone's heart."
Lana kicked Simon's shin. "Ugh, you're so corny. Chloe's my friend. Keep your flirting to yourself."
From the moment Simon laid eyes on Chloe, he had found her utterly endearing, even with her tear-streaked face and disheveled appearance.
Serena sensed something off about Simon. Despite this being their first meeting, he was unusually attentive to Chloe.
"This place is a mess. Let's all head home and come back once the studio is fixed," Lana said through gritted teeth. "I'm squeezing every penny out of Ashton for this."
Serena couldn't help but chuckle. Honestly, it was typical Lana. Given how far Ashton had crossed the line, extorting him seemed justified.
"We'll get going first," Serena said, turning to Chloe. "Let's go. I'll cook you something nice tonight. What do you crave?"
Mention of Serena's cooking instantly lifted Chloe's spirits. Clearing her throat, she started listing dishes as they walked out, her tears forgotten.
Watching her like this, Simon suddenly broke into a grin.
"Are you insane?" Lana rolled her eyes.
End of The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep Chapter 203. Continue reading Chapter 204 or return to The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep book page.