**Chapter 9**
Julian’s adoration for Chloe reached an almost unbelievable degree.
9:21 AM
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She’d casually mention how beautiful the flowers outside were, and that very afternoon, her hospital room would be overflowing with the same variety of fresh blossoms.
She’d only say how delicious a salted egg yolk pastry was, and that very evening, the best salted egg yolk pastry chef in the entire country would be brought to the hospital by Julian, specifically to make them for Chloe alone in the hospital kitchen.
Even the young nurse assigned to Chloe’s room, who simply exchanged a few words with Chloe and made her laugh happily, woke up the next morning to a hospital notification: she had been promoted to head nurse, and her salary had increased tenfold.
Chloe stayed in the hospital for a week and finally checked out.
Julian didn’t let her feet touch the ground, carrying her the entire time, as if to make sure everyone knew they were a couple.
“Mr. Fuentes-”
Max, the assistant, rushed over, his face pale.
Julian glanced at him, impatiently asking, “What is it? Wait until I’ve taken Chloe home.”
“But Mr. Fuentes, this is… rather serious.”
Julian was highly displeased. “Nothing is more important than Chloe.”
“I know, but Riley…”
At the mention of Riley, Julian immediately shot Max a warning glance. “Don’t mention her in front of Chloe. Go wait for me over there.”
“Yes, sir.”
Julian carefully helped Chloe into the car, then apologized. “Max needs to tell me something. Wait for me, I’ll be right back.”
Chloe pouted playfully, feigning weakness. “Then hurry back. I’m scared alone.”
“Mmm, okay.”
Julian jogged over, eager and impatient. “What’s wrong with that woman now? Speak quickly, I don’t want Chloe to wait too long.”
Max hesitated. “Riley… seems to have died.”
Julian’s head snapped up. “What do you mean, ‘seems to have died‘?”
“When I arrived with the men, there was only a pool of blood. We couldn’t find her. But I asked the nearby villagers. It had been raining heavily for two days, and no one went out, but almost all the villagers heard wolf howling. And next to the pool of blood, there were scattered wolf paw prints.”
Julian paused, slightly stunned. “Are you saying… Riley might have been eaten by wolves?”
“Very likely,” Max said. “There’s only one village nearby. The villagers didn’t venture out, and she was so severely injured. There’s no way she could have walked out on her own.”
Julian felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest, inexplicably.
He frowned slightly, clutching his heart.
Max quickly supported him. “Mr. Fuentes, are you alright? Are you exhausted from staying up day and night guarding Miss Chloe?”
Julian shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Riley was just a tool he used to pursue Chloe.
To him, as long as Riley had taken the wedding photos with him, her purpose was served.
Now that Chloe’s attitude towards him was slowly softening, he should logically be happy. But when he suddenly heard the news of Riley’s
9:21 AM
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Perhaps it was just because Riley’s death was so horrific.
She was likely still alive when the wild wolves tore her apart.
Wolves‘ feeding habits differ from tigers‘ and lions‘. Tigers and lions bite the prey’s throat, waiting for it to die completely before enjoying the
meal.
But wolves don’t.
Wolves tear off flesh piece by piece from living prey. The prey watches its own body slowly being eaten.
Terror mingled with the fear of death, until the physical form was completely annihilated.
died.”
Julian said, “Keep this news from Chloe. She’s so kind.
a str
cat could make her risk her life to save it. She’ll be devastated to hear her sister
Max nodded slightly. “Yes, sir.”
When Julian returned to the car, Chloe hadn’t noticed anything
to say something about someone dying?”
and
as
she asked him, “I accidentally overheard just now. Max seemed
Julian, fearing she’d be upset, quickly made up an excuse. “Nothing, Jus, S
stray
died.”
“Oh, I thought it was something important. Just a stray cat. If it’s dead, it’s dead. heard they eat rats. Gross! And they must have so many germs. I always steer clear of them when I see one.”
Julian suddenly felt something was off. “You just said, when you see a stray cat, you… what?”
“I steer clear!” Chloe said. “Oh, by the way, where did Max say there were stray cats? I’m terrified of cats. Tell Max to chase them all away!”
