Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover novel Chapter 617

Chloe was completely stunned, frozen right where she stood. Linda's gaze sharpened, and she turned her head slightly, locking eyes with Chloe. In that moment, all Chloe could feel was shock. Linda was awake—truly awake. Chloe barely had time to process it. She reached for the bedside alarm, but Linda grabbed her arm, her voice clear as a bell, “Chloe, don't call anyone. I need to talk to you.”

Chloe was taken aback by Linda's clarity. It was as if she had fully come back to life. Chloe's body tensed up. She noticed how Linda's skin had regained a healthy glow, and her eyes sparkled with life. Linda really was back, and she looked surprisingly well. Chloe let out a quiet sigh of relief.

She sat back down in the chair by Linda's bed. Linda reached up and pulled off her oxygen mask. Chloe wanted to stop her but was just a second too late. Yet, seeing Linda now, she seemed almost like her old self. Linda turned her head towards Chloe, tears glistening in her eyes. She spoke, her words clear and deliberate, “Chloe, I've heard everything you've been saying to me these past few days.”

Chloe was caught off guard. Linda had been in a coma this whole time, and Chloe never expected her to hear any of it. “Do you want to know why I took a bullet for you?” Linda asked. Chloe didn't say a word, just kept her eyes on Linda.

Linda smiled softly, “Because if you weren't in this world, my life would mean nothing.”

Chloe's eyes widened in disbelief, shock washing over her. But then she snapped back. “Linda, do you hate me that much? All this competing and fighting, is that really so important that it defines your life?”

Chloe couldn't wrap her head around it. Linda seemed paranoid and twisted to her. Fighting each other, causing pain, even at the risk of their lives—how did it come to this?

It was like a lightning bolt striking Chloe’s mind. Everything around her seemed to cloud with confusion. Linda, tears streaming down her face, continued, “For years, I've wanted to destroy you, tear down everything about you, leave you with nothing, all because I wanted you to only have me. I hoped that when you had nothing left, you'd turn to me, and I could make it right. You have such a forgiving heart, I thought you'd eventually forgive me.”

“My life was a mess, coming from the family I did. I thought I’d always be stuck in the mud. But then you came along, like a rose blooming in the muck—so beautiful, so vibrant, full of sunshine. I watched you secretly, feeling joy and quiet gratitude, hoping you'd always blossom in my world.”

“But too many people wanted to take you away. I was scared because I’m just mud, not the sunshine or dew you need. I hated them. I feared you'd see my darkness and the ugliness in me. I was terrified you'd grow tired of me and leave. I worried you were just a fleeting moment in my life, so I thought of something terrible…”