The Loyal Puppet: A Love Built on Lies novel Chapter 21

Since that day in the car, Mason hadn't tried to find her.

Or more accurately, he didn't know how to face her.

Every time he thought about it, it felt like a knife slicing through his chest.

No one could bring back the dead, and he would never be able to make up for her loss.

That was a gap between them, a canyon they could never cross.

While Chloe stayed at the hospital taking care of Lucas, she heard that the former director, Collins, had been removed from his position.

A ripple of recognition stirred inside her.

She knew exactly who was behind it, but it was quickly replaced by calm.

Lucas's mother always had a grudge against Chloe, blaming her for what had happened to her son.

Lucas had become increasingly irritable and angry, all due to his leg injuries.

Chloe quietly endured, staying by her side.

Without Chloe, Mason seemed unchanged.

He still thrived, but the hole in his heart grew deeper, darker.

One night, after a heavy drinking session, Ava was wearing Chloe's silk nightgown, lying beside him.

He glanced at her and kissed her fiercely, but the person under him softly called out, "Mason."

He jerked awake, closing his eyes and breathing deeply, a wave of overwhelming loss filling his chest.

He pushed Ava away.

"Don't wear Chloe's clothes," he muttered before standing up to leave.

Ava thought Mason had mistaken her for Emma, but instead, he had mistaken her for Chloe.

"Mason, I like you, I like you like a sister," Ava cried out in desperation.

"Do you like England?"

Mason asked, catching her off guard.

"I'll have someone arrange for you to study abroad in London."

"You'll leave after the new year."

Mason's voice was calm, without emotion, and Ava knew there was no room for negotiation.

He was simply informing her.

"You'll never feel better about yourself."

"No matter what you do, you'll never make up for what he did."

"If you hadn't insisted on joining the peacekeeping mission, Lucas wouldn't have gone."

"You're nothing but trouble."

Lucas's mom was still ranting in her ear, blaming Chloe for never avoiding Lucas.

"Mom, stop it. I'm telling you to stop!"

Lucas slammed his fists on his legs, his voice breaking.

Lucas's mom, tears streaming down her face, grabbed his hands, afraid he'd hurt himself again.

Chloe pressed her lips together, silently cleaning up the medical supplies nearby, not saying a word.

Mason leaned against the wall outside the door.

The dim hallway stretched long, the light at the end casting his shadow far across the floor.

After Lucas's mom left, still muttering under her breath, Lucas grabbed Chloe's hand and asked her to help him stand.

He leaned his weight on her slender frame, bending her under the pressure.

Maybe it was the exhaustion from days and nights of caregiving, but Chloe lost her balance and fell by the bed, her head hitting the railing.

Dizziness washed over her.

"Chloe, are you okay?"

Lucas asked, panic in his voice.

Hearing the commotion, Mason burst through the door and rushed to Chloe.

He helped her up gently, his heart aching when he saw the red mark on her forehead.

Chloe pushed him away immediately.

"Stay away from us. We don't need your help."

Ava appeared at the door, her voice sharp.