Ch. 481..485: Divorced My Scum Husband, Married His Evil brother Chapter 481-485
Chapter 481
'She feels like home,' that thought flashed in Dorothea's mind as she continued hugging Chloe.
It was difficult to explain, but Dorothea could sense the warmth coming from deep inside Chloe's heart that seeped into Dorothea's, giving her the comfort that she never knew she needed.
Chloe felt stiff and awkward because this was the first time Dorothea ever showed affection to her. It felt strange, but she didn't hate it.
Because she could also feel that Dorothea had no malicious intent toward her.
Thus, Chloe opened her left arm and hugged her back.
Chloe gently rubbed Dorothea's back with one hand, and Dorothea's eyes were glazing with tears right now.
That simple rub on her back assured Dorothea that everything would be alright. Even after all the shit happening in her life, that back rub gave her the illusion that there was still hope for her.
'Now I understand why Vernon will do anything to keep this woman by his side. Because I also want to do the same. I want to have someone so warm by my side when I cry my heart out,' Dorothea thought. "Thank you," she murmured as she squeezed their hugs.
"For what?"
"For hugging me back," Dorothea replied. "It means a lot to me."
"Um… I don't know if that helps," Chloe said. "I feel like I did nothing."
'I see. So Chloe doesn't know how much of an impact she had on Vernon and me. She doesn't know that her existence is enough to make him happy,' Dorothea concluded. But she decided not to say it in front of Chloe because she thought it was quite endearing how innocent and clueless Chloe could be despite her age.
Dorothea wondered if Chloe was naturally naive or if living with Vincent for the past ten years had stunted her emotional growth as an adult woman.
Nevertheless, her innocence cleared Chloe of all the accusations made by Shailene last night, which relieved Dorothea so much.
Truthfully, she wanted to connect with Chloe because they were two women surviving the same fate under similar men. She wanted to have a friend.
Of course, she was surrounded by so many 'friends' right now, mostly those who always attended all her parties and gatherings.
But that wasn't the companionship that she wanted.
She wanted a friend who could make her feel like a human, not a rich witch with a lot of money.
'I hope she will accept me,' Dorothea wished. 'I don't know if she will ever forgive me for all of my ignorance and insults. But I will try, that's all I can do right now. Trying and hoping that she will accept me, and I… I can finally have a friend, the first one in my life….'
Dorothea finally released her hug. She grabbed Chloe's shoulder and pushed her to her arm's length, so Dorothea could see her daughter-in-law's face.
Chloe seemed to have gained weight. Her cheeks were fuller, and her complexion was the rudder. Though she was still thin, it was a huge improvement since the last time Dorothea saw Chloe. She also seemed healthy and happy, proving that she had a far better life with Vernon than with Vincent.
Of course, Dorothea realized all the changes in Chloe's body back then. She had an hourglass body when she married Vincent, then suddenly became fatter once she gave birth to Mackie.
It took her so many years to lose weight, but she lost too much that she became nothing but skin and bone.
Deep down, Dorothea knew that Chloe must've been under tremendous pressure because she was also forced by Vaughn to stay in shape, or he'd usually beat her for being too ugly.
Deep down, Dorothea already knew that Chloe must've suffered the same fate as her.
She was just trying to turn blind and deaf because she didn't want to reply to all the bad memories with Vaughn.
And she also thought that it was all justified because Vincent was her beloved son, and convinced herself that her son was better than Vaughn.
'Turns out the apple doesn't fall far from the tree…' Dorothea thought.
Dorothea gave her most sincere smile. She didn't care if Chloe noticed all her wrinkles. She didn't feel like maintaining any image because everything had crumbled when Vincent showed his true nature.
"You seem healthier now," Dorothea praised. "Fuller, rudder, and happier."
Chloe's cheeks reddened when Dorothea praised her. She was not used to being praised in the first place, but getting a compliment from her usually condescending mother-in-law really flustered her.
"T—Thank you…." Chloe murmured. She wanted to return the compliment by saying that Dorothea had gotten more beautiful or that she looked happier. But that would be complete bullshit.
Because Dorothea was a mess right now. Her hair was let loose, and strains of whites were showing everywhere. She had crow's feet and wrinkles every time she smiled or spoke. Her eyes were also puffy. It seemed that she had cried more than she should have.
Dorothea noticed Chloe open her mouth before quickly closing it again. She looked reluctant and guilty, and Dorothea chuckled, "I know that you're trying hard to give me a compliment, right? No need to give me one, Chloe. I know that I'm a total mess right now."
"… Sorry…" Chloe murmured.
"No need to say sorry for something you don't do wrong," Dorothea sighed. "I think it's about time for reality to slam me to the ground anyway. I've sinned too much, and this is my retribution."
"Now I realize that I'm at the mercy of my sons, and none of them wants me," Dorothea said. She scoffed, mocking her own fate. "Not that I expect them to be. I've been a horrible mother to them."
…
Again, Chloe said nothing because she couldn't lie.
Dorothea was indeed a terrible mother to both Vincent and Vernon.
She never reprimanded Vincent and spoiled him rotten.
While she always reprimanded and abused Vernon since he was a kid, giving him no chance to feel a mother's love since he was so young.
Chapter 482
Dorothea admitted that getting no answer from Chloe stung her in her conscience. Because her silence was an agreement that Dorothea was a terrible mother to her sons and an awful mother-in-law to her.
But she realized that Chloe's indirectness was something she actually needed.
Cold hard truth might be easy to say but very hard to swallow.
But Chloe's silent agreement gave time and space for Dorothea to think by herself and swallow the bitter pill.
"It's fine, Chloe. I understand I'm not a good mother for Vernon," Dorothea finally admitted. She finally released her hand on Chloe's arm and returned to her seat. She stared straight at the view of New York City and murmured, "In the end, it's all my fault because I brought him to this world."
Chloe felt something was off with that sentence as if Dorothea was still trying to hide something. Normally, Chloe wasn't a fussy person, but this involved Vernon, and she wanted to know every detail about him just to ensure that she didn't accidentally hurt that big guy's heart.
Chloe grabbed a wooden seat and sat right next to Dorothea.
She knew she couldn't ask directly, so she muttered, "Your hatred for him is not natural, Dorothea. Vernon told me that you beat him with a beer bottle when he was five to six years old."
...
"Is that true?" Chloe demanded an answer.
"Yes, it's true," Dorothea nodded. Her heart was crushed because she had to admit her past sins. "I beat him with a beer bottle, sometimes shoved him to the wall or the ground when he was around that age too. It is my fault, and I will not try to defend myself."
Chloe's mind instantly returned to that moment when Little Vernon stared at her with a glimmer in his eyes as if she was some kind of angel that had been sent for him.
She thought Vernon was just a lonely boy because his family ignored him. But it seemed to be a lot more nefarious than what she saw on the surface.
"I don't understand, Dorothea," Chloe said. "Why would you hurt him that badly? Vernon wasn't even that naughty when he was a kid...."
Dorothea glanced at Chloe.
She was glad that she and Chloe could instantly connect and talk like two old friends, but she was also a little sad because Chloe became bolder and asked questions because it involved Vernon, not because of her.
'Well, at least that means she cares a lot about Vernon, unlike me, who has failed him,' Dorothea pondered whether she should tell Chloe about this big secret early in their newly formed bond. But Chloe's seriousness convinced Dorothea to go all out and tell everything, or else Dorothea would never get Chloe's trust.
"Because Vernon was an unwanted kid," Dorothea confessed. She took a deep breath as she was about to drop the big bomb. "He is a product of rape."
Chloe gasped when she heard that sentence. Chloe quickly understood what Dorothea meant because she had also experienced the same.
Vincent tried to rape her many times after she gave birth to Mackie. Saying that Chloe should be grateful that Vincent was willing to fuck an ugly walrus.
But Chloe always resisted crazily whenever Vincent tried to put it in. Usually, Vincent would go soft after she struggled so much.
Thus, he beat her horribly instead as a punishment for her unwillingness.
Dorothea sensed that Chloe must've experienced the same, but the result differed.
"Vaughn also tried to rape me a few times in the past. Though I've always tried to ward him off because he has been cheating with too many women, it makes me feel so gross to be touched by him," Dorothea confessed. The tears that welled in her eyes started streaming down her cheek because she had to open such a painful wound of the past.
"But he took advantage of me when I was drunk. He tied and raped me. I... I can only cry that night, wondering if I should bite my own tongue to kill myself right in that moment," Dorothea said. "But I didn't, and he impregnated me that night."
"I got pregnant soon after, and Vaughn used all means necessary to keep me pregnant. He said that having two children would be fun, and I had to fulfill my duty," Dorothea inhaled deeply. "He said that I'm a woman, and it's my job to get pregnant. He said that the only thing I have of worth is between my thighs."
Chloe remembered that moment when Dorothea said the same thing to her back when she decided to leave Vincent;
-
"The only thing you have of worth is between your thighs."
-
"For each second I had Vernon inside my belly, I felt nothing but hatred and disgust. I hoped I could abort him back then, and it grossed me out that I got pregnant because I got raped by my bastard husband," Dorothea said without a filter.
"After I gave birth to Vernon, I couldn't even look at him. I felt like I'd go crazy if I have to breastfeed him. So they had to find a wet nurse for him."
Dorothea lowered her head, feeling both shame and guilt.
"I know it's not his fault that he was born in this world. But I was basically a waste who could barely keep myself sane by excessive drinking and snorting heroin. I beat him out of spite to Vaughn even though Vernon was just an innocent kid back then."
Dorothea felt the guilt crushing her heart right now. Her tears couldn't stop falling as she couldn't handle the sadness that hit her whenever she remembered her past mistakes.
Chloe lowered her head, just like Dorothea, as she listened to her story. She felt anger, disappointment, and grief as she wanted to comfort Vernon.
He was right.
Dorothea was a terrible mother. He had all the right to be angry and hate her forever.
Because Dorothea was the monster in Vernon's mind. Just like how Vincent was the monster in Chloe's mind.
Chapter 483
"What do you think, Chloe? Do you think I'm entirely at fault?" Dorothea asked. "Is there still a chance of forgiveness from Vernon to me?"
…
Chloe went silent for a while. She would usually tell a white lie instead of being straightforward because she didn't want to hurt someone's heart.
But what Dorothea did was way out of her tolerance, and she understood that Vernon would hate Dorothea forever. In fact, he was justified to do so.
Unfortunately for Dorothea, Chloe was way firmer and more certain regarding Mackie and Vernon.
"I don't think you're entirely at fault, Dorothea," Chloe said truthfully. She lowered her head as she was about to confess a sin in her heart. "When I was at my lowest, I couldn't help but have that seed of hate inside my heart for my daughter. Amidst my darkest time, I had that idea that I didn't want to take care of baby Mackie because she's the daughter of a monster."
"There are many times where I can't help but to look away or hide inside a bathroom just to control myself not to show any contempt to my daughter," Chloe said. "But as she grew up and showed more and more of her personality, I realized that she's different from her father, and vowed to never despise her despite her connection with Vincent."
"I think that's where you make a mistake, Dorothea," Chloe said. "You see Vernon as the smaller version of Vaughn and instantly hate him without clear reason. No child should bear the sin of their parents."
Dorothea nodded in agreement. Though she didn't like to admit it, she knew that Chloe was 100% correct in this.
She could've been better by not lashing out at an innocent little boy. She was an abuse victim, but at the same time, she was also the abuser.
"I understand your situation and wish that Vernon would be able to forgive you, but…." Chloe glanced at Dorothea's wrinkly hand. She decided to hold Dorothea's hand because she doubted Dorothea would be able to accept what she was about to say.
Chloe lifted her head and stared at Dorothea, who had been doing so for a while, and then opened her mouth;
"If Vernon decides that he will never forgive you, then it is justified for him to do so. I will still support his decision despite my sympathy for you," Chloe stated firmly. She felt Dorothea's hand start shaking as her eyes also widened. "I'm sorry, Dorothea."
Dorothea's tears couldn't stop. She knew that was the truth, but it was hard for her to swallow it.
Knowing how horrible she treated him, she knew that forgiveness from her second son was almost impossible to obtain.
"But I still want to apologize to him…." Dorothea's voice started shaking. "I don't need him to do something for me or act nice to me. I just want to apologize and hope for the best. I want to have peace in my heart, Chloe…."
Chloe couldn't help but sympathize as well. She was also a mother, just like Dorothea. She was also an abuse survivor. They had the same fate under men from the same family.
She started shedding tears just like Dorothea, "Oh, Dorothea…" she murmured. "I don't know if Vernon will ever forgive you. But I know that you really want to connect with him…."
Chloe gently rubbed Dorothea's wrinkly hand with her thumb to comfort her, "I will try to find a way, maybe start by telling him about your past with your late husband. Maybe telling him that things weren't all black and white."
"But I cannot guarantee that he will forgive you. The chance is pretty slim, sadly," Chloe said. "But I'm doing this because I don't want you to be tortured forever by your guilt."
Dorothea was stunned by Chloe's willingness. She didn't even ask for Chloe's help because she was afraid that Chloe would refuse to help her.
But Chloe understood her pain and was willing to help because they could connect with each other quickly.
'So much time wasted neglecting you. I should've treasured you from the moment you entered my family,' Dorothea said in her heart. She regretted every choice regarding Chloe and wished she could turn back time to make things right between them.
"I'm sorry, Chloe, and thank you for helping me…." Dorothea said weakly. "I don't know how to repay you…."
"You can repay me by not spilling about Vernon and I to Vincent," Chloe said quickly, not wanting to miss the chance to negotiate.
Dorothea chuckled, "I never plan to tell him as well. I've decided to separate myself from Vincent. He is still my son, but he reminds me so much of Vaughn and all of his craziness, I can't look at Vincent without getting reminded of my trauma."
"W—What changes your opinion about him, Dorothea?" Chloe asked. She was happy that her mother-in-law could finally see the fault in her supposedly perfect first son.
But at the same time, she felt that Dorothea's change was sudden, so Chloe couldn't help but get a little suspicious.
Dorothea's smile faltered in an instant. She looked into Chloe's eyes and replied, "Your video."
"My… video?"
"Yes, he recorded beating you in the Principal's office in so many angles with wall-mounted cameras. He likes watching each of them because he likes seeing you writhing in pain, but still struggling to fight back."
Chloe shuddered upon learning about Vincent's crazy behavior again. It wasn't surprising for Chloe because Vincent often recorded her getting beaten or crying while continuously tormenting her. Sometimes, Vernon threatened to send the video of her naked and full of bruises to her family— Judith and Chelsea.
Sometimes, he also threatened to show those videos to Mackie instead. All of those threats were very effective in making Chloe cower out of fear.
'I guess he never changes…' Chloe thought. 'Even after I left with Mackie, he still has his degeneracy and perverseness. He is a lost cause….'
Chapter 484
"After realizing that Vincent has started to fall into degeneracy like his late father, I know that I have to cut contact with him or else I'll go completely insane," Dorothea said. "I'm sorry for taking too long to realize it."
"No, it's fine," Chloe shook her head. She also tried to shake off the fear in her eyes because she didn't want to show that vulnerability except in front of Vernon. "I know he is great at pretending and manipulating. He can fool many people, including you, and I don't blame you for that."
Dorothea sighed, "You're too kind, Chloe. You can yell at me, or at least curse at me for ignoring your plea for ten years."
"W—Well, it's in the past and I'm trying to move on from him," Chloe admitted. "I want to divorce him, but he refused to sign the divorce paper..."
"That's very typical of them— I mean Vaughn and Vincent," Dorothea commented. "I also served Vaughn a divorce paper so many times in the past. But he always refused to sign that paper and proceeded to threaten and beat me each time I asked for separation."
"So you're stuck with him until he passes away?"
"Yes," Dorothea sighed. "Even after his death, I still can't find peace. I still find myself getting haunted by all the abuses he inflicted on me, and I continue to despise my life and everything around me every single day…."
Dorothea wrapped her hands around Chloe's hand and said, "That's why, Chloe. You should NOT be like me. I applaud you for being brave enough to leave Vincent. I know it takes great courage for you to do so, and I'm happy that you're doing well after leaving him."
"Well, can't say that I'm doing well when all I do is just work as a maid in Vernon's penthouse," Chloe said meekly. "But he provides Mackie and I with a place to stay and hide, and also allows Mackie to continue going to school while all I have to do is to be his maid, cook, clean, and a few more things. So this is really the best I can get."
Dorothea grinned, "What is this 'few more things' you're talking about? Does it involve something sexy?"
Chloe's cheeks reddened instantly. She shook her head fervently, "I—It's nothing. I— we— Um… it's uh… nothing, I swear!" She tried to deny it, but her stuttering and nervousness revealed way more than she wanted.
Dorothea giggled, "No need to hide it. We're both adults and we know what men want in exchange for favors."
Chloe's cheeks turned even redder, but she dared not to respond because she was so bad at lying.
"Well, I think it's alright," Dorothea finally released Chloe's hand and relaxed by leaning on the chair. "Vernon is an adult, and he's free to choose whoever he wants to fuck, date, or marry."
"Y—You're not going to ask why he took me in and did all of that stuff?"
Dorothea smiled, "I don't need to. I already know all of his reasons to do so, and I think… he makes the right choice. You're a perfect fit for him."
"I'm not trying to covet him…." Chloe tried to deny it out of shame. "I—I know that I'm old, and um… he's still very young and successful. He can get a much better woman than me."
"I don't think so," Dorothea interrupted. "You're tailored to match with his personality. Nobody can handle Vernon like you do."
Dorothea remembered how Vernon was like a very obedient puppy in front of Chloe. At first, she didn't pay too much attention to Chloe because she thought Vincent was just in that dating phase, so it was natural for him to get infatuated with beauty.
But once she realized that her second son also got infatuated with Chloe, she started wondering if she should take Chloe as a threat or a blessing.
Because Chloe could tame Vernon easily and made the usually unbearable child to be so obedient and good.
'I should take her as a blessing, I guess,' Dorothea thought. 'I don't think Vernon will grow up normal under my care. He will be just as fucked up as Vincent, or even worse….'
"I think you should know one fact, Chloe…." Dorothea lifted her hand and gently touched Chloe's fuller cheek with her wrinkly hand. "… You're beautiful. I don't think you realize how beautiful you're. Even after all the things that happened to you, your beauty stays ravishing. I understand why both of my sons can get infatuated with you."
"Though, I think their infatuations are not only about your outer beauty. At least for Vernon, I know that you can turn into a worm and he'll still love you," Dorothea laughed at her own small joke. "Well, I'm pretty sure that Vernon has been taking care of you well, since you've gained weight slowly."
Chloe nodded. Of course, she had to admit that Vernon had been taking care of her very well for the past seven months. She was physically and mentally healthier when she lived with Vernon.
Chloe and Dorothea got more comfortable with each other as time passed. They started talking about many things that had been left unsaid between them in the past, mostly about their experiences with the abuses and the process of Chloe running from Vincent and somehow finding herself inside Vernon's penthouse.
After listening to Chloe's story, Dorothea asked, "So, you're planning to divorce Vincent forcefully after Vernon can topple the Gray family businesses?"
"Y—Yeah…" Chloe was unsure if it was proper for her to talk about this to Dorothea. After all, Dorothea often flaunted her wealth in front of Chloe to show that the Gray family was rich and powerful.
However, Dorothea's next answer surprised her;
"Hm, I think that's a good idea. My first son will never yield unless you kick him off his high horse. Let's see what we can do to help Vernon."
Chapter 485
"Hm, I think that's good. Vincent will never yield unless you kick him off his high horse. Let's see what we can do to help Vernon."
Chloe's jaw dropped just as Dorothea dropped the bomb. She said it so lightly, as if it was a topic worth discussing over an evening coffee break.
Dorothea was amused watching Chloe's change of expression. She looked like she had just seen a ghost or heard a ghost talking to her ear.
"Was it that surprising?" Dorothea asked.
"Of course!" Chloe snapped. "I can't believe that you're thinking about helping us ruin Vincent's life."
"And why's that surprising?" Dorothea continued asking. "I thought I told you already that I want to separate myself from Vincent or else I'll go insane."
"Yeah, but this is just—" Chloe shook her head out of disbelief. "—I don't know if I should trust you or not, Dorothea. I still remember how you always saw Vincent as a perfect man who can do no wrong."
Dorothea's smile faltered, and she sighed, "I think, deep down, I already know that he is not the perfect son I always wanted him to be. But I turned a blind eye to all of his obvious red flags. Because… you know… I'm just a mother with high hopes for my first son."
"And to me, Vincent is my future. I want him to be great and perfect, so I can have something I can be proud of despite all the failures in my life…." Dorothea started to drown in self-pity. "My marriage life is a total failure, and I thought if I can pour all of my love to Vincent, he will grow up different from his father, and I can at least rest my heart on my son and give myself peace of mind."
"And now that he turns out to be Vaughn 2.0…." Chloe murmured.
"Yes, he is just as terrible as his late father, and I— I will not let a monster like him run hurt an innocent woman like you," Dorothea said. "I love him still, but I want him to know that he is not invincible."
The more Chloe heard about Dorothea's story and point of view, the more she realized they were very much alike.
Chloe also had the same idea in her mind.
She wanted to protect Mackie, teach her to be a smart and sensible child, and always stay humble despite her origin.
She knew that her marriage with Vincent was a failure anyway. She wanted to raise Mackie right so she wouldn't become Vincent 2.0.
Chloe wished that Mackie would be a perfect woman when she reached adulthood.
Chloe imagined if one day she found out that Mackie grew up to be a monster just like her father, she might as well jump to her death because she had completely failed everything and everyone in her life.
So she understood the unhealthy connection between Dorothea and Vincent.
"Well then, now that I've decided to help you and Vernon, I think I already know the first step I can take," Dorothea stated confidently.
"Huh? You do? But I haven't told you anything about Vernon's plans."
"I don't need his plan," Dorothea said. "I know that all of his plans involve something to do with his businesses, right?"
Chloe nodded.
"Well, Maria already sniffed some of his movements. But she can't do a thing without Vincent's approval, or else she'd be heavily reprimanded, even worse— fired."
Chloe took a deep breath as she started to get nervous. Vernon had already told her a few times that his Big bro was suspicious, but everything was handled well so far, so Chloe had nothing to worry about.
But still, Chloe felt that Vernon was walking on a thin rope connecting between two giant chasms, one misstep, and he was done for.
"Thanks to Vincent's affection for his little brother, he hasn't suspected a thing," Dorothea said, which calmed Chloe's heart a little. "Unfortunately, I can't do anything to help Vernon on a business scale, because Vincent has stripped me of my rights in any of the Gray family businesses."
"I don't have any shares within the company anymore. But I get my money from Gray family properties," Dorothea said.
"Then, um… what can you do to help him?"
"Publication."
"Huh?"
"I'm actually the one handling all the charity works for the Gray family under his name," Dorothea said. "I manage all of them, and always make sure that Vincent will get a favorable impression in the public's eyes."
"I don't know if this will help Vernon in the long run, but I can create some ripple within his charity works, maybe I can cut educational funding for a few months and surely, the parents of the students will start complaining on the internet."
"It will at least put some stress on him and Maria, because publication is very important for him. He's obsessed with maintaining his image, just like Vaughn."
Dorothea's idea was actually brilliant. Chloe could already imagine people's fuss when they realized the Gray family had pulled funding and scholarships from them.
But that would also put huge stress on those innocent students…
Dorothea already sensed the concern that Chloe had, so she answered before Chloe spoke her worry;
"Don't worry about the students. I will send their money cumulatively. I can probably hold their money for at most three months at most before sending them all at once. In those three months, I will see if I can also stir up something in the media. Though don't expect too much from my involvement in the media, because Vincent's PR team is one of the best— if not the best PR team in the world."
Chloe nodded.
She understood that it was difficult— perhaps even impossible to ruin Vincent's public persona. He slept with so many women. Some were even high-profile celebrities who could ruin his image in public with just one tweet.
But none of them dared to speak up. Even if rumors were circulating around, Vincent's PR team could always make something up to shift people's attention.