Chapter 13 Beautiful Hands " What's wrong with that ? I'm just trying to maximize the benefits , and it's good for both the company and our family ! " Curtis argued . Family ? That word used to mean everything to Chloe . She'd married Curtis in hopes of building a family again , but in the end , she realized he could never give her that . " If I hadn't saved Brian today , would you still be begging me to return to Green Tech ? " she asked . " You're my wife and the lady of the Green household , so you can come back whenever you want . " Chloe arched a brow . " So , can I walk into the office tomorrow and announce to everyone that I'm your wife and the lady of the Green household ? " Curtis fell silent for a moment before saying , " We agreed to keep the marriage a secret and make the official announcements when the timing is right . " " If we issue a statement now , wouldn't that be revealing the truth to everyone - to everyone in the office that you're a man cheating on his wife ? The whole company knows Sonya's your first love , but no one knows we're married ," she bluntly stated . " Do you have to make this so difficult for me ? " he snapped . " I'm not trying to make things difficult , and that's why I'm not returning to Green Tech . Also , I told Brian at the horse ranch that if he insisted on repaying that favor , he should build a Hope School . So don't expect me to get him to invest in Green Tech . " Furious and humiliated , Curtis didn't speak to Chloe for the rest of the night . The next day , Chloe went to Skyline Tech and agreed to officially start working after Jenna and Walter's ashes were laid to rest in Warlington . At lunch , she saw Joanne's Instagram story . It was a picture of a man's hands , one holding a bowl of soup and the other holding a spoonful of it . The caption read , " Curtis made soup for his future wife ! Smells amazing ! " Looking at the picture of soup , Chloe finally realized what Curtis had been so busy with in the kitchen that morning . When she'd been sick with a 104 - degree - Fahrenheit fever and could barely get out of bed , Curtis had excused himself , saying that he was too busy with work . He'd left her to fend for herself . After her fever subsided slightly , he'd demanded that she return to the office for work . She'd gone , still hooked to an IV drip , and he'd taken it for granted . Him making soup for her sounded like an impossible task , and she'd even ordered her own takeout . Chapter 13 Beautiful Hands 214 But now , he was willing to get up early and carefully simmer soup for Sonya . The difference between love and indifference was painfully clear . " What are you looking at ? " Lena curiously leaned in to peek over her shoulder . When she saw the Instagram story , she paused before the realization hit her . " Did Curtis make soup for Sonya ? God , he's unbelievable . You two haven't even gotten a divorce yet ! " " It doesn't matter anymore . " Chloe tucked her phone away and got up to leave . " Where are you going ? You're not going to storm to the hospital , are you ? " Lena curiously asked . " I don't have time for that . I'm going to the funeral home to visit my parents . " Just as Chloe stepped outside , a sleek black sedan rolled to a stop in front of her . A man in a black tailored suit stepped out . He said respectfully , " I'm William Vaughn , Mr. Brian Steele's secretary . He would like to invite you to a meal and thank you for saving his life . " " No need . I told him that day that if he wants to thank me , he can fund Hope School . " With that , Chloe walked to her car and drove off . Half an hour later , she stood in front of Walter and Jenna's urn at the funeral home . A bright national flag lay draped across it . " Mom , Dad ... I used to think Curtis owed you an apology and that he should come here to pay his respects and say sorry . But that's not necessary anymore , is it ? " she murmured . All she received was silence . Closing her eyes , she lowered her head . " Just wait a little longer . I'll take you home soon , " she whispered . " Are you leaving ? " Suddenly , a voice sounded from behind her . Startled , Chloe turned around to see the sharp , striking Brian entering her view . " What are you doing here ? " she asked in surprise . " Since you turned William down , I thought I'd come and ask you in person , " Brian explained . Chloe pressed her lips into a thin line . Since Brian had come himself , it seemed there was no refusing the meal today . His gaze flicked past her , landing on the names below the urn - Walter Quall and Jenna Knight . " Are these your parents ' ashes ? " Chapter 13 Beautiful Hands 3/4 " Yes , " Chloe replied quietly . " The urn is draped with a flag . They weren't ordinary people , were they ? " " They were ordinary people and also soldiers who died in service , " she said . Walter and Jenna had served for 30 years . They'd been prepared to sacrifice at any moment since the day they'd enlisted . As a child , she'd been terrified that they might die and that she might lose them . She'd cried and begged them to quit being soldiers . She could still remember Walter's arms around her as he said , " Chloe , your mother and I serve in the military because of our beliefs and values . We're not just protecting our family ; we're protecting the bigger nation . " Years later , she finally understood his words and what it meant to have a belief . That was why she'd chosen the National Defense Academy and , after graduation , followed in their and Daniel's footsteps by joining the military . If not for her parents ' death , she might still be serving . " Since you came here in person , let's go , " Chloe said , turning back to the urn . " Mom , Dad , I'll visit again soon . " But as she turned to leave , she noticed that Brian remained rooted to the spot . " Aren't you- " Her words broke off as she watched him step forward to stand before her parents ' urn . Then , solemnly and respectfully , he saluted . Chloe stared , stunned . His expression was serious , and his posture was rigid as he saluted Jenna and Walter . It was only after some time that Brian returned to her side . " Let's go , " he said . " Why would you ... " " Salute ? They're heroes . That's the right thing to do . " Indescribable , unfamiliar feelings stirred in Chloe's chest . People called Brian an unpredictable , dangerous madman . She herself had seen him subdue a criminal who'd tried to kill him and press a gun to his forehead , ruthlessly ignoring the law . Yet here he was , honoring Jenna and Walter with such genuine reverence . It should have been Curtis doing this , not Brian . As they left the funeral home , they saw a black Maybach waiting outside . A bodyguard opened the rear door as they approached . Soon , they arrived at a dining club . " Have you been here before , Ms. Quall ? " Brian asked . Chapter 13 Beautiful Hands 4/4 " No. " " The food's good . You should try it . " Dishes arrived in quick succession , plated beautifully . Chloe said nothing and focused on eating , simply because she was hungry , and the faster she finished , the sooner she could leave . Accustomed to efficient meals from her military days , she ate quickly . When she was about 80 % full , she paused , her eyes drifting to Brian's hands as he held his cutlery . His hands were slender and almost artistically beautiful yet sharp . Even the fork and spoon seemed like potential weapons in his grasp . " Is there something wrong with my hands , Ms. Quall ? You've been staring , " Brian casually remarked . " No. I just think they're very beautiful , " she answered honestly . His hands almost looked like beautiful yet lethal weapons . " Really ? If I die before you , I'll have them chopped off , preserved , and sent to you as a specimen , " he said , uttering shocking words . Enjoy Ad - Free Reading >> X Go Chapter 14 Refusal Chapter 14 Refusal