When he came back, his handsome face was extremely gloomy. In a cold voice he asked, "You did that
on purpose, didn't you?"
Alrabella was shocked. "Did what?"
"Chloe tried to commit suicide. What did you say to her?"
Alrabella's heart was roaring. A few seconds later, she regained her voice. "I didn't know she was
Chloe. She said she was your sister, so I thought she was your cousin. I just said you were
showering."
Reginard stared at her coldly and silently, then pulled open the wardrobe door. He took out clothes
and started getting dressed.
Fully dressed, he strode out.
Hearing the commotion, Lord Reginard came out and asked, "Where are you two going so late?"
Reginard said in a low voice, "I have something to deal with."
"What might that be?"
"Chloe's hospitalized, I'm going to see how she is."
Lord Reginard called towards the guest room, "Alrabella, go with him!"
The old lord's word was law.
Alrabella could not defy him. "Yes, Grandfather." She quickly got dressed and left with Reginard.
After driving through an intersection, Alrabella said, "You can drop me off at any hotel along the
way."
Reginard's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, eyes fixed straight ahead. "Come now, you can
explain things to Chloe."
Alrabella's heart instantly grew heavy.
Although mild-mannered and averse to arguments, she still had her principles.
This wasn't her fault at all, what was there to explain?
Sensing her displeasure, Reginard freed a hand to gently ruffle her hair, his tone gentle as he
said, "Chloe has severe depression. Just oblige me this once."
An hour later, the two arrived at Chloe's hospital room.
She had just gotten her stomach pumped and lay weakly in bed, complexion ghastly pale. Her hair was
disheveled, and her body under the blanket appeared shrunken and frail.
When Alrabella first clearly saw Roxley's appearance, she was completely stunned.
Alrabella gazed upon Chloe's palm-sized, pale face, so alike his own.
She could not specify exactly where the resemblance lay, only that at a glance they appeared
uncannily similar.
One would have to look more closely to distinguish them.
Upon delicate discernment,
Chloe was the dainty version, with arched brows, a slight frown between them, petite nostrils, and
cherry lips. Her features had a glass-like fragility.
By comparison, Alrabella exuded an air of serenity and composure, as well as a resilience ingrained
in her bones.
Only now did Alrabella realize she had been a stand-in of sorts for Chloe.
She gave a wry smile.
No wonder three years ago he had agreed to the marriage after but a single glance at her - the
reason lay here.
"Reginard, you've come," Chloe's mother Olivia Jones greeted him with a strained voice.
When her gaze swept over Alrabella however, it was less than friendly.
Reginard gave a slight nod in response.
Olivia went to the bedside and gently patted Chloe's shoulder. "Chloe, Reginard's here to see you."
Chloe slowly opened her eyes, her gaze passing over Alrabella's face without much surprise.
As if she had long known of their similar appearance.
Tearfully she looked at Reginard, her voice weak and feeble. "Brother Reginard, I didn't try to
commit suicide. I just couldn't sleep and took too many sleeping pills. Mom overreacted, insisting
on bringing me here." It's so late, and I've troubled you and Alrabella to make the trip here. I'm
truly sorry."
Olivia reproached in a choked voice, "Just a few pills you took? You swallowed half the bottle! If
I hadn't discovered in time, you would have..."
She covered her mouth, sobbing.
Reginard went to sit by the bedside.
He gazed down at Chloe, his tone carrying a hint of reproach as he said, "Don't do anything so
foolish again, do you understand?"
"I understand," Chloe pouted, blinking away her tears as she nodded meekly, the picture of obedient
frailty.
Reginard took a handkerchief and carefully dabbed away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his
actions as gentle as if handling the most precious porcelain.
He looked at her with a gaze as tender as water, full of compassion.
Alrabella watched numbly.
Three years married, and he had never been so tender with her.
This was likely the difference between love and lack of it.
Even though Chloe had abandoned him at his most difficult time, he still loved her.
Perhaps for some men, no other woman's devotion mattered except that of the one who tormented him.
She felt as if a fishbone was lodged in her throat.
Alrabella could bear it no longer. "You two chat, I'm leaving first."
Hearing her words, Reginard glanced back at her, his expression extremely bland. "Explain things to
Chloe before you go."
Alrabella took a deep breath and said, "Miss Chloe, Reginard and I were only pretending to..."
Her throat choked up and she could not continue. She turned and walked away.
This was the first time she had defied Reginard.
It was also the first time she had lost composure before him.
After the door closed, Chloe said to Reginard, "Hurry and go after Alrabella, she seems angry."
Reginard was silent a moment. "It's fine, she won't be angry."
"Then her temper really is quite good," Chloe said faintly. "I didn't expect Sister Alrabella to
have such a nice disposition, so gentle and graceful, not at all like someone from a small village.
I'd thought she wasn't suited to you."
Reginard felt somewhat uncomfortable hearing this. "Although she grew up in a small village, her
mother and grandmother were teachers, and grandfather was an antique book and painting restorer at
a museum before retiring, so they were quite scholarly."
"I see, that makes sense."
The two suddenly had nothing more to say.
After a brief silence, Chloe carefully probed, "Sister Alrabella is so pretty, and has such a good
temper too. You must love her a lot, right?"
Reginard lowered his head to look at his phone, distracted. Hearing her words, he glanced up and
asked, "What did you say just now?"
Disappointment flashed in Chloe's eyes. "You should still take Alrabella home. It's late now, not
safe for a lady alone."
Reginard stood up. "I'll take her back, then come see you again."
Chloe said softly, "Then go quickly."
Reginard left.
Watching his departing back, Chloe's gaze darkened slightly.
By the time Reginard found Alrabella, she was nearly at the hospital gates.
Her slender, upright figure seemed ephemeral in the biting spring wind, beautiful as bamboo in an
ink painting.
Reginard quickened his pace to catch up to her.
The two walked shoulder to shoulder without speaking, silent as the pitch black night.
Alrabella turned a corner, about to hail a taxi at the roadside.