Divorced My Scum Husband, Married His Evil brother

"Now, imagine if you're in Chloe's position, and you see someone who has scarier face than your abuser standing in front of you, yelling at you with his thundering voice?" Diamond tried to make Vernon realize her point about why Chloe was scared shitless of him.

Vernon clicked his tongue as he didn't find her judgment helpful, " Do you think I'm an idiot or what? Of course, I know that! Stop judging me for something I can't help, Diamond. If you don't want to give me good advice, just get the hell out!"

Diamond wasn't scared at all, though his thundering voice put psychological pressure on her, "Do you not see what I meant? You're yelling at me with your thundering voice, even if you don't really mean to scare me, but I still naturally got scared," Diamond said. "This is what Chloe experienced, but much worse."

Diamond wobbled and grabbed the edge of the sofa so she wouldn't fall. Vernon's voice was so powerful and scary simultaneously. It was the perfect intimidation tool for anyone who dared to argue with him.

Vernon watched how Chloe tried hard to stand up. He frowned, "You're overexaggerating, my voice might be loud, but it's not enough to make people fall to their knees."

Diamond almost scoffed out loud in response. But she held it and stayed professional, "That is what you think, Sir. I am literally the secretary who has been working with you for almost two years. Trust me, you are THAT scary."

...

Vernon went silent, waiting for Diamond to finish whatever point she wanted to make.

"Don't get me wrong, Sir. As much as I love my best friend, she is still the one in the wrong here," Diamond made her point to ensure that Vernon understood they were at the same time. "She should not have contacted Dorothea, no matter the situation. I also believed that nothing good comes from Dorothea-- else, she would've helped Chloe way before."

Vernon nodded. He was relieved that Diamond could see his point. He really thought that she'd take Chloe's illogical side just because they were best friends, "Yes, I just don't want her to make any stupid decision just because she got fooled by Dorothea. So I told her to block that old bitch's number."

"But you got too emotional and scared her, right?"

...

Vernon nodded again. This time, his gaze lowered as he felt a big shame weighing his shoulder.

Diamond sighed, "Sir, I am on your side, but the way you try to solve this is not right. You see-- Chloe is like a very timid turtle, you don't even need to touch her and she'll retreat back into her shell. Now, what you did is not only touching her, but you're shaking her shell until she got too scared."

"Tch, I know I did wrong, but I can't control my emotion when the topic is about Dorothea!" Vernon tried to defend himself. "Why don't you just tell her about this and tell her to stop being an idiot, or else she might get hurt again, and I--" Vernon paused. He clenched his fist as his heart started aching when he remembered how Chloe was beaten to a pulp by Vincent. "--I don't know if I can hold myself for the second time...."

Diamond saw the grief on his face. He must've remembered that moment when Chloe returned to the office with swollen hands after she tried to defend herself against Vincent.

She smashed the new phone that had been given by Vernon a few months prior, the one that had the automatic setting to block non-registered numbers.ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovelFɪre.net

'She should've smashed her old phone as well. She might make another contact with toxic people like Dorothea or her family,' Diamond thought. Though she couldn't tell Chloe what to do, despite her meek exterior, she was very stubborn.

Chloe often said she would do something obediently but never did it because it didn't align with what she thought. So it was difficult to work with Chloe unless you were on the same page.

"Sir, I cannot say anything to her about this. This is about you, your family, and her. You should try to make her open up," Diamond said. "While I still don't think any reason is good enough to let Chloe communicate with Dorothea, it will help you to understand her personality better."

"Once you return home and meet her, ask Chloe about her reason why she talked with Dorothea on the phone, and do it calmly," Diamond advised. "I don't care if your heart feels like a storm about to flip the whole apartment around, you HAVE to be patient, or else this will go on forever, and she might actually do something stupid while you're not by her side."

"Ugh, why do I have to do the job? It's her fault! Why can't she understand that I'm going to be mad whenever we talk about Dorothea!" Vernon complained. "What she did actually hurts me, Diamond. I feel fucking betrayed!"

Diamond sighed. Of course, she pitied her boss and understood his position really well. But she also believed that Chloe never tried to harm Vernon. If she wanted to harm Vernon, she could just give up and tell Vincent everything. Vernon's office would be destroyed in a matter of months.

'It makes me wonder what the hell was she thinking? Why would she allow herself to be manipulated? I know Chloe is a very emotional person, but I don't think she's a total idiot,' Diamond wondered as she was also trying to find an answer.

"Sir, remember that I am on your side for this, so you don't have to feel alone," Diamond assured. "But I want the best for you two, so...."

...

"Thanks, Diamond."

"Anytime, Sir. You two went through a lot, so I believe you guys can talk this out," Diamond said. "I won't let the bridesmaid dress I bought a month ago go to waste," Diamond rolled her eyes. "Ugh, can you believe that I have to spend three grand for that? Well, it's hella cute, but it's still expensive!"