C8 Maybe it's my fault

"I can't believe he did that to you?" Kira said with her hands on her head as she paced back and forth in the room.

"Jeez, this is all so fucked up, why does he treat you like a piece of trash every single time? I mean look at you, after all you've gone through, searching for him like a lunatic for a whole six months and this is how he can repay you?" Kira said as she moved closer to Chloe to comfort her.

Chloe's eyes were already filled with tears and they were running down her eyes so uncontrollably. "I think I should just focus on getting the money to pay back. I'm so stupid for ever thinking he could love me back, but now I see that I was expecting way too much." Chloe spoke in a cracked pain-filled voice.

Kira cut in, her voice was quite shaky and unstable. "But you can't work, you know Code is not going to let you. You are stuck with him for the time being and you would keep getting hurt over and over again cause he doesn't care about you or your feelings. I wonder how someone could be so cruel..."

Kira's voice softened as she continued to console Chloe, realizing the depth of her friend's pain. She pulled Chloe into a warm embrace and gently stroked her back. "Chloe, I know it's incredibly hard right now, and I can't even imagine what you're going through. But please don't blame yourself. You're not the one at fault here. Code has his issues, and it's not your fault."

"Are you sure that it's not my fault?" Chloe turned to look Kira in the eyes, "I mean look at Felix, he also left me for someone else. The worst part is that I don't even know whether Code loves me or whether he has ever loved me."

Kira gazed into Chloe's tear-filled eyes with a reassuring expression. "Chloe, what happened with Felix is a completely different story, and you know that. It's not fair to compare the two situations. Sometimes, people make choices that have nothing to do with your worth or value."

She tightened her embrace, trying to offer as much comfort as possible. "And as for Code, you can't blame yourself for his actions either. Love can be complicated, and sometimes, people have their own issues and insecurities that get in the way. It doesn't mean you're any less deserving of love and care."

Kira continued, her voice steady and filled with empathy. "You've been through so much, and you're a kind, loving, and wonderful person. It's not your fault if someone else can't see that or can't appreciate it. Remember, you have friends who care about you, like me, and I'm here to support you no matter the cost."

Chloe nodded, her tears slowing down. She leaned on Kira's shoulders and whispered, "Thank you, Kira. I needed to hear that. I'm grateful to have you as a friend. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Kira smiled at Chloe, rubbing her shoulders slowly, "I gat You, Chloe, Always."

Chloe sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her palm, " For now, I should just focus on helping my Dad and Jessica have a better life... Love has never given me a chance and I don't think it would."

****

"What do you mean by Chloe is not at the mansion?" Mr. Adams yelled at the top of his voice, glaring at the guards like he was going to tear them into pieces any moment from now. The sleep that had been lingering in his eyes had totally vanished.

" She just left here not up to two hours ago, please tell me you are joking." Mr. Adams continued.

Ethan breathed a heavy sigh before looking up at Mr. Adams. "Chloe just left the mansion without saying a word about where she was going. My boss asked that we come over here and get her."

Jessica watched from behind her dad, she was so confused and worried, Where could Chloe have gone by this time of the night? She thought to herself. "Dad, what are they saying? How could Chloe have left the house by this time?" Jessica asked without getting a reply.

"Are you even serious right now? He asked you to check my house." Mr. Adams chuckled in disbelief, with his voice depicting how angry he was. "Chloe is not here!!!" He exclaimed, his voice louder than it was initially.

"But sir, you haven't even let us search the house, how do we know you are not hiding her somewhere..." Ethan asked.

Mr Adams was seething with anger, his face red with frustration. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "Listen carefully, I have nothing to hide, and I'm as worried about Chloe as you are. You can search the house if it will put your mind at ease, but I can guarantee you she's not here."

Ethan nodded and motioned to his team to start searching the house while keeping a close eye on Mr. Adams.

Jessica, standing next to her father, felt her heart racing with anxiety. "Dad, what could have driven Chloe to leave like this? Do you think she's okay?"

Mr. Adams put a comforting hand on his daughter's shoulder. "I don't know, Jessica. We'll do everything we can to find her and make sure she's safe. Right now, let's cooperate with these gentlemen and hope for the best."

Ethan retreated from the house with a more worried look on his face, "She isn't there" He confirmed.

"Oh now you believe, have you finished searching everywhere already? I think you should check the cupboards and the fridge too, who knows if she is hiding in any one of them." Jessica mocked, her anger was evident in her tone and her looks.

Mr Adams squeezed Jessica's hand softly, giving her a sigh to stop talking. "It's enough, let me handle it" He whispered.

Ethan totally ignored Jessica, he drew out his phone and dialled his boss's number so as to inform him that Chloe was not at her father's place.

Before the phone could even ring twice, Code picked up and Ethan explained the situation to him, as well as asking for what to do next. After a short talk which sounded like Code was yelling, the call disconnected.

Ethan looked up at Mr. Adams and Jessica once again, "Take me to Kira's house." He demanded.