After Divorce, I Returned as the Army's Queen novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56 I Want Someone Who Will Never Abandon Me

“Oh, it’s a woman named Chloe,” Winston replied. “She’s from the fifth branch.”

“Fifth branch?” Willow was taken aback. “But I thought there was no one left from that line.”

“There’s still one daughter left–Chloe,” he said, sighing. “That branch has had it rough. Almost everyone’s gone… except for her.

“Tomorrow, she’ll be at the memorial hall to place her parents‘ ashes there for three days before their

burial, and also to set up their plaques.”

Willow’s eyes flickered. “Uncle Winston, are you going to receive her tomorrow?”

He was never close with the fifth branch, and years of distance had only widened the gap.

“No matter what, she’s family. It wouldn’t look right if I didn’t go,” he said despite himself.

“In that case, why don’t I go in your place?” Willow offered.

“You?” Winston echoed, visibly shocked.

After all, Willow was treated like a princess in the main branch of the family. Apart from major

ceremonies, she hardly ever set foot in the memorial hall. And she didn’t even know Chloe.

“Yeah. A few of my friends have been curious about our memorial hall anyway. I was planning to take them tomorrow, so I thought I could just welcome Chloe at the same time. That way, you won’t have to

miss your poker game.”

Winston chuckled. “Aw, Willow, you’ve really grown up. You’re so considerate. Alright then, I’ll let you

handle it tomorrow.”

As part of the third branch, he never had much standing in the family. He merely scraped by on the yearly

dividends allotted to his branch, with nothing to occupy him except managing the memorial hall.

Poker was his real passion–a day without it made him itch. Since the work was easy and rarely demanding, he was only too glad to hand it off.

A sweet smile spread across Willow’s face. “Of course. I’m happy to help.”

But behind her smile, a cold glint gleamed in her eyes.

She would make sure to teach Chloe a lesson tomorrow.

At the Steele residence, Brian stood at the far end of the third floor.

On one side was the locked room he had forbidden Chloe to enter. On the other, a towering oil portrait hung on the wall.

Chapter 56 I Want Someone Who We Never Abandon Me

It was nearly twice the height of a man, depicting a gorgeous woman in an elegant silk dress. The Steele family’s heirloom bracelet gleamed on her wrist, making her look radiant and untouchable.

But this was the same woman who had once hurled that bracelet to the floor.

“I don’t want any of your family’s trinkets! Let me go! I don’t belong here!

“Lunatics, all of you! All the Steeles are insane.”

Later, the woman grew more and more haggard, like a withering rose slowly losing its vitality. And in her final moments, she had clutched Brian’s hand with a chilling strength.

“You’re his son,” Emily Whitemore had screeched. “You’ll be mad, just like him. You mustn’t love anyone.

Do you hear me? You’re not fit to love or to be loved!”

“Mom…” Brian’s gaze lingered on the portrait. “I won’t end up like Dad. I’ll honor your last wish. I won’t love

anyone.”

He had seen too clearly what love could do.

Liam Steele’s love for Emily was so sick and obsessive that he even imprisoned her in this villa. It became her cage until the day she died, still dreaming of escape.

But even in death, she never left the Steele family. She was buried in the family’s cemetery.

After Emily’s passing, Liam had completely lost his mind. He drifted through life in a haze, always violent and bloodthirsty like a real madman.

Brian could never fathom why Liam was obsessed with a woman who never loved him. He still remembered Liam standing in front of Emily’s grave, his bloodshot eyes bearing into his.

“You’re our son. You’ll be just like us,” he hissed, his voice low and chilling. “If you love someone, you’ll

stop at nothing to claim them as your own. And if you don’t… then no matter how they beg or please you,

you’ll never give in.

“Brian, I wonder how you’ll turn out to be. I look forward to it!”

Liam’s laughter, raw and deranged, echoed in his ears even now.

Brian thought he would never be either of those things. Lowering his gaze, he left the third floor and made

his way down.

When he reached the second floor, he spotted Chloe stepping out of her room.

“Tell me,” he suddenly said. “Do you think I’ll ever love someone? Or do you think I never be capable of

that?”

Chloe was startled, Something in his expression seemed wrong, and the emptiness in his eyes made her

heart clench.

“What’s the matter?” she asked softly.

Chapter 56 I Want Someone Who Will Never Abandon Me

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