The Loyal Puppet: A Love Built on Lies novel Chapter 15

They also avoided traveling during holidays, opting for off-peak times instead. Mason would keep her close, literally tying her to his waist, afraid she might get lost in the crowd.

When someone wrote Chloe a love letter, Mason got jealous and upset, making Chloe the one to comfort him.

Countless nights were spent in each other's arms after moments of intimacy, with Mason holding her tightly as they drifted off to sleep.

And in the mornings, when sunlight streamed through the windows, he'd kiss her forehead.

How could any of that be fake?

Chloe had been swept away by that tenderness, lost in it.

But every time she remembered the agreement, she was jolted back to the reality that she was just a stand-in.

People shouldn't cling to things that aren't theirs—it always comes back to bite you.

Even Lucas, standing nearby, was stunned by what he heard.

As the crowd slowly dispersed, the evening shadows deepened.

Mason took a deep breath.

"How much did she pay you?"

"Three hundred grand," Chloe blurted out.

Mason let out a cold laugh, though a faint mist seemed to cloud his eyes.

He clenched his teeth.

"You sold yourself for Three hundred grand?"

Chloe pressed her lips together, murmuring, "I guess so."

Suddenly, Mason doubled over, clutching his stomach, his body curling in on itself as if in pain.

He bit his lip but couldn't suppress a series of harsh coughs.

Chloe stepped forward gently, but Lucas grabbed her arm.

She shook him off.

She couldn't help it—she wanted to steady Mason.

Mason violently shoved her hand away.

"...Get out of here, you bitch."

The word "bitch" hit like a hammer.

Chloe's eyes widened, filled with hurt.

But the next second, her face went blank, and she forced a smile.

Lucas stepped forward, ready to argue, but Chloe held him back.

She pulled Lucas away, not even noticing when Mason left.

But she knew—they probably wouldn't see each other again.

That proud Mason from Chicago, he had his pride and his ego.

He just needed time to process it.

Eventually, he'd move on.

Chloe walked away, tears streaming down her face, so lost in thought that she didn't even feel it when a bicycle crashed into her.

Lucas stayed behind to deal with the commotion.

Chloe got her diploma and secured a spot with a peacekeeping medical team.

Before heading to South Sudan, she went back to her hometown.

The old house had been empty for years.

She used to dream of renovating it, of living there with her dad in his old age.

But that was impossible now.

Back when she needed money, she couldn't sell it.

"If it's going to happen, better sooner than later."

Noah tried to say more, but Chloe hung up.

A second later, Noah texted: "Ava is Emma's cousin. That's why he looked out for her."

Chloe had wondered about Ava's connection to Emma but never dug into it.

Thinking back on all the times Mason had shown her favor, she'd felt disappointment, even anger.

But now, none of it mattered.

Let Mason be good to her. Whatever.

She texted Noah back: "Wish them happiness for me."

Noah replied with a string of ellipses.

Chloe packed her bags for the trip.

Before boarding the plane, she transferred $8000 to an account with a note: "Don't contact me again. This is the last payment."

Then she tossed the SIM card.

Lucas watched her. "Hard to let go?"

Chloe squinted at the plane taking off, murmuring, "What's there to hold onto?"

Mason stood on the hospital rooftop, the sun glaring down.

"Mason, the doctor said you shouldn't be out here in the wind."

"Let's go back," Ava said, standing beside him.

Mason rubbed his fingers together, staring up as a tiny black dot in the sky left a thin trail, then vanished.

Like it was never there.

Something in Mason's chest tightened, but he couldn't put it into words.