The Loyal Puppet: A Love Built on Lies novel Chapter 8

A crowd quickly gathered around the pool, murmuring among themselves. 

The lighting outside was dim, and Chloe silently prayed they couldn't see anything. 

She coughed, swallowing water, barely able to keep herself afloat. 

Through the blur, she saw Mason dive in. 

But he wasn't swimming toward her. 

The splash hit her face as he rushed to Ava instead. 

In that moment, she understood what it meant to have your heart completely shattered. 

Mason lifted Ava out of the water, calling her name over and over, his voice full of urgency. 

Only when Ava coughed and sputtered out the water did his tense expression ease. 

Someone handed him a towel, and he wrapped it around Ava, cradling her in his arms. 

Then he turned to Chloe, his face cold as ice. 

"She doesn't know how to swim. You knew that."

"If anything happened to her, I wouldn't let you off the hook." 

"It wasn't my fault…" Chloe choked out, her voice hoarse. 

Mason didn't believe her.

His expression didn't change. 

Ava trembled in his arms, softly sobbing against his chest. 

Chloe knew—her explanation was useless. 

"Get out. Apologize. Right now."

Mason's voice rang through the air, clear for everyone to hear. 

Chloe didn't move. 

The murmurs around her grew louder, like she was on trial. 

"Oh, come on, guys, what's with the drama?"

"This is my engagement party, let's not turn it into a circus." 

Noah appeared, grabbing Mason's arm to defuse the tension. 

His eyes flicked toward the pool, taking in the situation before waving the crowd away. 

"Alright, everyone, nothing to see here."

"Go inside, have a drink."

The crowd slowly dispersed.

Chloe clutched at her damp clothes, hastily wrapping them around herself as she swam to the shore. 

Grabbing a towel from the rack, she wiped herself down.

Something hot rolled down her cheek. 

Noah was the only one in their circle who never whispered behind her back. 

Draped in her soaked clothes and the towel, Chloe stepped into the house. 

She looked straight at Ava, flashed a small smile, and said lightly, "Sorry, Ava." 

For a second, everyone froze. Even Mason stiffened. 

Who the hell could still smile at a moment like this? 

Noah didn't get it.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Mason shot him a look and cut in coldly, "You and your little tricks again."

"Do you even understand what kind of event this is?"

"It's bad enough you showed up looking like a mess, but you just had to cause a scene too." 

The next second, Chloe tugged on his sleeve.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me, okay?" 

Right.

This was the Chloe everyone knew—the one at Mason's beck and call.

Saying sorry was nothing new. 

She was best at groveling. 

Noah exhaled.

As long as she didn't ruin the engagement party, whatever. 

"Goodbye." 

The guard frowned, sensing something off, but just nodded.

"Goodbye." 

She disappeared into the night. 

It was over. Finally, it was all over. 

Relief washed over Chloe. 

She got into a cab and headed straight for the apartment she'd rented weeks ago. 

Her phone screen kept lighting up—Mason's name flashing over and over. 

After a few seconds of hesitation, she declined the call. 

At the hospital, Mason stared at his phone in shock.

Chloe had never ignored his calls before. 

Not once. 

A strange, nagging unease crept over him. He immediately dialed again. 

The ringing went on for a few beats before she finally picked up. 

Silence. 

Neither of them spoke. 

The only sound was the steady rhythm of her breathing. 

Mason clenched his jaw.

He'd planned to bring her home tonight. 

But Chloe, for all her softness, was stubborn as hell.

That stubbornness had always pissed him off. 

So he walked away with Ava. 

"I just went back to look for you… Noah said you—" 

"Mason, let's end this."