The Cat-Like Miss Preston: Mr. CEO begs for Reconciliation!-Chapter 122: Chloe, Don’t Cry

Donovan Xavier sensed her mood and remained silent, gripping her hand even tighter. The warmth from his palm traveled straight to her heart, reassuring her.

Isla Xavier ran out, her face beaming as she hooked her arm through Chloe Preston’s.

"Sister-in-law, what brings you here all of a sudden?"

"My second brother is in the hospital with a fever. Grandpa and I were about to visit him. Good thing we were running late, or I would have missed you."

Chloe was about to speak but was cut short by Caleb Xavier’s cold glare, the words dying in her throat.

Donovan noticed and pulled her behind him. Looking at the old man, he said, "Why are you glaring at her like that? You’re frightening her."

Caleb Xavier scoffed. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Donovan Xavier, you have less and less regard for me these days! I ask you, why did you bring her here?"

Donovan’s voice was flat. "I’m taking her to the ancestral hall to pay respects to our ancestors. I’m also here to inform you that I’ve already chosen a date to marry her."

Infuriated, Caleb gripped his cane so hard he nearly struck Donovan with it. His voice was filled with rage. "Marry her? Don’t even think about it!"

"I’m telling you, as long as I draw breath, she will not set foot in the Xavier Residence! Even when I’m dead and gone, your father will still be here. No one in the Xavier family will ever agree to you marrying this woman!"

Isla piped up timidly, "I agree."

"Shut up!" Caleb glared at her.

Donovan’s tone remained level. "I don’t care whether you agree or not. I came today to inform you, not to ask for your permission."

Isla tugged at his sleeve. "Grandpa, Sister-in-law is a very good person. Can’t you just..."

Caleb harshly shook her off. "I fail to see what’s so good about her," he said coldly. "Compared to Rosalind, she is far inferior!"

"And who gave you permission to call her Sister-in-law? Stop calling her that, effective immediately. Otherwise, I’ll make you kneel in the ancestral hall!"

Isla staggered and fell to the ground, spraining her ankle and scraping her hand. A sharp pain shot through them.

Chloe immediately rushed forward to help her up.

Caleb paid them no mind, his gaze lifting to Donovan. "Now, get her out of my sight and back to your own residence. The fact that I allow you to keep her is already my greatest tolerance!"

Donovan said, "And what if I insist on taking her inside?"

Caleb’s eyes were sharp as he enunciated each word. "Then I will die right here in front of you!"

Donovan was silent for a few seconds before his lips parted. "Please."

"What did you say?"

"Weren’t you going to die? Go ahead."

Hearing this, a sharp pain seized Caleb’s heart. He swung the dragon-head cane with all his might, striking Donovan’s left leg.

"Donovan!" Chloe’s pupils contracted in terror. She rushed forward to support him.

Donovan cried out, gritting his teeth as cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.

The pain was immense. If the blow had been any harder, his leg would have been crippled.

Caleb pointed at him, trembling with fury. "You unfilial son! You’d let your own grandfather die for this woman!"

"All those years the Xavier family spent raising you were for nothing! I’m going to teach you a lesson today!"

As he spoke, he raised his cane to strike again.

"Don’t hit him!" Chloe cried in a panic, throwing herself in front of Donovan to shield him with her own body.

The cane swung down viciously. She squeezed her eyes shut.

The expected pain never came. With lightning-fast reflexes, Donovan had yanked her out of the way, taking the full force of the blow across his back.

Instantly, pain so excruciating it felt like his bones were shattering shot through him, and his whole body began to tremble.

He gripped her shoulders, his lips pale as he roared with panic, "Are you an idiot? What were you thinking, shielding me like that!"

"Are you hurt? Is your stomach okay? Don’t hide it from me. You have to tell me."

How could she be hurt? All the blows had landed on him.

Caleb, still filled with rage, advanced on them with his cane. If only that last strike had hit the woman, he thought.

Donovan looked up at him, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. His voice was hoarse. "If you cripple me, will you finally accept her? If so... then do it."

"Fine! I’ll beat you to death today, you rebellious son!" Caleb yelled, swinging his cane down again. It struck Donovan’s right shoulder, nearly sending him sprawling to the ground.

Chloe’s eyes were red, tears streaming down her face as she choked out between sobs, "Donovan, I won’t marry into the Xavier family... I... I don’t want you to marry me anymore. It’s okay if we don’t get married."

She reached out to touch him but froze when she saw him trembling uncontrollably from the pain.

"I’ll take you to the hospital... We’ll go home, and I’ll treat your wounds... You must be in so much pain..." By the end, her words dissolved into incoherent sobs.

Donovan reached up and gently wiped the tears from her face. He forced a smile to reassure her. "I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt."

"Chloe, don’t cry. You know I can’t stand to see you cry."

Caleb watched them, his lips pressed into a thin line. His eyes held a mixture of heartache and fury. "I’ll ask you again. Have you learned your lesson? Do you still intend to marry her?"

"Of course." Enduring the pain, Donovan answered without a shred of hesitation, his voice ironclad. "I am going to marry her, and that’s final."

"You!" Enraged, Caleb raised his cane to strike him again.

Seeing this, Chloe dropped to her knees before Caleb, her eyes red as she pleaded through her tears, "Grandpa Xavier, I beg you, please stop hitting him! He... he won’t marry me. And I won’t marry into the Xavier family..."

"I’m begging you, please, don’t hit him anymore."

Hearing her words, Caleb lowered his cane. He looked down at her with a haughty expression and said coldly, "Good. You know your place."

Isla, wincing from the pain in her sprained ankle, tried to help her up. "Sister-in-law, the ground is wet! Get up, quickly!"

Caleb watched coldly. The next second, his gaze locked onto the emerald brooch pinned to her cheongsam.

His pupils contracted. That’s...

Caleb stepped forward and seized Chloe’s arm, demanding urgently, "Where did you get this brooch? How do you have it?"

"Speak!"

His fierce expression terrified Chloe.

Donovan struggled to his feet, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He gritted his teeth against the pain and carefully pulled Chloe toward him.

When she still didn’t speak, Caleb lost his temper. "Are you deaf? Answer me! Who gave you this brooch?"

Donovan held her protectively in his arms and looked at his grandfather. "Who do you think?" he asked coolly.

Caleb gripped Donovan’s shoulder, his eyes turning red. "You... you’ve seen Luna?"

"How is she? Is... is she well?"

Donovan knocked his hand away, his expression glacial. "Can we go inside now?" he asked softly.

Caleb stared at the brooch on Chloe’s dress and said nothing.

Donovan continued, "Yesterday, you had Miss Rowan bring a string of jade beads to Grandma."

Caleb instantly grew anxious. "What was her reaction? Did she accept it?"

Donovan didn’t answer.

The two stood in a standoff for a long time as dusk settled around them.

Finally, Caleb clenched his dragon-head cane, relented, and turned away. "Come... come in."

「Later that night.」

Donovan brought Chloe to the ancestral hall to offer incense. The hall was lit as bright as day, its atmosphere solemn, grave, and oppressive.

Caleb watched with cold eyes, desperately wanting to throw her out. Someone of her lowly status is utterly unworthy of offering incense in the Xavier ancestral hall! She will only disturb the peace of our ancestors!

Donovan lit the incense sticks with a match, waved them gently to extinguish the flame, and handed them to Chloe.

Chloe took them and glanced toward Caleb. She trembled slightly. He was glaring daggers at her.

Donovan gazed at her tenderly and stroked her hair. "It’s okay. Ignore the old grouch."

"Unfilial son!" Caleb bellowed, his eyes wide with fury.

Facing the ancestral tablets, Chloe pressed her lips together nervously. She clasped her hands and bowed reverently. After bowing three times, she stepped forward and carefully placed the incense sticks into the burner.

Caleb came forward, his expression fierce, and tugged on Donovan’s arm. "I let her in. Now tell me, did... did your grandmother accept my string of beads?"

Donovan glanced at him. "No. She tore it apart."

"She still hates you."

Then, he led Chloe out of the ancestral hall. "Now that you’ve offered incense, it means the Xavier ancestors have acknowledged you," he said as they walked. "We’ll go register our marriage in a couple of days."

Their figures receded into the distance, leaving Caleb alone in the ancestral hall with reddened eyes. Decades have passed, and my Luna still can’t forgive me.

After a long time, the three incense sticks burned down to fine gray ash in the burner. A cool breeze drifted in from outside, swirling the smoke in the air.

Caleb sighed softly. He turned, lit a new incense stick, bowed, and placed it in the burner. The moment he did, it snapped in two.

Caleb froze.

He lit another stick, bowed, and placed it in the burner. It broke again.

Stunned once more, Caleb refused to believe it. He lit a third stick and placed it in the burner. It also broke.

After a long moment, Caleb stared at the ancestral tablets, his voice heavy. "Have you all truly accepted that Chloe Preston?"

But *he* would never accept her!

「In the bedroom.」

On the large bed, Chloe carefully began to undress Donovan.