Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover
Chapter 617

Chloe was completely stunned, frozen right where she stood. Linda's gaze sharpened, and she turned her head slightly, locking eyes with Chloe. In that moment, all Chloe could feel was shock. Linda was awake-truly awake. Chloe barely had time to process it. She

reached for the bedside alarm, but Linda grabbed her arm, her voice clear as a bell, "Chloe, don't call anyone. I need to talk to you.

Chloe was taken aback by Linda's clarity. It was as if she had fully come back to life. Chloe's body tensed up. She noticed how Linda's skin had regained a healthy glow, and her eyes sparkled with life. Linda really was back, and she looked surprisingly well. Chloe let out a quiet sigh of relief. She sat back down in the chair by Linda's bed. Linda reached up and pulled off her oxygen mask. Chloe wanted to stop her but was just a second too late. Yet, seeing Linda now, she seemed almost like her old self. Linda turned her head towards Chloe, tears glistening in her eyes. She spoke, her words clear and deliberate, "Chloe, I've heard everything you've been saying to me these past few days."

Chloe was caught off guard. Linda had been in a coma this whole time, and Chloe never expected her to hear any of it. "Do you want to know why I took a bullet for you?" Linda asked. Chloe didn't say a word, just kept her eyes on Linda. Linda smiled softly, "Because if you weren't in this world, my life would mean nothing."

Chloe's eyes widened in disbelief, shock washing over her. But then she snapped back. "Linda, do you hate me that much? All this competing and fighting, is that really so important that it defines your life?"

Chloe couldn't wrap her head around it. Linda seemed paranoid and twisted to her. Fighting each other, causing pain, even at the risk of their lives-how did it come to this?

Linda gave a bittersweet smile and shook her head, "Chloe, I don't hate you. I just love you so much it hurts."

Chloe's body went rigid again. Linda still held onto her hand. Instinctively, Chloe tried to pull away, but Linda's grip tightened.

"What did you just say?" Chloe asked.

Linda looked at her with tears rolling down her cheeks, her gaze soft and full of love, "How could I hate you? You're the person I love most in this world." "I love you, Chloe."

It was like a lightning bolt striking

Chloe's mind. Everything around her seemed to cloud with confusion. Linda, tears streaming down her face, continued, “For years, I've

wanted to destroy you, tear downet

with

everything about you, leave you w nothing, all because I wante@you to only have me. I hoped that when you had nothing left, you'd turn to me, and I could make it right. You have such a forgiving heart, I thought you'd eventually forgive me."

"My life was a mess, coming from the family I did. I thought I'd always be stuck in the mud. But then you came along, like a rose blooming in the muek-so beautiful, so vibrant, full of sunshine. I watched you secretly, feeling joy and quiet gratitude, hoping you'd always blossom in my world."

"But too many people wanted to take you away was scared because I'm just mud, not the

them. I feared you'd see my

sunshine or dew you need net

darkness and the ugliness in

was terrified you'd grow tired of me and leave. I worried you were just a fleeting moment in my life, so I thought of something terrible..."