A/N: Hi, Amores! I'm sorry for updating late today. Just like I've said on my announcement post, I've been very busy this week that's why I didn't have time to write. Even though this update is short, I hope, you will still like it. Please don't forget to VOTE and SHARE this story. Thank you. 

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CHAPTER 39

"CROSS, my son!" Cross knew that the surprise look on his face was undeniable upon seeing his mother in front of him. He didn't expect this to happen. She was happy and excited seeing him that she hugged him right away.

"M-mom. What are you doing here?" She let go of him.

"Why do you sound like you're not happy seeing me here? Of course, I came to visit you! What else do you expect?" His face softened.

"It's not like that, mom. I just didn't expect you to come here all the way from Amsterdam without even informing me. This is not like you." He looked at her from head to toe worriedly, checking if she was okay. "Is everything alright? Why so sudden? You should've called me so that I could've picked you up instead." She rolled her eyes.

"Son, that's enough. I'm telling you, everything's fine. I came back here to the USA because Alaine invited me to her birthday celebration. I didn't tell you about it because I wanted to surprise you. I was so excited that upon landing, I went straight to your house.

"But I was the one who got surprised when I arrived at your house because no one was there. I got worried that you might be out of the country so I called Jade and asked her about your whereabouts. She told me that you're probably here so I came. Props to your friends because they were the ones who picked me up. They made sure that I was comfortable." Cross sighed in relief.

"How did Jade know that I'm here? I thought, she didn't know?" He asked Raven curiously. Jade couldn't come back to Cupid's Island with her twin brother because she was apparently busy. But she would be coming back on the next occasion that the island would hold and that was Cupid's gala night.

He brought back Chloe here because this was the perfect time for them to stay on the island while the others in Tennessee were probably going mad because of anger towards him.

On the gala night, everyone of his friends would be there and that would serve as a reunion for them. It has been a while since they gathered around without anyone absentee so it would surely fun.

"I don't know, man. Maybe, she asked Vito." Raven answered and Grey scoffed.

"As if, that guy knows. And if he did, I'm sure he would never tell the truth. Knowing him. He's very insecure."

"That's enough. That's not important anymore. The important thing is I got to see my son here." His mother hugged Cross again. Suddenly, he felt guilty. He couldn't visit her these past six months because he's been so busy.

But even so, they had constant communication.

"I'm sorry, mom. I was just so busy lately. But I was thinking of coming next month. You didn't have to fly all the way here. You know that—"

"—I'm fine. You're being a worrywart again. Anyway, I think you're forgetting something here." A smile appeared on her lips and then faced Chloe who was just watching them in silence. Behind her were three of his friends, Grey, Troy and Raven.

Troy cleared his throat. "Hey, man. I think it's better for us to grill the meat and fish now so that we could eat lunch right away. Your mom didn't have anything while we were on our way here." Cross nodded his head and the three went inside the cabin.

"Oh! Those three are really good guys. That's why I'm not worried even though you're here in the USA alone because you have good friend like them. Anyway, back to what I was saying." Cross gave her a confused look and she rolled her eyes.

"What? Aren't you going to introduce her to me? C'mon, son! You're better than that. Did you think that I didn't know that you two have been together for quite sometime?" Cross caught Chloe bite her lower lip tensely and his body suddenly went on fire as he remembered what just transpired between them in the pool.

Damn! She looked so erotic whenever she was biting her lower lip like that and he couldn't help but to remember those times that she was moaning in ecstasy as he gave his best into worshipping her sexy body.

The picture of Chloe's naked body popped up on his mind and that made it even worst. His warrior saluted and he groaned inwardly. He cleared his throat and tried to shake those erotic thoughts off his head.

He held Chloe's hand and smiled at her. Even without saying anything, he could tell that she was nervous meeting his mother for the first time. This wasn't how he planned their first meeting would be but he didn't have a choice now.

"Mom, I want you to meet my beautiful girlfriend..."

"Chloe Winters Rosenberg." Chloe was undeniably surprised.

"H-How did you know my name, ma'am?" Chloe questioned confusedly and his mother smiled.

"Because I know you. Let's just say that you got my interest because of the interest that Cross had for you since five years ago." Chloe's eyebrows knitted together as she looked at him. Cross's lips pressed together firmly. "Now that we finally met, I can see why you got his attention."

"Mom, stop. You're confusing my girlfriend here."

"Girlfriend?" The excitement in his mother's voice was evident.

"Yes, mom. She is." He looked at Chloe. "Cariño, this is Claudia Dawson. My mother."

"I'm so delighted to finally meet you in person, Chloe! Since you're the girlfriend of my son, welcome to the family!" His mom hugged Chloe and Cross couldn't help but to tense up of the scene that he was witnessing.

Chloe on the other hand finally grew relaxed upon hearing that while seeing the merry reaction on his mother's face.

"Thank you, Mrs. Dawson."

His mother chuckled. "Oh! Don't call me Mrs. because I'm not married. Dawson is my father's surname. Just call me, Claudia, and when you and Cross finally get married, you can call me mom by then. I always wanted to have a daughter but it never happened." Chloe smiled and Cross could see the happiness in her eyes.

"Thank you, Claudia."

"Of course! Anytime, my dear. Don't be shy around me because I'm cool. Not like those—"

"—Mom, can I have a minute with you?" Cross couldn't take it anymore and interrupted her.

"Why? I'm still talking with Chloe here."

"You can talk to her later. Please?" His eyes were pleading and he could see from his peripheral vision the confused look on Chloe's face while gazing at him but then she didn't say ask anything.

"Cariño, I'll just check what Raven and the others are doing inside." Cross forced a smile and nodded his head. They watched Chloe as she walked towards the door of the cabin house and when she was finally out of their sight, he looked at his mother in disbelief.

"Don't give me that look, Cross. I didn't do anything wrong." He huffed and raked his fingers through his hair.

"Why are you really here, mom? Tell me the truth. The moment you called Chloe by her name, I already knew that you didn't come here because you missed me." She sighed in defeat.

"Fine. You got me. I mean, yes, I've missed you and I wanted to see you but aside from that, I came because I wanted to watch everything that transpires before my eyes. It's more exciting rather than hearing the details." Cross closed his eyes. He suddenly had a headache.

"Mom, I already told you to just wait for the results. You didn't have to come here and—"

"—Why? You didn't want me here because of Chloe, am I right?" Cross' forehead crinkled.

"What?"

"Did you really think that it wouldn't reach my ears?"

Cross' face hardened. "You sent your men to spy on me, is that it?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Yes, I did. So what? In fact, I'm glad I did because I discovered how that woman was slowly changing you and I'm afraid that one day, you will forget about our real agenda. Remember everything that we've been through. Don't throw everything away just for that woman." Her voice was stern and Cross' jaw flexed tightly.

"I'm not forgetting everything, mom. Everything is happening according to our plan and I'm not going to throw everything away just like that. But please, I want you to stay away from this and let me handle everything. I already told you that I don't want you meddling with my plans. I know what I'm doing." She looked at him like a hawk.

"Are you sure you're still 100% up for it? I don't know but when I saw how you stare at her, it made me scared for some reason. You're my son and I know you too well. You can't hide anything from me. I don't want her to be the cause of your downfall. Because if that happens, you know what I'll do to—"

"—Rest assured, mom. I'll repeat, I know what I'm doing. Just trust me. For now, I want you to leave everything to me, especially Chloe. Don't touch her."

She shook her head. "You love her. I can clearly see it in your eyes."

He released a breath. "No. I don't. She's not important to me so just ignore her. Just focus on your recovery and trust me. That's all I'm asking from you." She didn't answer right away. But after a couple of seconds, she nodded her head.

"Fine. I trust you."

Cross sighed in relief. "Thanks, mom." He hugged her and kissed her forehead. He loved his mother so much but as her son, he knew her too well. He took a deep breath to calm himself down. Then, after a couple of seconds, he suddenly felt uneasy and instinctively looked at the direction of the house.

He felt like his head grew double in size when he saw Chloe with a pained look on her lovely face and he didn't need to ask if she heard everything because the impact of it was written all over her face.

"C-Chloe..." He called for her but she turned around and headed towards the gate. That was when he finally regained his strength. He let go of his mother and automatically followed her as she began to ran away, obviously intending to leave.

"Cariño, wait!" But she didn't listen to him. She just continued on running away but he didn't have any plans of just letting her get away. He picked up his pace and then caught up to her.

"Cariño, stop, please!" He stopped her from running away by holding her hand but to his surprise, she suddenly slapped him in the face.

"Damn you for making me look like a fool!" He was stunned even though he already expected that she was mad. Knowing Chloe, she was such a tigress. Yes, when they became a couple, she became a lot sweeter and affectionate but he witnessed how she was before that.

Seeing her in rage actually made him scared. This was his first time feeling this kind of fear and it really shocked him.

"Cariño, listen to me." She shook her head as her eyes watered and Cross felt like his heart was being stabbed. Witnessing the pain on her lovely face was so difficult. He should be expecting this already but now that it was happening, he didn't know what to do.

"No! I don't want to listen to you! What I heard was enough!" She pulled back her hand forcefully before she turned her back on him and walked away. Cross' jaw flexed while watching her walking away.

Just thinking that she was mad and leaving gave him the kind of strange feeling that he'd never felt before and before he could think rationally, his body moved on its own and followed her. 

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Did you expect that Cross' mother was the surprise?

What do you think of Claudia? 

Do you think Cross isn't really in love with Chloe?

If you were Chloe, would you stay and listen or leave? 

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