After Divorcing my Captain Husband (Chloe and Michael) novel Chapter 583

Chloe placed the book aside and sat by James' bed. "James, it is normal to be scared before surgery. You do not have to hold it in. If you are afraid, you can talk to me. I will be here with you the whole time."

That was why she came here in the first place, not to see him suffer and resort to torturing himself with books.

"I am a man. How can I admit I am scared in front of a woman like you?"

After speaking, James turned his head away, acting proud.

Chloe responded by pinching the inside of his arm hard. "Ouch! Why did you do that?"

"See? It does not matter if you are a man or a woman. We all feel pain and fear. It is not about gender, and I would not laugh at you."

James had said the same thing to her before at the hospital. Now she was returning the favor.

James pursed his lip. "Smith never wanted me to have the surgery because he is afraid I will die on the operating table. I have known this all along."

Even though he had told Chloe that Smith just wanted to control him, that was a lie.

Smith was the best brother and friend to James' father, but he died right in front of Smith, and there was nothing Smith could do.

Smith was terrified that James might suffer the same fate.

"You would not die on the operating table!"

Chloe's eyes were filled with unwavering determination, even if neither she nor James knew what was fueling it.

"James, God will bless all passionate souls."

Chloe was not religious, but she knew that people here believed in God.

James blinked. "Talking with you does make me feel a lot better."

He then smiled slightly, "Chloe, I actually know you have been lying to me."

Chloe's breath caught, shocked, and a bit nervous, not knowing if he was referring to what she was thinking.

"Smith, he is sick, isn't he?" James said.

Chloe's heart skipped a beat, and then she saw James turning to look at her. "Did you really think only you could find me?"

As a soldier, trusting someone completely was difficult for him.

Even though he had not placed a tracker in Chloe's phone, he still had some idea of what she was up to.

Besides, Smith was the Minister of Defense. There was no way James would not have any information upon returning to the country.

His comrades in Mythica were not freeloaders either.

Hearing him speak with this level of clarity made Chloe's sense of guilt even stronger.

"I am sorry, I..."

"Hey, do not apologize. I am not mad at you. I am sure Smith made you do it. He thinks he is so clever, always thinking he is doing everything for my sake. I am not a kid anymore."

James complained about Smith's high-handedness, but his smile persisted, and his eyes were a bit red.