Chapter 14 - Chloe Pays Her Mother’s Last Bill
The hospital debt remained.
Dominic offered to pay it.
Chloe refused.
He offered again.
She refused more aggressively.
So he stopped.
Months later, financial recoveries and insurance corrections reduced
part of the disputed balance.
Chloe negotiated the rest herself.
She paid the final amount from savings, increased wages, and money from
a legitimate settlement connected to Elaine’s employment records.
The day the balance reached zero, she printed the statement.
Dominic was sitting at his usual booth.
She placed it in front of him.
He looked confused.
“What’s this?”
“My check.”
He read it.
BALANCE: $0.00.
Then he smiled.
It was the first full smile Chloe had ever seen from him.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
She started to walk away.
“Chloe.”
She turned.
“Dinner?”
She raised an eyebrow.
“As your waitress?”
“No.”
“As someone you own?”
His smile vanished.
“Never.”
Chloe considered him.
“Then ask better.”
Dominic stood.
“Would you have dinner with me?”
May you like
“Maybe.”
It was the most hopeful answer he had received in months.
