When I Repeated My Parents’ Love Story Chapter 02

When I Repeated My Parents’ Love Story Chapter 02

The next morning, Mom shook me awake.

Normally by this hour she’d already be camped out downstairs at Ethan Frost’s office building, holding some homemade “heartfelt” breakfast she’d slaved over.

Today she stood there in a casual outfit I barely recognized, her hair smooth and tidy.

She had my jacket draped over one arm, and her voice bounced with a lightness that felt like she was announcing a spring picnic.

“Chloe, wake up! We’re taking you out for the day!”

I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Dad stood in the doorway, a backpack stuffed so full it looked ready to burst.

The strawberry smoothie and dried mango strips inside—those used to be his exclusive care-package items for Angela Hart.

“Didn’t you say you were renting out the amusement park?”

I yawned, already imagining a full day of going wild.

But the car drove and drove and finally stopped at the gates of Westbrook University.

Dad cleared his throat and pointed at the entrance, trying way too hard to sound casual.

“Thought we’d let you soak in the college atmosphere first. Get a feel for it. You know, acclimate.”

My eyes lit up like a slot machine.

This was the school Lucas, my school bad boy crush, couldn’t shut up about!

Just last week I overheard him laughing with his buddies.

“Westbrook’s packed with gorgeous girls. Once I get in there, it’s gonna be an all-you-can-eat buffet.”

I whipped out my phone and lunged toward the gate.

“Dad, move! I need a picture of the entrance to send to my friend! He’s obsessed with the… um… the architecture here! The beautiful architecture!”

I was already calculating. Send the photo, and maybe he’d finally chat with me for a full half hour.

The second the words left my mouth, both my parents’ faces curdled.

Dad’s mouth twitched like a spasm. Mom’s eyes went wide and wild, like a cat watching another cat steal its food.

“No pictures! We’re leaving. Now.”

Mom snatched my phone, grabbed my arm, and started dragging me back to the car so hard I nearly twisted my ankle.

I stomped my foot in protest.

“Wait! I haven’t even gotten the motto stone yet! If he sees I took that picture, he might actually eat breakfast with me tomorrow!”

Dad started the engine with a growl and caught my eye in the rearview mirror. His expression was complicated, like a gardener staring at a prized rosebush that had somehow grown sideways.

I was too busy mourning the loss of my thirty-minute chat with Lucas to notice.

At noon they took me to the most exclusive private restaurant in the city.

Back in the day they only ever brought Angela and Ethan here. I’d never set foot past the door.

The moment the food hit the table, Mom started piling my plate, serving me while chanting like a mantra.

“Chloe, sweetheart, a girl has to put herself first. You cannot orbit around someone else’s world. You understand?”

Dad picked up the chant, jabbing his fork into his steak.

“Exactly! Your standards need to be sky-high. Some bleach-blond punk who sleeps through class and runs his mouth all day—he’s not even worthy to tie your shoelaces!”

I gnawed on a rib and tried to piece it together. What had gotten into them? Why the sudden life lessons?

“Dad, Mom, what are you actually trying to say?”

I set down my fork and stared at them, completely lost.

Mom put her spoon down, straightened up, and fixed me with this careful, tentative look, like she was defusing a bomb.

“Chloe, at school… is there someone you like?”

My face went red. I squirmed and gave a shy nod.

Oh no.

Had they found out I’d fallen for their precious hero and heroine’s adopted son?

My parents went into hero and heroine’s adopted son?

My parents went into full DEFCON mode. Dad nearly knocked over his teacup, and his voice cracked.

“Chloe! You’re way too young right now. Your studies come first! Dating and romance—that’s for college. Later. Much later.”

Mom nodded along, her face as serious as a Supreme Court ruling.

“Exactly! Boys your age are completely unreliable. Our Chloe deserves someone incredible. Someone solid. Someone who treats her right!”

I nodded so fast I practically looked like a bobblehead.

“Got it, Dad. Got it, Mom. I’ll study my hardest.”

I glanced at the desserts on the table, and it hit me. Angela loved the mango mousse here.

Ethan was obsessed with their vintage Bordeaux.

And Lucas—Lucas couldn’t resist their duck sliders.

I practically bounced in my seat with excitement.

“Dad! Angela loves the mango mousse here. You should get an order to go and bring it to her, right?”

I spun toward my mom.

“And Mom, you should take a bottle of the Bordeaux to Mr. Frost! You haven’t seen him all day.”

Then I could casually slip in an order of duck sliders. Completely under the radar. Completely free.

I was a genius.

“And hey, you guys should bring me along, I can—”

Before I could finish, a deafening bang cut me off.

Both my parents slammed their hands on the table at the exact same moment, and every plate jumped.

“Absolutely not!”