Man Spends All Time with Bedridden Wife, She Vanishes as He Leaves House One Day

Derek and Chloe had a committed marriage from the start. However, she became ill right away and was confined to bed. Until there was one occurrence that caused him to turn away, he was always by her side. When he did turn around, she had already left.

“Dad! No! I love him! He’s the love of my life! I can’t believe you’d be so shallow as to forbid me from dating a man just because his family doesn’t have money,” Chloe sobbed in her room at her parent’s house.

It was customary for her father, Mr. Rawlings, to arrange a dinner with the family of his business partner, Mr. Cassini. But shortly after they took a seat, her father made clear what the actual purpose of the evening was.

Mr. Rawlings stated, clapping his hands, “Chloe, Mr. Cassini, and I have decided that you and Derek are going to get married.”

Mr. Cassini cheered as well, saying, “It makes the most sense. We’ll finally be a family!” The entire table broke into friendly conversation and congrats.
Chloe was the only one who appeared to be taken off guard. “I have a boyfriend,” she murmured, perplexed.

There was silence at the table. Mr. Rawlings reassured the visitors, “No, she doesn’t. It’s a silly fling that I told her she needs to nip in the bud,” to which they all nodded.

Derek was thrilled and confident that she was on the mend.
She heard no one talking to her. She cried, “DAD! No! I’m not marrying a man I don’t even know!” and bolted.

When Mr. Rawlings found her in her room, she was crying and screaming and telling him how much she loved her old classmate David.

Although he belonged to the bad boy crowd and had never even looked at her until a few months ago, she developed a crush on him in high school.

They had reunited one day, when Chloe drove her car in for a checkup and he happened to be the mechanic. At the age of twenty.

Despite having known Derek her entire life, she had no romantic feelings for him. At family get-togethers, they resembled distant cousins who hardly spoke at all. Her age difference with Derek was three years.

Derek was never discussed, and Mr. Rawling’s concept made little sense because she never considered Derek to be a man.

“Chloe, I will not have you settling down with that useless mechanic. He doesn’t even go to college. He saw your expensive car and thought he could have a rich girlfriend. You have a bright future ahead of you, and Derek loves you dearly. He told me so. That’s why I arranged everything,” Mr. Rawlings attempted to placate her.

“What? So, you plan my life without my input? That’s not fair, Dad! I don’t want to marry Derek! I know he likes me, but I don’t know him. He’s always been your business partner’s son. He’s nothing to me,” she wept as she spoke.

“That doesn’t matter. You will get to know him after you marry him. It’s the best match for you, dear,” her dad emphasised.

With a resolute gaze, Chloe sprang up from her bed and dried her eyes. “NO! We’re not in the 1900s when a father could decide and arrange a marriage. I won’t marry, and that’s it!”

Mr. Rawlings said, “Fine,” nodding. “Then, you have to leave my house immediately. I’m cutting you off. I won’t pay for your college. I won’t give you another dime. If you want to make your own choices, go ahead. But I won’t ever contribute to the life of that gold-digging loser you’re dating.”

Startled, Chloe exclaimed, “DAD! NO!” She was his young daughter. “I’m doing well in school. I love it there. I can’t…”

Thinking of her existence without her father’s assistance, she trailed off. Even though Chloe was an adult in theory, she continued to live at home. She didn’t anticipate working till after college because she had never done so. She believed she could rely on her father’s support even in such situation. Never before has he used money against her.

Chloe first assured him that she could manage without him, choosing not to share with him all of her innermost feelings. She even left the house, but she soon came back. To be honest, she had no idea how to live a life of struggle because she loved her education so much.

A few months after that conversation, she and Derek were married. Everything was organised by their mothers. While her new husband was all smiles and cautious kisses at the ceremony, she was lacking enthusiasm. He was overjoyed.

He whispered to her, “Chloe, I know this is not how you pictured your wedding, and I may not be the man you originally wanted. But I promise to care and love you until the day I die. I will do anything for you,” and she nodded, taking his words to heart.

It seemed as though her life had ended. Derek was her husband, and David had to go from her life.

Derek decided to wait to ask Chloe out because he had a crush on her since she was fifteen. Sadly, she didn’t even give him a glance. Years later, Mr. Rawlings told her he still felt something for her, and she was thrilled. He proposed the concept of an arranged union, which Derek was powerless to reject.

At that moment, he was aware that Chloe was seeing someone. Derek was aware that she would first despise him, but he couldn’t let go of the chance to wed the woman he truly loved.

Derek cried out, “She can barely move! Someone took her!!”
He had no doubt that she would eventually come to love him. He would give her all she deserved—love, adoration, protection, and care. That began with him being paid back for a lovely home that Mr. Rawlings and Mr. Cassini had assisted him in obtaining.

Derek encouraged her to finish her degree and agreed wholeheartedly when she stated she didn’t want children at first. In all honesty, he told her, “I can wait forever for kids. Or not have them at all, if that’s what you would prefer.”

“I appreciate it, Derek,” she grinned in response. After her father’s news, she had never smiled at him sincerly until that moment. Derek felt relieved and confident that she was improving. She will soon develop feelings for him.

But Chloe became ill soon after graduating from college. She was losing weight and had trouble moving. Derek was the most worried because it was nearly impossible for her to get out of bed. They transported her to numerous doctors, who performed a number of tests until one of them was able to provide a diagnosis.

Derek was unaware that chronic fatigue syndrome even existed. Chloe was also perplexed. She said, “So, I’m tired?” Derek gently took hold of her hand. “Doc, it has to be something else.”

“Mrs. Cassini, this is a very serious and real condition. And unfortunately, there’s no real cure or set treatment. I’m going to consult with some colleagues, and we’ll take it from there,” the physician said with seriousness.

Derek assured her that he would be at her side and that she should not worry. He worked from home every single day and converted their large bedroom into a partial office. They already had a maid, but in addition he employed a cook and a nurse who could follow the doctor’s orders.

He only left her side to use the loo; everything was delivered to their house. But only until he was certain that she was sound sleeping.

After receiving various treatments for a few months, Chloe was not exhibiting any progress. She spent the whole day in bed. Derek noticed that she was losing muscular tone despite following her diet and doing little exercises with the nurse, even though some people could assume this was a sham. He also noticed the bags under her eyes. It hurt so much to watch those. Everyone in the family was concerned since his wife was in pain.

Derek was emailing the doctor on a Saturday, talking about a new treatment he had discussed with doctors in Europe. The house was empty of other people. On Saturdays, the nurse was not present. Their maid had an emergency involving their child, and their cook requested a weekend off.

This was alright. Derek could watch his wife just fine, and later on they would treat themselves to a great pizza.

He was concentrating on his computer when his phone sent him a text. With a frown, Derek read, “There’s a fire in your garage.” That was nonsensical. There was no noise, and they had an advanced alarm system.

Nevertheless, he went to the window to observe the guards watching their gate go towards the garage because it was his responsibility to keep his wife safe and their house secure. He gasped, “Jesus, it’s real,” and hurried over to Chloe’s bedside.

He was sure he could check things out and be back before she noticed he was gone because she was sound sleeping.

He asked the guards, who were attempting to open the garage door, “What’s going on?”

The garage door opener wasn’t operating, but there was smoke coming from inside. The alarms also sounded silently. There was a problem. He made his own 911 call and requested that police be dispatched as well.

While the police investigated the area surrounding the property, the firefighters came and succeeded in opening the garage.

“Mr. Cassini, a pile of clothes was on fire inside. There’s a bit of damage to one of your cars, but nothing major. It could’ve been dangerous,” the firefighter said.

Derek questioned them angrily, “I don’t understand. My alarm system is brand new and expensive. Why didn’t it go off?” He was informed by the police and firefighters that it would be wise to conduct an investigation to find out what was going on.

“We should check your security cameras as well. I wouldn’t call this arson, but it’s a little suspicious. Did you leave those clothes in the garage?” a police officer asked.

“Well, no. But the garage is so close to the laundry room. Our maid might’ve left it accidentally. She had to leave yesterday unexpectedly because her son got sick. I don’t know,” Derek responded while massaging his forehead. “I’ll give you guys permission to check anything. Please, I need to find some answers. I have a sick up there, and this can’t happen again. It’s my job to protect her.”

Derek had been away from Chloe for half an hour. He hurried back to their bedroom because it was the longest he had done since her diagnosis, but he stopped at their door as if an invisible wall were blocking his path. However, nothing was present.
The room was disorganised, and their bed was vacant. He yelled her name so loudly that his lungs burned, “CHLOE! CHLOE!” as he frantically went towards their kitchen, playrooms, guestrooms, basement and bathroom.

“God, I don’t know even know how long it’s been.”
Derek exclaimed as soon as he was outdoors, “Officers! My wife is gone! She can barely move! Someone took her!” The police were obviously perplexed, but his gate guards verified what he said.

After checking the cameras, which they had not previously done, the officers found that every clip from the previous hour was tampered with. When Derek contacted the security firm, they informed him that the only plausible explanation was that the system had been purposefully tampered with.
That was sufficient for the police to begin looking for Derek’s wife, who was reported missing. But a breakdown seemed imminent for him. Chloe was defenceless and frail. Tears were streaming down his face as he realised that these criminals would hurt her and that he had failed to protect her as he had promised.

The police searched for months without finding anything. It appeared to be at an end. Derek assumed these kidnappers would phone and demand a ransom. However, they never did.

Not knowing if Chloe was safe or even alive, he wept every day. Though it appeared hopeless, he prayed and hoped. It was getting quite old already. What did the burglars want for her if they weren’t for money?

His father and father-in-law were actively searching for the best private investigators and had discussed engaging them for the hunt. But the days he spent without his wife become progressively more gloomy.

He sat up fast in bed when a message appeared on his phone. It dawned on him that this was the same number that had written about the garage fire several months prior, and his eyesight got fuzzy.

Derek tapped his brow and said, “Jesus, how could I forget this number?” Everything was engrossing him so much that the whole affair was a haze. But suddenly he recalled it.

But his life would not be ruined by this message. The most startling thing about the text was that it contained just one word: “David.” In actuality, it was his lone chance to win Chloe back.

He was aware of what had transpired and felt remorse for not having connected the dots sooner. David was the only one who showed any interest in his wife. Since Chloe had stated that they had split amicably, he assumed the man would go on.

Derek was mistaken, though. She was taken by David. The one silver lining was that it most likely indicated she was still alive and the person who delivered the message wanted him to locate her. All he could do was hope that Chloe wrote it herself.

Chloe said, “Derek,” from a filthy, ancient bed at a cabin in a remote woodland outside of town. He leaned to take her up as her little arms gently raised.

He put his arms around her and held her firmly, holding Chloe closely even as she started to cry little drops of tears in his arms. “It’s OK. Everything will be alright. You’re safe. With me,” he said.

Naturally, Derek didn’t travel to the cabin by himself. He had to locate it first. So he gave the police a call and told them about David. After searching through documents, they found his number plate number. After that, they looked through city CCTV footage, contacted his former employer to find out where he was, and eventually located his cottage close to the woods.

When they got there, Chloe was on the bed, and Derek took her away because he only had her welfare in mind and David wasn’t there. He stoically informed the officers, “I don’t care what happens to him,” and he drove his wife home.

She was helped to get ready, fed, and cleaned by the maid and the nurse. He was shocked to see that Chloe was able to lean on the headboard and seemed well enough to converse. “It’s alright, you can now relax,” he reassured her.

“No, Derek. I have to talk about this now,” she responded, firmly taking hold of his arm.

“Okay,” he swallowed, not sure if he was prepared for a response. Had this been planned?

Her words, “I didn’t plan this with him,” seemed to read his thoughts. “I had no idea that he wanted me back. But I have to admit that I was… glad at first. I thought I still loved him. I thought that I would get better being with him.”

All Derek could do was nod.

“But I wasn’t. I only got worse. I don’t know if you noticed that he grabbed your watches. He didn’t have much time, but he grabbed what he could before carrying me away,” Chloe went on.
“I did notice.”

“He sold them, and that’s what we’ve been living off all this time,” she said. “God, I don’t even know how long it’s been.”

“Months,” he mutely said. His gaze was fixed on her, but he was unable to meet her gaze.

She sobbed, “Oh, Derek. I’m so sorry.”

He questioned, “What happened?” His voice was inquisitive, not forced.

Her words were terrible. “He wanted money. That’s all he wanted from me. All along,” she added. “My father was right about him.”

“How do you know?”

“He told me. Directly. That I was only good for my money. I was so stupid. I realised that he treated me like garbage even back then. I couldn’t believe I was so blind,” said Chloe. “Oh, can you help me lay down?”

Derek took her hand and gently placed her head on the plush pillows, saying, “Yes, of course.” He tucked the comforter tightly around her.
“I was a stupid girl. I quickly realised that my love for him was not love. It wasn’t the companionship, support, and carefulness you showed me love could be. I missed you, and I know now that I love you,” Chloe said, as Derek sighed.

Breathing out, “You don’t have to say that,”

“I love you, Derek. You’re my husband. I’ve been an awful wife, and I’m sick. You deserve so much better than me, but I wanted you to know that I love you,” she stated, attempting to get out of bed.

“No, no, no. Stay down there. You’re tired,” he said, shaking his head as some mischievous tears spilled out.

With tears in her eyes, she pleaded, “Can you forgive me?”

Derek said in a shaky voice, “Are you kidding?” “I basically forced you to marry me. You have to forgive me.”

She questioned, “Do you love me, too?” She was sorrowful, but as he looked at her, she smiled shyly.

Whispering, “I love you, Chloe,” Never has words been more accurate. She gave it everything she had when he leaned down to kiss her.

This was the first kiss of pure love, even though they had technically kissed earlier.
David unintentionally left his cell phone unattended one day, and Chloe subsequently admitted that she took it. She swiftly typed his name after discovering the mail thread with the paragraph about the garage fire. She didn’t want him to know and didn’t have the strength for more.

David was quickly located and taken into custody. Because they wanted him to rot in prison, Mr. Rawlings and Mr. Cassini Sr. made sure the strongest prosecutor was handling his case.

But Chloe and David had their eyes fixed on one another. Unexpectedly, Chloe was improving. The physician discovered an alternative course of action that, while not curative, was doing miracles for her. She was walking and standing by the end of that year. Chloe improved significantly throughout the years, and they began their family with the feeling that it was always meant to be.