Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 169

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Late at night, lan was holed up in a private room on the second floor of the Royal Court Club.

He sat on the sofa, his expression so grim it sent chills down your spine.

Mitchell said, “Mr. Hamilton, last night, Miss Monroe transferred five hundred thousand to Ms. Sherman’s account. She’s currently staying at a hotel with her kid.”

Ian’s knuckles tapped lightly against his glass. “Get an apartment ready. Make sure it’s fully wired for surveillance from every angle.”

Mitchell warned, “Mr. Hamilton, if you get close to Ms. Sherman again to uncover the truth about Mr. Hunter’s death, your wife is definitely going to get the wrong idea.”

Ian closed his eyes, exhaustion weighing on him. “Same blood, different fate. But he was my brother. I can’t let him die without closure.”

As for Chloe, Ian knew she wanted nothing to do with him.

He was already beyond redemption in her eyes.

Telling her would just pile on more worries for her, Ian thought.

Chris’s sudden death had been a gut punch for his mom.

And if she ever found out that Ian hadn’t stopped digging into what happened back then, she’d just drive herself crazy over it.

“Whatever, Ian told himself, letting it go.

Whether things turned out good or bad, he’d take it all on his own.

As long as Chloe didn’t mention divorce or walk out on their family, he would go along with whatever she wanted–even if that meant letting her take it out on him.

Ian’s thoughts were all over the place.

Trying to distract himself, he changed the subject and told Mitchell, “Tomorrow, check in on the merger of the two tech teams. Make Mona Shaw the team lead.”

Mitchell looked doubtful. “Mr. Hamilton, Mona’s only been a full–timer for less than a year. Once the teams merge, there’ll be over a hundred people in the department. That’s a lot to ask of someone so new. Is she really up for it?”

Ian sent Mitchell a photo on his phone. “That’s Mona’s dad–George Shaw, the top Al chip engineer in Riverton. His contract with his current company is up in a week. Get HR to prepare an offer letter tomorrow. In three days, have Mr. Shaw go with Mona to Riverton and bring him back. Do whatever it takes to rehire

him for our team.”

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Mitchell suddenly understood and shot Ian an admiring look.

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‘No wonder Mr. Hamilton singled out Mona for a permanent position among all the interns, Mitchell thought.

‘So that was the real reason Mr. Hamilton wanted Mona on the team–it was all about bringing in her dad, George Shaw, the top Al engineer in Riverton,‘ he realized.

Looking back, Mitchell had to admit–when it came to hunting for talent, Mr. Hamilton never lost.

It was well past midnight when Ian finally made it home. The house was plunged in darkness, silent and empty.

He walked up to the master bedroom door and tried the handle, but it was locked from the inside.

Feeling completely drained, Ian leaned against the door and closed his eyes.

The next morning, Vivian tracked Andrea down at the hotel, pressing her to return the money.

Andrea tried to dodge. “Vivian, relax–Ian handed me a twenty–million–dollar check for pocket money yesterday, but I was in such a hurry I totally left it behind. I’ll pay you back in a couple days, promise!”

Vivian gave her a doubtful look. “You had a baby with Mr. Hamilton, and look how old he is now. What’s really up with the Hamiltons? Even if they’re not rooting for you, why would they just act like their own kid doesn’t exist?”

Andrea smiled awkwardly, a little guilty. “Honestly, Ian’s not divorced yet. He’s such a prize–can’t really blame his wife for hanging on.”

Vivian huffed, sounding impatient. “Whatever. You told me you’d only need it for a night. I’ll give you a few more days, but make sure you pay me back soon.”

As soon as Vivian walked out, Andrea’s phone started ringing.

She answered it and hurried out of the hotel.

Outside a little restaurant in Southford, Laura Terry and Andrea’s brother and sister–in–law blocked her way, refusing to let her leave.

Laura scolded her, “Andrea, how could you rack up so much debt?”

Andrea’s sister–in–law snatched her bag strap and started yelling right there on the street. “Andrea, you were always chasing after rich guys, and we spent everything we had trying to help you. You disappeared overseas for six years without a word while we took care of your mom. Now you’re finally back and already drowning in debt–and you’re dragging us down with you!”

Her brother jabbed a finger in her face. “If you want to be some rich guy’s side chick, take your mess somewhere else. Don’t ruin things for us. Just because you’ve wrecked your name doesn’t mean my kids shouldn’t get to have a normal life!”

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Andrea felt dizzy, her mind going blank as her mom and sister–in–law grabbed her from each side, not letting up for a second.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and shoved them away. “Will you ever stop?” she snapped.

Andrea stared at her mom, brother, and sister–in–law, feeling hurt and helpless.

She shot back at her brother and sister–in–law, “Six years ago, if I hadn’t secretly given you money, would you have even been able to buy a house in Kingsford so the kids could go to school?”

“All your meals, clothes, the roof over your heads, and even both kids‘ tuition–what haven’t I paid for?” Andrea demanded.

Yeah, maybe I am shameless. Maybe I was chasing after a better life, trying to get a leg up. But wasn’t I doing it all so our family wouldn’t be stuck in poverty forever?‘ Andrea fired back, her voice trembling just a bit.

Her sister–in–law shrieked, “Save the sob story, Andrea! We’re only back in this mess because of you! You’d better give us the cash to get a place sorted, or you’ll regret it!”

Feeling the stares burning from random people passing by, Andrea forced herself to keep calm. She held back her anger, pulled out her phone, and transferred a hundred thousand to her brother and sister–in–law.

“Just take this for now,” Andrea said, exhaling sharply. “I’ll send you more as soon as Ian gives me the check, I

swear.”

Seeing how greedy my brother and sister–in–law looked, Andrea shot them all a sharp warning. “Mom, Brother, Sister–in–law–let me make this clear. If I’m good, you’re good too, but if I crash and burn, you’re all going down with me!”

Andrea added, voice cold, “The Hamilton family already knows the truth about Clint. I’ve got enough chaos on my plate, so don’t make things worse. No matter what happens–even if someone’s got a knife to your throat–just say three words: ‘I don’t know. Got it?”

After breaking away from her family, Andrea was completely on edge, unable to calm down for even a second.

Vivian was breathing down her neck for repayment, Miranda Hamilton was badgering her and her family for money, and her mom, brother, and sister–in–law never let up with their own demands.

If she didn’t snag that check from Ian soon, she’d end up crushed by debt before that old fossil from the Hamilton family ever opened his eyes.

Andrea tried calling lan again and again, but he wouldn’t answer. Whenever she reached out to Mitchell, he always told her Ian was busy.

The longer she couldn’t get through to lan, the more it gnawed at her nerves.

It was almost noon when Andrea arrived outside the hospital where Chloe was admitted. Just like she’d hoped, Jan was there.

Spotting lan stepping out of his car, Andrea broke down, running straight toward him in tears. “Tan, I’m

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begging you please help me! I really can’t take this anymore,” she cried.

Ian and Mitchell glanced at each other.

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Andrea pointed at the little restaurant across the street, desperation in her voice. “Ian, I’ve got so much to say. Can we go sit down somewhere and talk?”

About ten minutes later, lan and Andrea stepped into the restaurant, and Andrea deliberately chose a window booth.

Andrea couldn’t care less about ordering, she blurted out, “Ian, why haven’t you been answering my calls? Edward already knows about Clint’s true background–once he wakes up, he’ll come after me for sure. What am I supposed to do?”

Ian stayed calm and reassured her, “Relax. This all started because I made a promise to you–and I was the one who said too much. I’ll see this through, no matter what.”

When Andrea heard Ian’s guarantee, she burst into tears, clutching Ian’s hand. “Ian, I just knew you wouldn’t be that cruel to me,” she cried.

Chloe and Philip walked in with their child, and the moment they stepped into the restaurant, their eyes landed on Ian and Andrea.

Philip leaned in and, lowering his voice, asked Chloe, “Do you want to pick another place?”

But Chloe just pointed calmly to the seats right behind Ian, her tone unwavering. “No need―let’s sit there.”

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