Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 254

Chapter 254

Chapter 254

Philip’s joking around made the vibe between them super chill.

Chloe didn’t feel stressed at all. She gave a confident nod and agreed without a second thought.

Just one message from her and Philip came running to help her late at night.

He didn’t just back her up, he actually took on the Quinn family, one of the eight powerhouses, for her.

With him being that loyal, Chloe knew she had to show her gratitude.

Besides, Simon Foster was her godson.

Since Philip couldn’t make it, of course Chloe had to step in and handle the parent–teacher conference for

Simon.

That night, inside the Royal Court Club,

“Seriously, you trying to drink yourself into an early grave?” Patrick said, grabbing the glass out of Ian’s hand.

Patrick snatched the drink away before Jan could take another sip.

Jan shot Patrick a look, then sprawled out on the couch like he didn’t care.

He was struggling to breathe, but his chest was so tight it felt like he couldn’t get any air at all.

Jan’s eyes were hollow as he gazed up at the ceiling, muttering to himself, “I can’t break my promise to her again. I gave her my word–I have to make good on it.”

Patrick gathered up all the bottles from the table and put them out of reach.

He tried to console lan, saying, “lan, you know there’s no going back with Chloe. Honestly, making this choice is probably for the best.”

Jan squeezed his eyes shut, pain etched across his face as tears silently slid down his cheeks.

There was no going back.

But seeing her just within reach, yet unable to touch her–watching her climb into someone else’s car and leave with him–felt like someone was ripping out his heart right in front of him.

The pain was so intense it made him want to lose his mind.

lan murmured, “I just want to make things right with her, but she won’t give me even the slightest chance.”

Patrick pointed out, “Can’t you see it? Chloe doesn’t need you to make amends.”

The truth was brutal, but Patrick didn’t hold back.

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Chapter 254

Patrick told him. “Tan, what you did to Chloe can’t be undone. This whole ‘making it up to her thing—it’s really just about you wanting to ease your own conscience. You’re desperate to escape that guilt.”

“Just like you oner decided to hurt her, now Chloe’s deciding not to let you off the hook. That’s her choice.”

Patrick had always said it–lan and Chloe were both Scorpios, hot–tempered and impossible to predict.

When those t

other out.

two got together, it was either fate working its magic or they’d go down in flames, taking each

Back then, lan had used Chloe’s love for him however he wanted, never caring about how much it hurt her.

Now, Chloe’s icy resolve and complete indifference just wrecked him, leaving him with nothing.

Now, lan was drowning in guilt and regret, wracked with pain and barely functioning.

Meanwhile, Chloe had completely cut herself off from the situation, blocking every possible way he could try to make amends. She watched with icy detachment as lan was devoured by his own overwhelming emotions, trapped in misery with nowhere to vent.

If lan could finally let go of his obsession and pull himself together, that would be the best outcome for

everyone.

But if he couldn’t…

Patrick didn’t dare let his thoughts go any further.

The next morning, in the Hunter Corp. Executive Office.

Ian sat at his desk, eyes fixed on the paperwork in his hands, but he was totally spaced out, clearly lost in his own world.

Mitchell had to call his name several times before Ian finally snapped back to reality.

Ian looked up at Mitchell, frowning. “Take off the mask and speak clearly.”

Mitchell hesitated, then pulled off his mask, showing his face all scratched up.

Ian said,

come it looks even worse now?”

Mitchell said with a sigh, “When I got home last night, my wife saw all the scratches and instantly thought I’d been fooling around with some woman. She just lost it and gave me hell.”

Ian just glanced at the scratches on Mitchell’s face, muttered a casual “Oh,” and buried himself back in his paperwork.

Mitchell was left standing there, not knowing what to say.

After standing silently by the desk for a good while, Mitchell couldn’t hold it in anymore and finally asked,

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Chapter 254

“Mr. Hamilton, are we still supposed to keep tabs on Dr. Irvine?”

lan’s hand froze for a second over the pen, lost in thought.

4700

65 vouchers

He ordered Mitchell, “Tell every department–effective immediately, cut off all collaboration with Quinn Enterprises.”

Mitchell’s face tightened. “Mr. Hamilton, shouldn’t we run this by Shane before making a final decision?”

Hamilton Group and Quinn Enterprises had been partners for years. If Hamilton Group cuts ties out of the blue, the financial loss is minor–but there’ll be criticism from other collaborators and plenty of heat from the board.

lan’s voice was steely. “Execute the order.”

Seeing lan wasn’t going to budge, Mitchell could only sigh inwardly and carry out the instructions.

The news reached Henry, head of the Quinn family, almost instantly.

Henry’s face changed dramatically the moment he hung up the phone.

Violet was lying in bed, absentmindedly rubbing her pregnant belly and whining. “Babe, can’t you just put away your work and focus on me for once?”

Henry stood next to her with a grim face, saying seriously, “Violet, I’m over fifty and finally going to be a dad. I let you do whatever you want, but out of all the things you could’ve done, the one thing you absolutely shouldn’t have–you shouldn’t have ever gotten on Mr. Hamilton’s ex–wife’s bad side!”

Violet felt a bit guilty, but put on her sweetest voice to test the waters. “Come on, don’t be so serious. You said yourself she’s just Mr. Hamilton’s ex–wife. I’m Mrs. Quinn–am I really supposed to lower myself and grovel in front of her?”

Henry shook his head, disappointment etched all over his face. Just to help your niece vent her anger, you crossed Mr. Hamilton. Now he’s furious and has cut off all cooperation with Quinn Enterprises–costing our Quinn family billions, just like that!”

Violet quickly shook her head in denial, her tone soft and coaxing. “Calm down, honey. I swear I’ll steer clear of that woman from now on, so Mr. Hamilton won’t get the wrong idea about me anymore.”

“Just stay in the hospital and focus on your health and the baby. I’ll go talk to the Hamiltons myself,” Henry said.

After Henry left, Violet slumped back onto the bed, all her strength gone. She just lay there, feeling utterly

spent.

Melody, who had been silent all this time, quickly hurried over to talk some sense into her. “Aunt Violet, Andrea has no one to blame but herself for how things turned out. Coming back with that illegitimate kid–of course lan wasn’t going to touch her, let alone take her back. I practically begged her to just take the money Jan handed out and move on with her life, but she absolutely refused to listen. In the end, she got herself burned by Ian.

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Melody pressed on. “Aunt Violet, the Sherman family is counting on you now–both for the baby your’re carrying and for the family’s only male heir. You have to make sure you deliver safely–our whole future depends on it. lan’s nothing but trouble–he’s heartless and ruthless. We can’t risk crossing him any longer?

Violet nodded, frazzled. “You’re right, Melody. Go pay off the thugs I asked you to hire yesterday–make they’re out of the picture for good. And get rid of the drugs hidden in the apartment. From now on, we say far away from that woman. As for Andrea, whatever happens to her is her problem–I’m done worrying about

Once Violet and Melody realized lan was coming down hard on the Quinn family, they didn’t dare stir up any more trouble. Self–preservation kicked in, and both of them instantly decided to lay low.

While those two women finally decided to lay low, Jan’s headaches were only just beginning

Just before the noon break at the office.

Shane burst into lan’s office, face thunderous. “Reverse that order right now–I want all collaborations with Quinn Enterprises back on track!”

lan put the paperwork aside, got to his feet, and said, “Dad, I’m the one running this company. I need you to stop meddling in my decisions.”

Father and son faced off, the desk between them like a battleground.

Shane jabbed a finger at lan, his face full of frustration. “You’re really putting the whole company on the line just to go after some woman? Is settling a personal score worth risking everything? How do you think the rest of our partners are going to see this?”

Shane slammed the documents down in anger. “What, is the board just for decoration in your eyes? Do you even respect their authority at all?”

Ian didn’t budge an inch. “The order’s already out–all business with Quinn Enterprises ends here, effective immediately. If Hamilton Group really wants to crawl back to them, then let the board sack me as CEO first. Otherwise, I’m not backing down.”

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