The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 142

Chapter 142

The group moved closer.

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Laura, Andrea’s mother, had collapsed by the roadside, and Andrea was crying, begging anyone passing by for help.

When Andrea saw Ian, she started sobbing even louder. “Ian, my mom fainted. Please, I’m begging you, can you help me?”

Seeing that nobody around dared to step forward, Ian grabbed Chloe by the wrist and pulled her right into the thick of it.

Ian told Chloe, “You’re a doctor. Go check her out.”

Chloe jerked her hand free from Ian’s grip and stood next to Laura, face icy.

She looked down, her gaze landing on Laura’s fluttering eyelashes.

Chloe said to Ian, “She’s fine.”

Andrea collapsed beside her mom, tears streaming down her face as she called out to Chloe. “Dr. Irvine, you’re a doctor! My mom’s fainted right here, and not only do you refuse to help, you stand there making cold–hearted comments?”

Andrea made a point of calling her “Dr. Irvine” instead of “Mrs. Hamilton,” right in front of everyone.

As soon as Andrea’s words came out, the crowd started calling Chloe out, saying she had no medical ethics and didn’t deserve to be a doctor.

Ian lowered his voice. “Chloe, you’re a doctor. This is a life–or–death situation–now’s not the time to be petty

with me.”

Chloe looked at Ian, her gaze cool and unbothered.

Chloe said, “Ian, after years in medicine, I can tell you–this is all just psychological.”

She added, “Just help Andrea up, throw in a few kind words, and get her mom back home. Trust me, they’ll be full of energy before you know it–cooking for you and keeping you warm at night.”

Face–to–face, the two locked eyes, tension crackling in the air between them.

Ian’s expression was like ice, shooting Chloe a warning glare that left no room for doubt.

Sobbing, Andrea shuffled closer to Chloe.

She clung to the edge of Chloe’s coat, voice choked with desperation. “Dr. Irvine, please–I’m begging you. The ambulance isn’t here yet, and I have no idea what to do. Can you just help my mom right now?”

With the crowd’s accusations growing louder in Chloe’s ears, she glanced down at Andrea, her patience

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Chapter 142

wearing thin.

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Chloe’s eyes fell on her now–creased coat, twisted in Andrea’s frantic grip. ‘Does she have to be this dramatic? she thought, frowning.

In the next moment, Chloe jerked her coat sharply, forcing Andrea’s hand off.

“Ahh!” Andrea let out a shrill scream.

She crumpled to the pavement, collapsing right where she stood.

Ian hurried over, knelt beside her, and asked in a low voice, “Did you hurt yourself?”

Andrea grabbed Ian’s hand, sobbing uncontrollably. “Ian, a little scrape is nothing to me, but Dr. Irvine–she’s supposed to be a doctor! Even if she wants nothing to do with me, how can she just ignore a patient lying there helpless, right in front of her?”

Ian let go of Andrea and walked straight up to Chloe.

He said, “Chloe, some doctor you are–letting personal grudges get in the way of a patient’s life. Do you even deserve to be called a doctor?”

The two glared at each other, and Chloe let out a cold laugh. “And who are you to judge if I deserve it?”

Ian’s eyes darkened, his gaze suddenly intense.

Chloe shot back, “If you’re so worried about your mother–in–law, why aren’t you rushing her to the hospital instead of wasting your breath on me?”

When the crowd heard Chloe say Ian was the son–in–law of the old lady lying on the ground, the whole mood shifted–suddenly, everyone was calling out Ian.

“I thought he was just someone walking by, but he’s actually her son–in–law?”

“Other people don’t dare help because they’re afraid of getting blamed, but even the son–in–law is just standing there? Doesn’t look like he cares much for his in–laws.”

“You’re both here! Why aren’t you taking the old lady to the hospital?”

When the crowd started assuming he was Andrea’s husband, Ian’s face went dark with embarrassment and irritation.

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Her voice trembled with emotion. “You don’t know a thing about us! Who gives you the right to run your mouth?”

Ian pulled Andrea aside, his voice firm yet gentle. “Just look after your mom. Leave the rest to me.”

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Chapter 142

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Andrea shook her head, refusing to let go of Ian’s arm. “It’s all because of me–you shouldn’t have to take all this. I can’t just watch them attack you like that!”

Chloe watched Ian and Andrea exchanging those so–called heartfelt glances, and honestly, she almost wanted to clap for their dramatic performance.

Ian caught the hint of sarcasm on Chloe’s lips, and with barely a flicker, quietly moved Andrea aside.

A middle–aged woman walked right up to Andrea and scoffed, “Forget it, girl–men are a dime a dozen. If your husband’s already checked out, stop sticking up for him.”

An old lady backed her up, shaking her head, “Sweetie, that kind of loser isn’t worth your time. You should kick him to the curb.”

A younger woman piped up, “Garbage men belong with garbage women. Lock those two together–they deserve each other. Just keep them away from the rest of us.”

Andrea stood there, completely mortified–if there was a crack in the ground, she would’ve crawled right in to hide.

Just then, Mitchell ran up, a little out of breath.

Ian pointed sharply at Laura, still sprawled out on the pavement. “Get her to the hospital, now.”

Mitchell cast an uneasy look Chloe’s way, but could only nod and go along with the order.

Chloe, watching from the sidelines like she’d been catching a drama, finally strolled over–totally unfazed— and put a halt to Mitchell’s actions.

She said, “If someone’s passed out and we don’t know why, you can’t just start moving them. It could make things worse.”

Mitchell instantly jerked his hands back, looking so spooked he didn’t dare touch Laura again.

When Andrea saw Chloe coming right up to her mom, she freaked out and lunged to block Chloe. “What are you trying to do?”

Chloe shot Jan a cool look. “Isn’t this exactly what you asked for–me to give first aid? So get out of the way.”

Andrea, nerves jangling, scurried over to lan and muttered, “lan, stop her–she definitely wants to use this chance to settle the score!”