The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 148

Chapter 148

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lan reacted quickly, pulling Chloe into his arms to shield her.

The cup dropped to the floor behind them, landing with a crisp, echoing crack.

lan let go of Chloe and demanded, “Grandpa, what are you doing?”

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Edward stood tall by the main sofa, cane in hand. He jabbed a finger at Chloe and ordered, “Get down on your

knees!”

Chloe sidestepped Ian and walked straight up to Edward, her expression ice–cold.

She shot back at him, “Grandpa, if you’ve got something to say, just say it. Stop always making people kneel- I’m not your grandson, that’s not for me.”

Seeing Chloe talk back in front of everyone, Shane pointed at her and barked, “Now that you’re married into the Hamilton family, you’re one of us. You have to follow our rules. If the elders tell you to kneel, you kneel!”

Ian stepped in front of Chloe, shielding her. “Grandpa, Dad, if you’ve got a problem, take it up with me. Don’t talk to my wife like that.”

Chloe frowned at the word “wife,” the title clearly rubbing her the wrong way.

She shoved Ian aside and challenged Edward, “Yeah, I married into the Hamilton family, but tell me–have you ever actually treated me like part of yours? Not once!”

She snapped, “Your grandson cheated on me—and there’s a kid out there to prove it. As elders, have you ever bothered to think about what I’m going through?”

Ian kept his eyes fixed on Chloe; there was something in his gaze she just couldn’t figure out.

Shane, seething with anger, snapped, “You’re just a bankrupt heiress. You’ve been married to lan for three or four years now and still haven’t given him a single kid. Ian not divorcing you is already too generous. And you still want more?”

Chloe fired right back, “Andrea gave your family its great–grandson. She and her child are the real Hamiltons, If having a grandson matters so much to you, why don’t you bring Andrea and her boy into the family instead?”

Shane, livid, kicked over the small leather stool by his feet.

Chloe refused to back down. “The reason I haven’t had a kid since I joined the Hamiltons is because your son was seeing someone else he wouldn’t even let me have a child. If I’m really such a disappointment to all of you, just have your son divorce me. Sure, the Irvine family is bankrupt, but don’t worry–I’d never stoop to staying here and begging for scraps.

Miranda seized the moment to speak up. “At tonight’s Weasley family dinner, Chloe–who’s supposed to be the Hamilton daughter–in–law–didn’t bother with her own husband and instead showed up escorted by my half–brother and her uncle. She’s basically just handing gossip to anyone who’s watching us Hamiltons. It’s

outrageous.”

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She didn’t stop there. “Now she’s ignoring our family rules and openly talking back to the elders. I don’t think Chloe’s fit to stay as our daughter–in–law any longer. Dad, why not just make the decision and let them split. up?”

Miranda’s words had barely landed before lan cut in, his voice low and sharp. “Mom, what are you even talking about?”

He continued, “How many times do I have to repeat myself? I’m not divorcing Chloe. Ever.”

Chloe stood her ground, not letting a single emotion show on her face.

She knew Miranda was just trying to help her get out of this hellhole, and honestly, Chloe was grateful for that.

Still, she just couldn’t wrap her head around why Ian was so hell–bent on holding onto this marriage.

What, does he really have to catch me cheating before he’ll finally give it up?‘ Chloe thought, a sharp note of mockery in her mind.

Shane pointed at Ian, unable to hide his disappointment. “Are you serious? Even now, you’re still siding with her?”

He went on, “Mrs. Hamilton, huh? She’s totally disregarding our family’s honor and putting us on blast. Now everyone’s gossiping about us. Why don’t you just ask her what she’s really up to?”

Ian turned to glance at Chloe, who was standing right next to him.

He got it, clear as day.

Chloe wanted a divorce.

But there was no way in hell he’d ever agree to it.

Jan said, “Chloe’s a doctor, and she’s Sir Julian’s junior. She puts her heart into her work and shows respect to the elders. So what did she do wrong, huh?”

He stood up for Chloe with every word.

But not a hint of gratitude showed on Chloe’s face.

Chloe shot back, “It’s not like I was holding a knife to Jan’s throat and forced him to sleep around. He cheated with Andrea and they’ve got a kid–that’s a fact. If you think you’re so powerful, why don’t you shut up the whole world instead of picking on me just because the Irvine family has no one left to back ine up?”

Edward, after a long silence, finally snapped, his hand shaking as he pointed at Chloe. “You wretched girl, get down on your knees right now!”

Chloe kept her spine straight, unwavering I only kneel before heaven, earth, and my parents. The Hamiltons never gave me life or raised me–so what right do you have to make me kneel?”

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Seriously, you think I’m gonna tear myself apart over this mess?

Edward ground his teeth, spitting out, “You damn brat, you actually have the guts to threaten me to my face?

Chloe responded, cool and casual, “It’s not a threat, just self–defense.”

Not missing a beat, Miranda threw fan a pointed look, urging him to act.

Ian, not wasting a second, clamped onto Chloe’s wrist and started leading her out

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No matter how Chloe tried, she couldn’t break free from Ian’s hand. Still, she shot a sharp look over her shoulder as they walked, and called out, “Don’t throw a fit, Grandpa. The Hamiltons–if the top’s bad, everyone goes crooked. No wonder the family’s a mess.”

She kept going. “Your grandson cheats and it’s all swept under the rug, but I put my head down and do my job, suddenly I’m the villain? Everything in this family is totally upside–down.”

“Get out!” Edward roared.

He snatched up a teacup from the coffee table, flinging it at Chloe with a snap.

Ian swept Chloe up into his arms and stormed out.

Once they were in the car, Ian was left sweating from the whole mess.

He took several deep breaths, then shoved Chloe back into her seat, his eyes dark. “So, is Rowe the reason you’re acting so gutsy today?”

Chloe lounged lazily against the headrest, locking eyes with Ian. “Don’t be so clueless, Ian. If I piss your grandpa off enough to send him to the grave, you’d get to host his funeral feast–and then, nothing could stop you from moving your precious woman and son right into the Hamilton family.”

Ian’s face was dark as thunder, his voice so tight it was almost a growl.

He ground out, “Chloe, how many times do I have to spell it out for you? There’s nothing between me and Andrea. We’re not back together–I never even slept with her, not once!”

Chloe leaned in, staring Ian down. “So tell me, Ian–how exactly did you end up with a son? What, did he just drop out of nowhere, or did you pull him off a tree somewhere?”

Chloe didn’t let up. “Seriously, was he born out of a stone, or did he just sprout from a branch?”

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