The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 156

Chapter 156

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Chloe’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile as she watched Ian push Andrea away, amusement flickering in her

eyes.

She’d been manipulated by Ian and ended up pregnant against her will.

She’d been racking her brain for a way to test Ian, and now, the perfect opportunity had just fallen into her lap.

Here was the opening she’d been waiting for.

Chloe pulled her coat tighter around herself and strolled over to stand behind Ian, taking her time.

When Andrea saw Chloe, she guiltily let go of Ian’s arm.

Ian turned in the direction Andrea was looking, and as soon as his eyes locked with Chloe’s, he instinctively shoved Andrea aside.

“Chloe,” Ian called, voice tight with emotion.

He quickly closed the distance between them, reaching out to grab her hand.

Chloe stepped back, warning him coldly, “You’re filthy. Don’t touch me.”

Ian froze, his entire body–stiffening as all movement halted.

Andrea saw Chloe misinterpret what was happening between her and Ian, and she couldn’t hide the triumphant glint in her eyes.

Putting on her best innocent act, she stepped up to Chloe and said, “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Hamilton. Please don’t misunderstand—I just happened to stumble a little, and Ian was only helping me out of kindness.”

Chloe fixed Ian with an icy stare, locking eyes with him. “So this is your idea of a ‘business dinner‘?” she asked, her tone biting.

fan couldn’t get a word out, stunned by Chloe’s accusation.

It was his mother who’d forced him to come find Andrea and Clint tonight.

He’d lied about the business dinner just to keep Chloe from worrying or getting the wrong idea.

But things had totally backfired on him.

It was just Chloe’s bad luck–or maybe lan’s–that she happened to walk in at exactly the wrong time.

Seeing Jan refuse to answer, Chloe pressed him, her voice biting. “Ian, I never stopped you two from being together, did I?”

Ian’s heart skipped a beat, nerves clawing at him as he moved closer to Chloe.

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But Chloe stopped him cold, her tone frosty. “You smell like another woman. I can’t handle that. Don’t get

near me.”

Ian could feel a suffocating heaviness in his chest.

In full view of Chloe, lan shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it aside without a second thought.

Andrea saw what Ian did, and felt a sharp sting of jealousy and embarrassment. She just stood there, holding back her words for what felt like ages.

Ian was pretty much losing it. He strode up and grabbed Chloe by the arm, refusing to let her walk away.

“Chloe, I swear, I just came here to handle some stuff with her, not for some secret date,” he said, voice cracking with frustration.

Before Chloe could shoot back, Ian blurted out, “The driver’s parked right there in the car. I made us talk here in the open so you wouldn’t get the wrong idea. I only kept it from you because I didn’t want you stressing out or imagining things.”

Chloe yanked herself free from Ian, a flash of anger on her face.

She backed away, snatching a wet wipe from her purse and rubbed furiously at the spot Ian had grabbed–like she couldn’t get rid of it fast enough.

Ian’s expression went so dark it made the whole room tense, his mood practically radiating off him.

Chloe tossed the wet wipe–aside, her movements sharp and dismissive.

She stared straight into Ian’s eyes, her tone cold as ice. “Ian, I don’t believe anything you say. I only trust what I’ve seen with my own eyes.”

Chloe squeezed out tears, making herself look utterly heartbroken as she choked out, “We’ve known each other since we were kids–over twenty years. We’ve been married for three. But for the woman you really love, you keep betraying me, keep lying to me over and over. Tell me, Ian–what do I even mean to you?”

Watching Chloe break down in tears threw Ian completely off balance; he was all nerves, freaking out inside.

He carefully moved closer, voice low and desperate. “Chloe, it’s not like that. Come home with me–I promise I’ll explain everything.”

As lan tried to come closer, Chloe’s tears spilled over. Panicked and desperate to get away, she spun around and bolted toward the road.

Right then, a flashy sports car pulled up in style, its engine purring as it slowed to a stop beside her–a literal getaway wagon appearing out of nowhere.

Arthur slid off his shades and flashed Chloe a knowing grin. “Need a ride?” he said, his tone casual but eyes full

of concern.

Without a second thought, Chloe, still sobbing, gratefully slipped into Arthur’s car, barely glancing back.

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She snapped, shouting at Ian. “This is all your fault! You ruined me!”

Andrea yelled, voice trembling with fury, “If Edward hadn’t forced me overseas to marry someone else just because of your damn heir status, I wouldn’t have spent six years trapped and miserable–getting tormented day after day!”

Andrea burst into tears, crying out, “And now, just because I’ve been married and had a kid, you treat me like I’m nothing! Everything I suffered for you all these years–does any of it even mean a damn thing to you?”

Ian kept his composure as he shot back, “I’ve never forgotten what you did for me. Everything I did–taking Clint in, keeping his real identity under wraps–was to make sure you and your kid didn’t have anything left to worry about. So Edward wouldn’t keep coming after you. So you’d finally have the confidence to rebuild

life together. Accepting Clint as my own was the biggest favor I could ever do for you–and that’s all you’re getting from me.”

your

Andrea collapsed under the streetlight, her whole body drained of strength.

She looked up at Ian, eyes brimming with desperation as she whispered, “Do you really feel nothing for me at all: Not even a little bit?”

Ian’s reply was icy, almost cruel. “I don’t have any feelings for you now. And your body? I’m just not interested.”

Ian’s words were brutal, and Andrea clutched her chest, crying her heart out, completely crushed.

He stood over Andrea, looking down at her with icy contempt in his eyes.

He said, “Next week, I’ll get Clint transferred to an elite school. I’ll pay for everything. If anything comes up, talk to my assistant. And don’t come near me or Chloe again.”

Ian’s tone was harsh as he finished, “Andrea, you failed to be part of my life six years ago. Now, it’s impossible. Cut the crap, take Clint, and live your own life–that’s your only option.”

With that, lan turned and got into his car, leaving Andrea behind.

At the same time, over at Kingsford’s downtown night market, Chloe and Arthur found themselves on a bustling street lit up with neon signs and noisy vendors.

Arthur jogged over, cradling a cup of milk tea and offering it gently to Chloe.

Crouching by the passenger side door, looking for all the world like a loyal puppy, Arthur asked with a worried grin, “Chloe, are you alright? Want me to go knock some sense into that guy for you? Just say the word and I’ll teach him a lesson

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Chloe wiped the tear tracks off her cheeks, shoved the straw into the milk tea, and took a big, greedy sip.

She said, “Seriously, don’t go after him. I’m good.”

Chloe knew Ian’s fighting skills inside out—nobody understood just how terrifying he was in a fight better than she did.

Patrick, who held championship belts in both kickboxing and taekwondo at a top–tier MMA gym, didn’t even stand a chance against him.

Arthur was only in his early twenties and practically still a kid. No matter how high his combat stats might be, taking on lan was just out of his league.

“Arthur, can you take me to Rowe Estate?” Chloe said, her voice still a little shaky but determined.

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