The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 188

Chapter 188

When lan saw Arthur walk in, he completely lost his appetite.

Arthur dropped the roast duck on the table and slouched into a chair like he owned the place.

Seeing lan’s icy face, Arthur smirked and said, “If you’re gonna apologize, at least put some effort into it. Just flapping your lips doesn’t count.”

Arthur snickered, “Eat what helps you, right? Later, I’ll let you have both duck legs!”

Ian reached out, putting his hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “I’m not hungry. Just help me to bed.”

Chloe helped Ian lie down. “Alright, let Arthur eat first, and you can have some whenever you’re hungry.”

Ian just stared, momentarily lost for words.

When Chloe came back, Arthur passed her a duck leg. “Perfect timing, Chloe, since Ian’s not eating, we get one each!”

Chloe picked up some food for Arthur. “Go on, taste what the Hamilton family chef can do.”

Ian stared at the two of them at the table, his face growing darker by the second.

Ever since he met Chloe, she’d always stuck to his side at mealtime.

If she thought something tasted good, she’d always insist he try a bite, no exceptions.

And when he wasn’t feeling well, she was even more attentive.

But now, with him injured and stuck in the hospital, she was acting so cold toward him.

Ian closed his eyes, hiding just how much it hurt inside.

After lunch, Chloe cleared up a bit.

Noticing the tired look on Chloe’s face, Arthur said, “It’s way too noisy here. Go rest in the office. I’ll keep an eye on him for you.”

When Chloe saw Ian playing dead on the hospital bed with his eyes closed, she didn’t even pause and walked straight out.

Outside, Chloe instinctively worried about leaving the two guys alone together, so she shot a quick call to Mitchell and told him to hurry back to the hospital.

Mitchell hurriedly hung up and turned to Andrea. “Ms. Sherman, money’s tight at Hamilton Group right now, and Mr. Hamilton’s still in the hospital. Just hang in there for now–we’ll talk more once he’s out.”

Andrea’s eyes went wide when she heard lan was hospitalized. “What’s wrong with lan? Take me to the hospital right now!”

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Mitchell hurriedly waved his hand. “Ms. Sherman, you really shouldn’t go. Mrs. Hamilton is keeping a close watch by his side day and night. It probably wouldn’t be the best idea for you to show up.”

At the mention of the huge debt she still owed Miranda, Andrea instantly backed down. “Alright, Mr. Garrison, I’ll stay out of it then.”

Andrea’s eyes were rimmed with red as she pleaded, “But Mitchell, my kid and I really can’t get by anymore. Can you lend me some emergency cash? Just 100 grand. Once Ian’s out of the hospital, I’ll have him pay you back immediately.”

Mitchell was feeling totally overwhelmed.

If it weren’t for Ian’s instructions to keep Andrea calm, he thought bitterly, he would’ve slapped some sense into her ages ago.

Mitchell sighed, “Ms. Sherman, my wife gets every penny of my paycheck. There’s just no way I have that kind of money to lend you.”

Andrea pressed on, refusing to give up, “Okay, if you don’t have a hundred grand, surely you can spare at least ten or twenty thousand, right?”

When Mitchell still wouldn’t give in, Andrea started crying even harder. “Looks like Ian really doesn’t care what happens to me and my kid now.”

Mitchell, totally worn down by Andrea’s endless sobbing, finally blurted out, “Ten thousand. I can only give you ten grand, that’s all I’ve got.”

Andrea snatched the offer up without hesitation. “Deal.”

‘Not that I ever planned on paying him back anyway,‘ Andrea thought with a cold smirk.

Just as Mitchell finished sending Andrea the ten grand, his wife and sister–in–law walked in pushing a baby stroller and happened to witness the whole scene.

Mitchell could only curse in his head–‘Oh crap‘–before his wife pounced and caught him in the act.

His sister–in–law yanked Andrea down by the hair and started slapping her silly right there on the floor.

Mitchell scrambled around, clutching his head, just trying to save his precious face from his wife’s onslaught.

Pandemonium broke out.

It was already over an hour later when Mitchell finally showed up at Ian’s hospital room.

When Arthur saw Mitchell walk in, he got up and left without a word.

Once the door closed behind him, Ian asked, “So, how did it go?”

Mitchell spilled the whole story–how he met up with Andrea, and then ended up getting smacked around by his wife and sister–in–law.

Seeing Mitchell looking so down, Ian added, “Once this is all over, I’ll give you a month off with pay, and your year–end bonus will be doubled.”

Ian couldn’t help but frown.

Arthur grinned, “Hey, why don’t we find some time to go race some cars?”

Ian glanced at Chloe, frowning, “Why’s that guy hanging around here again?”

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Arthur shrugged with a sheepish grin, “Nobody else wants to hang out with me, so I figured I’d come bug Chloe for a couple of rounds.”

Chloe’s phone was nearly dead, and seeing Ian’s sour mood, she decided not to join the game.

Ian was perched on the hospital bed, powering through his work emails, while Arthur lounged on the couch with his headphones, totally lost in his video game world.

Chloe tossed a thin blanket over Arthur’s legs, then put together a fruit platter and set it down by his side.

Ian watched Chloe out of the corner of his eye as she bustled around tending to things.

Seeing her look after Arthur with such patience, his scowl only deepened.

When Patrick showed up that evening, Arthur was already out cold on the couch.

Chloe slipped into the little kitchen to whip up dinner for Ian, while Patrick stayed in the room to chat with him.

Patrick glanced over at Arthur sprawled out on the couch, then turned to Ian with a smirk. “You really went through all that just to keep Chloe here taking care of you? Seriously, you two don’t even act like a married couple.”

Ian lowered his gaze, his tone chilly. “If you’re here to convince me to divorce Chloe, just drop it.”

Patrick gave Ian a long, meaningful look, nudged Arthur awake, and the two of them left together.

Ian slipped off the bed‘ and shuffled over.

He lingered by the doorway of the little kitchen, just watching as Chloe whipped up his dinner while video chatting with Philip’s kid. The smile she gave that screen was so natural, so pure, and Ian instantly knew–it came straight from the heart.

Ian had no idea how to describe what he was feeling inside.

All he knew was that it felt suffocating–like something was crushing him, and it hurt.

He stepped up behind Chloe and before he knew it, just wrapped her up in his arms, unable to help himself.

Chloe was totally caught off guard by Ian’s sudden hug, fumbling to hang up her video call in a hurry.

She pushed Ian away a little impatiently. “Dinner’s ready. Are you eating now or later?”

Ian blocked her in the tiny kitchen, staring right into her eyes. “Chloe, why? Why do you treat other people— even complete strangers–so much better than you treat me, the man who’s supposed to be your husband?”