The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 214

Chapter 214

Chapter 214

Ian met Chloe’s calm gaze and finally let her go.

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‘So that’s why she was so obedient when I hugged her–she spotted her dad walking in with that feather duster,‘ Ian thought.

Chloe just watched coolly as lan got disciplined, no trace of panic on her face.

lan turned around to face Frank and Jill, calling out, “Dad, Mom.”

Jill didn’t say a word, just took Chloe by the hand and quietly led her out of the bathroom.

Frank gave Ian a cold look. “Please don’t call us that, Mr. Hamilton. That’s not something we can accept.”

Frank tossed aside the feather duster, and Ian followed him into the living room with his head down.

Chloe knew her parents weren’t trying to make things hard for Ian, but honestly, they just didn’t want to see him right now.

She looked at Ian and said, “Go wait in the car. Let me talk to my parents for a minute.”

Ian glanced over at Chloe’s parents, noticing how they both turned their faces away. Still, he gave a quick greeting before heading out.

As soon as Ian walked out the door, Jill clutched Chloe’s hand, her voice tense: “Chloe, what’s really going on with you two? Don’t tell me you’re actually getting back together or something…?”

Chloe gave her parents a reassuring look. “Dad, Mom, whatever he’s up to, that’s his problem. I just brought him here to get something, nothing more. Really, don’t stress about it.”

But Jill still looked uneasy. “Ian grew up right in front of us, and you know how stubborn he is when he sets his mind to something. Now that Andrea’s in prison, I’m just worried he might try to latch onto you again.”

Chloe spoke with unwavering conviction. “Seriously, Mom, Dad–every hardship lan put me through is etched in my mind. No matter what he tries, I’m never going down that road again.”

After a brief pause, Chloe added, “But you know Mrs. Hamilton and Mia have always been good to me. lan and I share a lot of friends and connections, so even after the divorce, it’s pretty much inevitable we’ll cross paths sometimes”

She went on, “But you really don’t need to worry–I’ve got my boundaries.”

With Chloe having said her piece, her parents finally just nodded and let it go.

As Chloe was about to head out, Jill rushed to the door and handed her an unbrella. “The weather report says it’s going to rain this afternoon–take it with you, sweetheart, just in case.”

Once Chloe got in the car, her eyes landed on the red stain on lan’s white shirt. She glanced at it, then quietly looked away, not saying a word, her thoughts swirling

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Chapter 214

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Frank had been bottling up his anger for ages, and when he finally let loose, he didn’t pull his punches.

But in Chloe’s eyes, honestly, a bruise like that was nothing compared to all the pain lan had put her through.

The car started up.

Chloe turned to lan. “I’ve got the necklace on now. So, can you finally tell me what really happened to Julian?”

They locked eyes, and Ian shot back, “When did Arthur Logan move in next door to you?”

Chloe frowned, her tone getting sharper. “Ian, I asked you first.”

The look in Ian’s eyes turned somber as he gazed at Chloe.

When he spoke again, his voice was low, almost as if he was speaking more to himself than to her. “I hurt my shoulder.”

Their eyes met once again.

Chloe turned away and looked out the window.

She could feel Ian’s piercing stare on her, but Chloe remained unfazed, giving him nothing in return.

Back then, even if Ian just coughed, Chloe would have been worried sick, wondering if he was coming down with something.

But now, nothing Ian did could make her feel anything at all.

They drove in silence.

As they approached a supermarket near the hospital, Chloe asked the driver to pull over.

She glanced at Ian. “I’m heading out to pick up a few things. I’ll walk back to the hospital later.”

Before lan could get a word in, Chloe had already stepped out of the car.

“Do you want to head back to the office now, Mr. Hamilton?” the driver asked.

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Her boyfriend replied instantly, “Come on, babe, what are you saying? This stuff’s way too personal–there’s no way I’d buy it for anyone but you!”

Chloe stepped out of the supermarket, glancing down at the umbrella in her hand.

Feeling her phone buzz in her pocket, she answered the call from Amelia.

Still on the phone, Chloe started walking toward the hospital.

Vivian stepped out of her car and made a beeline for Chloe, but Chloe didn’t even slow down–she kept right on walking.

Vivian cut her off, noticeably nicer than she’d ever been before. “Dr. Irvine, I swear, I only acted that way because Andrea manipulated me. I got totally fooled. Why do you walk off the moment you see me–are you trying to avoid me or something?”

Chloe stopped in her tracks, but she left Amelia on the line, not about to hang up

that

Chloe didn’t pull any punches, ripping off Vivian’s facade right there. “Miss Monroe, you always knew Andrea was Mr. Hamilton’s mistress, yet you still hung out with her. Honestly, birds of a feather flock together makes you no different from her

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Vivian immediately snapped, her expression turning sour. “Chloe, what’s that supposed to mean? Don’t play games with me.”

Chloe shot back without hesitation, “You became Andrea’s friend because she was Mr. Hamilton’s side piece -you backed her up with money and favors, counting on her to marry in, become Mrs. Hamilton, and climb up to the rich and powerful. Let’s be real, you were just investing in your own social ladder. So quit acting all noble and putting the blame on everyone else except yourself.”

Vivian’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment as Chloe called her out right there.

She shot back, her words even harsher now–razor–sharp and domineering.

Vivian sneered, “Chloe, you’re just a bankrupt heiress. Without Ian, you’re nothing but nobody. What’s so special about you now?”

She lifted her chin, her tone dripping with arrogance. “Someone like you? I could crush you like an ant. The fact that I’m even talking to you is me doing you a favor–don’t get cocky.”

Chloe quietly cranked up her phone’s volume, making sure Amelia could catch every word.

She said coolly, “Vivian, come on–at the end of the day, you’re just the Monroe family’s illegitimate kid. Since you can’t bring any real benefits to the family, just know your place and stop embarrassing your elders.”

Vivian sneered, her arrogance dialed up to eleven. “Those old geezers in the Monroe family already have one foot in the grave. Stop waving them in my face like I’m supposed to care.”

Chloe held up her phone, her voice calm and unbothered. “Mrs. Monroe, looks like your granddaughter thinks she runs the place. I’m curious–who’s giving her all this attitude?”