The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 222

Chapter 222

Chloe sat in her car, checking out the two guys collecting junk outside.

When she remembered how Julian got hurt out of the blue recently, Chloe kept her guard up.

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She watched the two men carefully, rolled the window halfway up, and said, “I’m just passing by. Stopped here to make a call.”

The two scrap collectors shared a look, then turned and walked away.

Chloe called after them, watching their backs retreat. “Are you looking for the owner of this house? Is there something you need?”

The two scrap collectors froze for a moment, then quickly jumped in their car and sped off.

Chloe immediately sensed something was off, so she rushed out of her car and started knocking on the door.

‘If they were really just scrap collectors, they’d go up and knock to see if the owner of Rowe Estate had any junk to sell, Chloe thought. ‘None of this “is she the owner?” stuff, and for sure they wouldn’t have bailed the second I questioned them.

Thomas opened the door, letting Chloe step smoothly into the Rowe Estate.

Her car drove through the gates of Rowe Estate, and as soon as she got out, Chloe followed Thomas into the living room.

Not only was Carrmen Rowe nowhere to be seen, but there wasn’t even a single servant or bodyguard around -the place was completely deserted.

Something’s not right here, Chloe thought to herself.

Upstairs in the second–floor study, Julian Rowe was quietly seated in his wheelchair by the floor–to–ceiling window, dressed in loose, dark, low–collared pajamas. With a blank expression, he methodically rolled the prayer beads in his hands.

As soon as Chloe stepped in, Julian’s entire presence grew noticeably solemn.

Chloe explained with a small smile, “Sir Julian, I just finished work and decided to stop by and check on you.”

Julian remotely steered his wheelchair over to Chloe, the room silent except for the faint hum of the wheels.

It was well over an hour’s drive from the hospital up north to the Rowe Estate in the far south–hardly an easy

detour

‘She’s lying to my face and doesn’t even blink, Julian thought

Seeing Julian stay silent, Chloe crouched down beside him and gently adjusted the blanket over his legy

“Sir Julian, I drove over an hour just to see you. Let me give you a quick check–up. Chloe said softly.

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Chapter 222

Julian held out his arm, shooting Chloe a sideways glance. “You’re a real stand–up friend, huh?”

“Of course,” Chloe replied without missing a beat.

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As Chloe held his wrist to check his pulse, she kept sneaking glances at Julian, trying to read him–was he really okay, or just faking it?

She remembered how last time, Julian had hidden being hurt and acted like nothing happened. ‘No point grilling him about it, Chloe told herself. ‘He never tells me anyway!’

He looked way better now, though. Chloe relaxed a little-‘Guess it’s nothing serious after all, she thought.

Once Chloe finished checking Julian’s pulse, he wasted no time in having his trusted right–hand man, Quentin, escort her home.

Chloe lingered for a moment before getting up, her voice hesitant. “Sir Julian, someone had their eyes on me when I came into the Rowe Estate.”

She went over the whole incident at the gate, recounting every detail to Julian without skipping a thing.

Julian immediately sent Quentin to check the security footage.

Once Quentin stepped out, Chloe continued, “Who knows if those two guys had any partners–in–crime? If I leave and they’re watching me, what if I end up bringing a bunch of trouble right back to my own place?”

She honestly had no clue what exactly was going on with Julian, but deep down, Chloe was pretty sure he’d gotten himself into some kind of mess.

She’d come over today just to check on Julian, but running into those two sketchy dudes at the gate? Yeah, she definitely hadn’t planned for that.

Those two middle–aged men had already gotten a good look at her face and her license plate.

If she drove out of the Rowe Estate right now, she had no idea if those guys would start tailing her.

Her parents were just ordinary people, and her younger brother had only just finished his SATS. She really needed to play it safe,

Quentin slid back into the room and bent close, whispering quickly in Julian’s ear.

Julian looked straight at Chloe. “You’re spending the night at the Rowe Estate. Take the room right next to

mine

As soon as Chlor heard Julian say that, her heart practically leapt into her throat. Wait, am I really staying here tonight right next to him? she thought, nerves jangling.

At one a.m., the whole Rowe Estate was suddenly plunged into darkness.

Chloe was restless, tossing and turning thanks to everything on her mind barely able to get any sleep.

Out of nowhere, a strange sound from the next room jolted her awake Her heart skipped a beat as she

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Chapter 222

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Panic shot through Chloe, and before she knew it, she burst out of the cabinet and gave Julian’s wheelchair a hard shove, sending him rolling straight to the other side of the room.

Without thinking, Chloe grabbed lan and practically shoved him right toward the attackers. “Help Sir Julian!

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Ian froze for a split second as Chloe brushed past him and dove onto Julian, putting herself between Julian and danger without a second thought.

He couldn’t hold back–without thinking, Ian used his own body to shield Chloe, driven purely by instinct.

But in that split second, Ian’s move left a weak spot–one of the attackers immediately seized the chance and lunged.

Chloe heard lan give a muffled grunt behind her. She spun around in alarm, just in time to see both attackers drive their knives deep into Ian’s body right before her eyes.

Even stabbed, Ian stood his ground–he didn’t flinch, didn’t move an inch, staying exactly where he was and guarding Chloe with every ounce of strength he had.

Ian gripped Julian’s shoulder, voice gritty through the pain. “Your targets are boxed in outside–we’re good to shut this down!”

Julian gave Quentin a meaningful glance, and Quentin answered with a piercing whistle. Instantly, every light in the Rowe Estate lit up, flooding the place with light.

The bodyguards who’d been missing all day burst in as one, taking down the attackers left in the room in seconds.

It finally dawned on Chloe–Julian had set all this up from the beginning.

She

gave a quick, embarrassed apology, “Sorry, Sir Julian. I didn’t realize you already had a plan.”

If she’d known he had everything mapped out, Chloe absolutely wouldn’t have stuck her nose in and made things a mess.

Julian shot her a look of approval. “Next time, try to catch on a bit quicker.”

Chloe nodded, carefully running her hands over Julian to check for injuries. “Sir Julian, are you hurt anywhere?

But before she could finish, lan reached out and pulled her right in front of him, a mix of urgency and exasperation in his grip.

Jan grit his teeth through the pain and said with a hint of bitter humor, “Seriously? I’m over here bleeding and you can’t even see me?

Chloe spun around, suddenly remembering lan was still there–and instantly feeling a bit guilty for forgetting

him in all the chaos.

fan was still dressed in his black suit jacket, but there was already a wide, dark stain spreading across his waist.

Blood kept seeping our between his fingers as he pressed them tightly over the wound

Chloe glanced at the blood and quipped with a smirk. ‘Guys like you always last a thousand years. Mr

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Chapter 222

Hamilton–you’ll be just fine.”

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