The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 244

It was late at night.

When lan dragged his exhausted body back into the bedroom, Chloe was already fast asleep.

He stood by the bed, dazed, just gazing at her peaceful face, his lashes quivering helplessly.

The pain nearly knocked him out, yet she could sleep through it all.

“She really has a heart of ice, lan thought to himself.

The pain left Ian’s whole body numb.

He lay on his side next to Chloe, gingerly wrapping his arms around her through the covers.

It was all on him.

He was the one who, without even realizing it, drained away her passion for him.

He destroyed Chloe’s love for him with his own hands.

He totally had it coming.

It was freezing cold in their island villa that night.

Ian couldn’t help but edge closer to Chloe, squeezing her in his arms tighter and tighter, though he never bothered to pull the blanket over himself.

Chloe resented him for letting his heart beat for another woman once.

She hated that he’d emotionally cheated on her, even while they were still married.

She thought he was dirty, wouldn’t touch anything he cooked, and couldn’t stand being close to him.

The room was pitch black, with only a faint sliver of moonlight slipping through the curtains.

Maybe he was just dead tired, maybe it was the meds, or maybe it was simply Chloe’s presence.

After battling insomnia for so long, lan finally found himself drifting off to sleep.

When lan woke up, the bed beside him was empty. Chloe was already gone.

He panicked.

He jumped out of bed, checked the bathroom, dashed downstairs, then hurried outside.

Mitchell spotted lan and quickly pointed toward the shore. ‘Mr. Hamilton, your wife went to the beach.

16:01 Mon, Oct 6 00

Chapter 244

Jan was instantly thrown into a panic, bolting for the shoreline like he’d lost his mind.

153

55 vouchers

He only stopped in his tracks when he spotted Chloe standing there by the water, safe and sound.

Chloe was there in a white dress, standing barefoot on the soft sand, with seawater reaching just below her

knees.

She spread her arms and tilted her face to the sky, letting the ocean breeze play with her long hair and the hem of her dress.

The early morning sunlight washed over her, blurring the line between Chloe in white and the endless blue sky and sea around her.

Ian stood there, lost in thought as he gazed at Chloe’s figure.

His mind was filled with memories of those days he brought her here for their honeymoon.

Chloe loved the lively crowds and longed for romance, but lan cherished peace and solitude.

Chloe had already planned their honeymoon in Europe.

But in the end, she compromised for his sake, joining him on this isolated island.

That month, they were truly happy.

Every morning, they woke up wrapped in each other’s arms.

When evening came, they’d take walks together along the shore.

Chloe loved to splash around and play in the water on this beach.

If he ignored her questions, she’d splash him and wrap herself around him with a playful pout, begging for a hug.

She’d slip out of her bohemian maxi dress right in front of him, showing off her sexy swimsuit, and beg him to teach her how to swim.

They’d hold hands, hug, and kiss on this beach.

rolling around wildl

Sometimes, they’d get so caught up in the moment they’d end up on the sand.

After the passion faded, Chloe would always flop onto his chest, listening to his heartbeat while daydreaming about their life after marriage.

She’d say she’d definitely give him two kids–one boy, one girl.

She always said his job was to bring home the bacon, while she’d keep the house warm and lively.

She used to say, “If you’re not here, I can’t sleep at all–no way are you allowed to spend the night anywhere

else.

16:01 Mon, Oct 6 M

Chapter 244

The only time he ever gave her roses was on their wedding day–and even then, Patrick and his sister had arranged everything ahead of time.

Ian drifted over to Chloe, each step numb, as if all feeling had left him.

Ian held her close, refusing to let her break free, his voice hoarse and heavy with pain.

“Chloe, I wish we could go back to the way things were,” he said.

Chloe’s expression didn’t even flicker. “If you’re not the same inside, are you even still you?”

They stared at each other, and lan’s vision blurred as the heat of emotion rose in his eyes.

He clutched Chloe’s hands, nodding like crazy. “It’s me! I’m still your big brother fan!”

Chloe stood her ground, calm and clear–eyed as she cut him off. “No, you’re not. It doesn’t matter if you have a new heart or not–you’re still not him.”

Her voice was steady and cold. “The lan I cared about is gone. That version of you died a long time ago.”

“No! That’s not true!” lan lost control and hugged her tightly, his voice desperate. “I’m still here, Chloe! I never left!”

Chloe struggled against him, pain flashing in her eyes. “lan, you tell me–how am I supposed to start over with someone who’s already dead to me?”

Ian finally broke down, his voice thick with tears as he begged, “Please, my wife, don’t leave me!”

Chloe did her best to keep calm. “Tan, please… don’t put me through this anymore.”

She shoved him away, locking eyes with him.

“We’re both Scorpios, both obsessed with staying clean. You could never accept a woman who’s been tainted,” and I can’t accept a man who’s ‘tainted–whether it’s his body or his heart.”

Ian shook his head, looking utterly shattered. “I told you, I could swap out my heart. My body is clean now just give me one more chance! I swear I’ll love you with everything I’ve got!”

He didn’t even notice that he’d just confessed his love to Chloe.

He nervously picked up Chloe’s hand, pleading so humbly it was almost pitiful. “Chloe, without you, I’ll lose my mind!“

Chloe calmly shook her head, not taking his words to heart at all.

“lan, you won’t,” she replied, her voice cool and unshaken.

lan was a businessman to his core–wherever profit led, he followed.

He was the type who always kept his cool, played every angle, and never made a move without sizing up the risks and rewards.

16:01 Mon, Oct 6

Chapter 244

There was no way he’d ever let some woman he barely cared about throw his life out of whack.

They stared at each other in silence.

55 voucher

A wave of agony crashed over lan, his chest feeling like it was being torn apart–he staggered, barely able to stay on his feet.

Chloe didn’t even look back. She yanked her hand free and spun away without a second thought.

Right behind her, water went flying everywhere as lan just toppled straight into the sea, the splash echoing loud in the early morning air.