The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 260

Chapter 260

Chapter 260

Patrick wasn’t the least bit surprised by lan’s reaction.

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Raised under Edward and Shane’s stern guidance and shaped by his privileged upbringing, Patrick possessed every quality expected of a top–tier heir.

He could effortlessly rise to the top of the business world, holding the keys to power and fortune, standing at the pinnacle with everyone looking up to him. But when it came to family, love, and personal emotions, he just couldn’t get it right.

lan stood swaying in front of Patrick, his eyes red and wild. “There’s no such thing as unconditional love. All that talk about love is just people getting what they want.”

Patrick sat on the couch, locking eyes with lan as he lost control. “And yet, what you felt for Andrea and her kid was unconditional, right?”

“Andrea saved me. Being good to her was the least I could do.”

“But you

you crossed the line, Ian. You hurt your wife and wrecked your marriage.”

Jan felt like he was about to lose it. Voice shaking, he blurted out, “When Andrea came back, I let myself get played. That’s on me.

“I rented out a beach for her, set off fireworks, baked her a cake myself, and even did something stupid like posting about it on Instagram–even though I knew it could blow up in my face.

“But that was only because she’d slit her wrist and begged me to. She kept telling me I’d ruined her future, and that I owed her happiness.

“She just wanted me to fake it for her, even just for a minute, anything to cheer her up. She swore if I did those things for her, she’d move on and stop looking back.

“I deleted that post almost instantly. It was up for barely a minute. I never thought Mia would grab a screenshot and send it to Chloe.”

Patrick stayed cool and pointed out, “Even if you can explain that post, it doesn’t erase all the times you sided with Andrea or broke Chloe’s heart.”

“You’re right.” Ian looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown. His eyes were bloodshot, almost scary. “I did favor Andrea and went behind Chloe’s back. I know I’m unforgivable.”

Ian stumbled back. “I’ve known Chloe since we were kids–for more than twenty years. Are you saying I was never good to her?”

Ian thought back, the pain in his chest cutting deep. “Whenever she wanted something, I’d get it for her, maybe not right away, but I always did.

“When she wanted to shop, I went with her no matter how tired I was, because I didn’t want her out too late alone.

18:50 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 260

41

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“Once she said no one could pick her up in the rain, and I ran three blocks, shoes soaked through, just to carry her home.

“When the Irvine family went broke and everyone turned their backs, my grandpa had my accounts on lockdown. I still found a way to help them by moving company funds.

“I wanted to marry her, be her safe place. I begged my grandpa for a day and a night, got whipped over twenty times–she never knew that.

She wanted to stay in Kingsford with her parents, so I threw out all our plans for moving abroad. Every day I lived under my grandpa and dad’s thumb, but I never let her worry about a thing.

Yeah, I played games to keep her close and make sure she did what I wanted. So what? Why do you all have to blow it way out of proportion?

“I never wanted her to hurt, not even once. I promised I’d always be her rock. Divorce never even crossed my mind.

you up

After Patrick left the room, lan just kept tossing back drinks one after another. Whatever fan was thinking about, it suddenly made him let out a self–deprecating laugh. With every bitter laugh, his eyes grew even redder

It wasn’t resentment that kept him holding on. He just couldn’t bring himself to let her go.

Ian gripped his glass so tight his hand trembled. But even if he told the truth, no one would believe him. Not even the man he used to be would’ve believed that life without Chloe could feel worse than death.

In agony, lan shut his eyes and let the tears roll down. His mouth filled with the sharp taste of blood. Before he could react, lan coughed up a mouthful of red, splattering the white floor.

“Ian!” Mia burst into the room, heart pounding, and nearly lost it at the sight before her. She grabbed her phone, ready to make a call, but Ian stopped her.

Mia hooked her arm through Ian’s and said, “Ian, I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”

lan looked at Mia and asked, “Mia, you think I don’t deserve Chloe’s forgiveness, right?”

Mia’s nose stung, and her eyes instantly turned red. Her voice trembled as she said, “Ian, everybody makes mistakes. What matters is fixing them. Stop tearing yourself apart. You’ll break down if you keep this up.”

lan wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand. He thought, ‘I used to believe that too. That if I messed up, I could just fix it.

I really believed I had my whole life ahead of me to make it up to her. I thought I could fix everything. But the truth is, Chloe never gave me a single chance–not even half of one.

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