The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 263

Chapter 263

Philip said. “Mr. Hamilton, do you know why Dr. Irvine won’t forgive you?”

lan lowered his gaze, his hands clenched tightly.

14)

156 vouchers

Philip continued. “Making a mistake once might be accidental, but doing it again–that’s a choice. Hurting someone on purpose really isn’t something you can expect to be forgiven for.”

Ian’s voice trembled as he asked, “She told you all that?”

Philip said, “One time, when Dr. Irvine had a bit too much to drink, she was crying and she told me something she’d been holding onto.

“When she found out about your affair, she said she tried everything to get you back. But your coldness made her every attempt feel pointless.

“She tried to use suicide to make you care and you just dismissed her. She said at that moment, she felt completely worthless.”

Ian pressed his hands to the window frame, eyes squeezed shut in agony.

Philip said, “When one truly loves someone, they soften without even realizing it. They bend, they give, they’re always there to back their loved ones up.

“If you really loved her, you’d never want to break her spirit. You’d hold her up through her darkest times, and never leave her alone when she’s hurting.

“Real love is about lifting each other, leaning on each other, sharing strength. It’s never one–sided.”

Ian listened quietly, then lowered his head and turned to leave.

As Ian reached the door, Philip said, “Mr. Hamilton, she spent more than twenty years with her life orbiting around you. You never supported her–you nearly ruined her. You never truly loved her, not for a single

moment.”

Ian had no idea how he even managed to leave the hospital. He drifted home, his mind lost and haunted by Philip’s words looping endlessly inside his head. Exhausted, Ian collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.

He remembered back when he and Chloe were getting ready to tie the knot, Edward and Shane insisted that Chloe quit her job and become a stay–at–home wife. She didn’t even blink–just agreed without a second thought.

That night, after lan dropped her off, as Chloe was getting out of the car, she looked at him and said, “I’m not that capable, but if compromising can bring peace to your family and help you focus on your work without worries, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.”

After their honeymoon, a major project at the company hit a wall. Ian was hesitant to use the emergency backup plan suggested by a new hire.

18:51 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 263

41

EL 55 vouchers,

It was Chloe who had been massaging his shoulders that night, persuading him to give the rookie a shot and see how the plan worked out.

The second year of their marriage, lan faced his first real rival in business. Chloe was always right by his side, encouraging him, making sure he never lost hope.

To help him pull through those tough times, she accompanied him to one fancy business dinner after another, gracefully mingling and charming her way through circles of wealthy wives, just to open doors for him.

Again and again, Chloe gave in to Edward and Shane, just to keep the peace at home for a little while.

She had given up her dreams and career for him. She cooked for him, even learned about medicine just so she could take care of him herself.

She forced herself to attend all those social events she couldn’t stand, mingling with people she wished she never had to see–all for his sake.

Whenever he couldn’t sleep, she’d stay up with him. When he was away on business, she’d call him three times a day, always checking if he’d eaten and if he was getting enough rest.

If anyone ever said a word against him, she’d immediately snap back, getting into a heated argument to defend him.

Turned out, all along, it wasn’t her who was leaning on him for strength. It was him. He’d been leaning on her, drawing all his strength from her, right up until now. And just like that, everything hit Ian.

When Patrick stepped inside, he saw Ian curled up on the couch, trembling all over. Without hesitating, Patrick rushed over and made Ian take some medicine.

Chloe couldn’t help but frown. Ian was still in serious and unstable condition. She couldn’t figure out why the Hamiltons were so quick to have him discharged.

A few days later, after Philip was discharged from the hospital, he asked Chloe out for dinner.

While passing by a shopping mall, Chloe caught sight of Mia on an outdoor LED screen. Dressed in a sharp business suit, Mia stood calmly beside Ian, handling the media like a pro.

Ian was sporting a crisp suit himself, looking a little worn out but still as charismatic as ever.

For someone who’d always been the Hamilton family’s sheltered princess, she stepped up to protect lan and the family’s name when the reporters came at them with tough questions.

Mia really was a product of the Hamiltons–every bit the finance whiz they’d raised her to be. Watching her, Chloe couldn’t help but see a bit of Ian in her.

After that, Chloe stopped having any contact with the Hamilton family. From the moment lan got out of the hospital, he just vanished from Chloe’s world–she never saw him again.

Just like that, fall rolled around, and Carl was already off to college. Meanwhile, Chloe had started filming the very first episode of her TV medicine educational show.

She was managing her own department at the hospital, still setting aside three days a week for her outpatient clinic. On top of that, she had to carve out time for recording her segments for the educational show.

Chloe’s career was seriously taking off–she kept meeting new people, and every day was packed and satisfying.

Finally, the weekend came. For once, Chloe was home just relaxing with her parents, no game nights, no get- togethers.

18:51 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 263

Late that night, Jill shook her awake. “Chloe, Miranda and Shane are here.”

Chloe reached for her phone and checked the time. It was 12:40 AM.

55 vouchers