The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 267

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After the call ended, Miranda made up her mind to push lan into seeing Chloe. The two of them sat across from each other on the office couch.

Miranda said, “lan, you heard her. Just book an appointment and Chloe will make sure you get the best

treatment.”

lan kept his head down, sounding calm. “Mom, I already have my own primary physician. I don’t need her.”

He had promised Chloe he wouldn’t reach out to her again. He thought, ‘Even if I dropped dead right now, she probably wouldn’t shed a single tear for me.

Miranda sprang to her feet, her tone turning sharp. “Ian, this isn’t up for discussion. I’m telling you.

“I pleaded with you over and over to truly cherish her, but you just wouldn’t listen, and now look where that got you–a divorce. My boy, you don’t always get a second chance to fix every mistake.”

lan’s eyes grew red and he nodded emphatically, forcing the words out. “Mom, I got it.”

Miranda’s tears shimmered in her eyes, her heart breaking for Ian.

She said, “I know you still can’t move on. You’re blaming yourself. You’re drowning in guilt and regret, wishing for some way to fix it. But that chance is gone for good now.

“You’ve already owed her so much. The only thing left you can do is let her go, and honestly wish her happiness.”

Ian gave a painful, determined nod. “You’re right.”

He knew, crystal clear, that for him, second chances simply didn’t exist. He also understood that letting her go was the only road left for him.

He forced himself not to reach out to her, not to get close. Still, no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t shut his heart off.

Thoughts of her kept haunting him; their wild, reckless youth, the days they spent as husband and wife, and the separate futures they were destined to live.

Sometimes he’d just fall apart, the pain in his chest crashing over him. No matter how hard he tried, his heart was completely out of his control.

Miranda tried to talk some sense into Jan. “lan, Mia is exceptional, but if something serious happens to you, there’s no way she could carry the Hamilton family all by herself. If you go down, the whole family goes with you.”

Ian kept his head down, refusing to meet Miranda’s eyes. He tried to reassure her. “Mom, I’m just dealing with a few minor health issues. It’s not as bad as you think.”

Miranda shook her head. “I can see with my own eyes how bad it really is.” By the end, Miranda couldn’t hold back her tears.

18:52 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 267

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Her voice trembling, she pleaded with lan. Tan, you are my flesh and blood, and for more than thirty years, I’ve endured everything in this family for you and Mia.

“My whole life has been about settling for less, always putting others first. Please, I’m begging you, pull yourself together. Let Chloe go, and let yourself go, too. Be good, okay? Tomorrow morning, I’ll go with you to the hospital to see Chloe.”

Ian hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees, his fingers locked together in a tight grip. He kept his gaze on the floor for a long, heavy silence, until at last he lifted his head.

When he met Miranda’s eyes–wet with anxious tears–his own rimmed red all over again. He said, “Mom, I’ll do what you say.”

That night, Chloe came to the Royal Court Club to pick up Arthur, only to bump into Dustin Venn, the last person she ever wanted to see.

He was one of the heirs to the Grand Horizon Group–Vivian’s half–brother, and the fourth among the Venn grandchildren.

Back when Chloe was in college, he was crazy about her and pursued her relentlessly. After Chloe rejected him, he paid off one of her female classmates to drug Chloe. But Ian arrived just in time and pulled her out of danger.

Ian beat him half to death right there, and shattered his arm so badly it was ruined for good. By the time Dustin got to the hospital, they had to amputate his arm just to save his life.

After Dustin was discharged, Maria had shipped him overseas out of pure fury. Years passed, and Chloe never imagined he’d actually come back.

Dustin was good–looking, dressed in the latest fashion, and he had that unmistakable air of a spoiled rich kid who’d never had to work for anything in his life.

Chloe spotted Dustin coming her way in the cramped hallway and, without missing a beat, spun around to leave.

Dustin let out a cocky whistle, and his group of buddies stepped in front of Chloe, blocking her path.

A new waiter nearby tried to step in, but the manager quickly grabbed his arm. “Do you even know who he is? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Chloe had nowhere left to retreat, so she warned Dustin, “Don’t forget how you ended up with that prosthetic

Ian stood there, shell–shocked, watching Chloe run straight to Julian. His eyes flushed red before he even realized it.

Julian flicked away his freshly lit cigarette and gave lan a look. “I’m taking her with me. You handle the rest.”

Ian clenched his fists, forcing himself to stand aside and watch Julian walk away with Chloe.

Across the street, Margaret’s friend nudged her. “Mr. Hamilton’s left all alone now. Not thinking of going over there to check on him?”

Margaret shook her head. “I only tipped him off so he’d owe me a favor. I’m saving that favor for my family. It’s not like I actually like the guy.”

18:52 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 267

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Over an hour later, Arthur rushed to the Irvines‘ place the moment he heard the news. Spotting the slap marks blazing on Chloe’s cheeks, Arthur smacked himself. “Damn it, this is all my fault.”

Chloe had pulled herself together. “Mr. Logan, I’m fine. That jerk didn’t actually hurt me.

Jill knocked and peeked in. “Chloe, Philip’s here.”

Chloe adjusted her clothes. “Mom, let him in.”

As Jill was about to leave, she tugged Arthur’s sleeve. But he still wouldn’t budge, so she just dragged him out herself.

When Philip walked in, Chloe pointed to a chair and said, “Have a seat. It’s so late. What brings you here?”

Philip strode over to Chloe’s bedside. He leaned in, eyes lingering on the bruises marring Chloe’s cheeks, then looked her straight in the eyes. “Dustin’s dead.”

Chloe’s grip loosened and the glass dropped to the floor with a sharp crash.

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