The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 269

Chapter 269

Chapter 269

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Chloe waited for lan, but he never showed up. She stepped out of the examination room and picked up at slip of paper from the floor. Her eyes landed on lan’s name.

Chloe stood by the door, her expression hard to read. She glanced down both ends of the hallway, didn’t see lan anywhere, then went back inside. Chloe didn’t call Miranda again, and lan never came looking for her either.

Two days later, after Dustin’s burial, the Venn family kept everything quiet and didn’t spread the word to

anyone.

Ian and Julian went over to the Venn family’s place, took the initiative to offer compensation, and made sure their gestures looked as sincere as could be–just playing their parts for show.

On Thanksgiving Day, Chloe went out to a restaurant for dinner with her family and Arthur. As they reached the door to their private room, they bumped into the Hamiltons right outside.

The two families found themselves face to face in the hallway, just a handful of steps between them. Chloe stepped up and greeted Miranda, then waved her own family inside.

Mia cast an anxious look at Ian, seeing how his gaze was locked onto Chloe, completely spaced out. She quietly nudged him. “Ian, our room’s here.”

Ian collected himself without betraying a single emotion and walked in, pushing the door open to their private room.

After everyone went in, Mia stood at the door. The private room she’d booked was right next to Chloe’s.

While Chloe and the others were waiting for the food, Arthur leaned closer to her. “Hey, Chloe, your birthday’s almost here. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll make sure you get it early.”

Chloe gave him a playful look, her gaze lingering on his handsome, mixed–race face. “Then how about you find yourself a wife and bring her to my birthday party?”

Arthur turned to Jill. “Jill, how about you play matchmaker for me?”

Jill waved her hands. “Oh, all the girls I know are just ordinary. There’s no way any of them are a good match for someone from the Logan family.”

Carl patted his chest like he meant business. “Arthur, relax. Once I’m back on campus, I’ll play matchmaker for you.”

Arthur snorted. “Yeah, right. You can’t even land a date yourself. I’m not buying that.”

Everyone burst into laughter at Arthur’s comeback.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the wall, things in the Hamiltons‘ private room felt way more tense,

Ian could tell he was the reason the whole place felt so heavy. He stood up. “I’m going out for a smoke.”

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Chapter 269

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Ian walked down to the smoking area at the end of the hallway. When he got to the window, he spotted Chloe there, on the phone. He pulled the cigarette from his lips, hesitating to light up.

Chloe ended the call and turned, only to be caught off guard by fan’s deep gaze. She paused, her eyes darting

then quietly moved past lan.

away.

Watching her walk away, lan said, “Chloe, happy Thanksgiving.”

Chloe’s steps slowed and came to a stop. She turned around, staring at lan and said, “If you’re still not feeling well, just go and book another appointment when you get the chance.”

lan tossed his cigarette in the trash and stepped toward Chloe, making sure to keep a little distance between them. He looked straight into her eyes and asked, “Is making an appointment the only way you’ll take care of me now?‘

Their eyes met, neither of them looking away.

Chloe’s voice was firm. “Yes.”

lan felt that sting in his eyes, like tears wanted to come out, but he hid it and turned to stare out the window. He said. “No need. I’m alright.”

Chloe couldn’t help but frown at him. Her face grew serious as she said, “You haven’t changed one bit. Still that same selfish, calculating guy. Someone like you would never let yourself get hurt.”

lan ignored the dull ache deep in his chest. He turned back to Chloe and said, “You’re right. I’m exactly that kind of jerk. It’s not like you just realized it.”

Chloe walked right up to Ian, her fury written all over her face. “You really are pure scum, you know that? Mia almost ditched me because of you. Miranda got so worn down and thin she actually came to beg me for your

sake.

“Shane was so desperate he tried to talk sense into me while crying. And Edward offered up fifteen percent of Hamilton Group just to win me back for you.

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tan wiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand. His expression was icy as he snapped, “Wasn’t I clear enough? Why did you sneak around behind my back to see her?”

As Carl was about to pass him, Ian spoke up, “Carl, I’m sorry.”

Carl hesitated for half a second, but kept walking without looking back.

A waiter came over and asked, “Sir, do you need any help?”

Jan shook his head.

Jan had no idea how he managed to get home. He just slumped onto the sofa, drained of all strength, Chloe’s face haunting his vision no matter how hard he tried to look away.

He pulled out the crystal pendant he kept with him at all times, gripping it tightly as a wave of agony twisted through his chest.

Jan thought, “I don’t deserve to be loved. I am not someone anyone could trust. I don’t even deserve to live. I owe Chloe two lives, and there’s no way I could ever pay that back.”

In the dead of night, the empty room echoed with his stifled sobs, each one heavy with pain and hopelessness.

Ian whispered, “Chloe, don’t worry. I won’t bother you ever again.”

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Chapter 269

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He promised her and he actually followed through. After that, he stayed out of Chloe’s life completely. Each of them got caught up in their own worlds, busy with their own routines.

Soon enough, December 8th rolled around, and it was Chloe’s birthday. She got up early and went to wash up. As she bent over the sink to wash her face, she suddenly felt something slide off her collarbone.

Chloe reached for the necklace at her neck, only to find the broken chain had already fallen into the sink. She quickly tried to fish it out, but she was a second too late.

The diamond necklace–the one Ian had personally fastened around Chloe’s neck–was washed right down. the drain.

Chloe just stared at herself in the mirror, frozen. Out of nowhere, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was seriously wrong.

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