The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Chloe had no idea how she made it back home.

She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

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After Andrea and Clint returned, Chloe went from bitter to hysterical, and finally to utter despair.

She’d tried everything to get a divorce from Ian.

But Ian had never tried to solve the problem. He’d only tried to “solve her“.

After loving lan for so many years, it was nearly impossible to completely erase him from her heart.

But holding onto this marriage had long since lost its meaning.

She hoped that by letting go, maybe everyone could keep a little dignity.

The next morning, Chloe was woken by her phone ringing.

“Chloe, did you get the house renovated?” Mia asked.

Hearing Mia’s voice, Chloe sat up abruptly. “Did you go to my place?”

When Mia mentioned seeing a renovation crew delivering materials, Chloe let out a quiet sigh of relief.

She reminded Andrea last night.

Andrea wouldn’t be dumb enough to let the Hamilton family catch her moving into Ian and Chloe’s place before Ian was back.

Over at Chloe and Ian’s place, Mia hung up the phone.

Patrick stopped one of the workers to confirm again, “Are you saying the client who hired you was Ms. Irvine?”

The worker pulled out the contract and pointed to the signature at the bottom right. “We wouldn’t even be allowed in here unless the owner gave us the green light.”

When he saw Chloe’s signature, Patrick finally accepted it.

Patrick pulled Mia toward the car. “No way. I’m calling lan.”

Patrick dialed Jan’s number, which was picked up almost instantly.

“Do you know Chloe’s getting your home, the one you two have lived in for three years, totally renovated?” Patrick asked bluntly.

There was a brief pause on the other end.

Then Ian’s voice came through, cool and controlled. “She probably just wants to renovate and move back in.”

13:22 Thu, Oct 2

Chapter 45

He was sure Chloe really took to heart everything he’d told her before leaving on his trip.

Without his approval, no auction house in Kingsford would touch that jewelry set.

And without 300 million, there was no way she could get the divorce she wanted.

‘While I’m away, she must’ve figured it out, lan thought, feeling certain.

Ian said coolly, “It’s our place. If she wants to fix it up or make any changes, that’s up to her.”

After hanging up, Ian got up and poured himself a drink.

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Dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, Ian stood tall by the floor–to–ceiling window, his fingers. gently tapping the rim of his glass as he looked out over the nightscape in a foreign country.

After a brief hesitation, Ian opened his WhatsApp chat with Chloe.

The conversation was still stuck on the message he’d sent her the night before his business trip.

Staring at the screen, Ian felt a restless, inexplicable irritation rising inside him.

Before, whenever he went on business trips, Chloe rarely called him, but she’d be blowing up his phone with messages from morning till night.

But ever since Andrea and Clint came back, Chloe hadn’t once reached out to him first.

Even now, with the house being renovated and her planning to move back in, she still didn’t take the initiative to let him know.

After another brief pause, Ian dialed Chloe’s number.

He finally relented a little. “Just leave your work stuff alone for now. Don’t go see Grandpa by yourself. Wait until I get back.”

Ian clenched his phone a little tighter.

After a pause, he softened his tone, wanting to comfort her. “Alright, if you quit, so be it. You’re my wife. Working yourself to the bone was never necessary. When I get home, I’ll hand you my supplementary credit card. Use it for whatever you need.”

Chloe’s voice remained steady and emotionless. “We’ll talk about it when you’re back.”

lan thought, ‘During these three years, every time I tried to give her my card, she’d brush it off without a second thought.

Chloe suddenly laughed. It was a cold, biting laugh. It was a cold, biting laugh.

She walked straight up to Andrea, her gaze steady and cold. “Ms. Sherman, don’t forget that I’m still lan’s wife. So stop pretending like you own the place.”

Andrea’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. “Are you having second thoughts?”

Chloe spoke slowly and sharply, her words cold and clear. “Andrea, my life is my business. If you want lan to divorce me, then do it. Don’t bother with me.”

As she turned to leave, Chloe gave Andrea a defiant glance.

When Chloe learned that Ian and Andrea had gotten back together and even had a kid, it felt like her world had collapsed.

But from now on, she was done living for others. It was all about her.

She needed to work hard and get that jewelry set back. She wanted Jill and Frank to truly enjoy their golden years, and she was determined to be a role model for Carl.

As for everyone else and everything else, they no longer mattered to her.

13:23 Thu, Oct 2

Chapter 45

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Andrea stood at the entrance, watching Chloe walk away without looking back. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

Chloe was years younger than her. And in terms of looks and figure, Andrea felt completely overshadowed.

She was dressed head to toe in designer brands, but next to Chloe, all that expensive clothing just made her look more out of place.

The Irvine family might have gone bankrupt, but Chloe had been raised in luxury. She had an effortless, almost unconscious air of superiority that Andrea could only dream of.

The following evening, lan returned home.

As Robert fired up the car, he mentioned, “Mr. Ian, Mr. Edward requested that you stop by the Hamilton Mansion first,”

Seated in the back of the Bentley, Ian glanced at the gift he’d chosen for Chloe. “Let’s head home first.”

He’d sent Chloe a quick message before boarding his flight.

By now, she should be waiting for him there.