The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 62

Chapter 62

After making sure Chloe got home safely, Patrick went straight back to lan’s place.

In the study, lan handed Patrick a glass of whiskey.

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They stood side by side at the floor–to–ceiling window. “You want to know what we talked about?” Patrick asked.

“She asked you to talk me into a divorce.” Ian looked over at him.

“That’s only half of it.”

Ian tossed back his drink, downing it in one go.

He toyed with the empty glass, his voice unreadable. “Putting Andrea and her son aside, my marriage with Chloe is solid.”

Patrick rolled his eyes. “But Andrea and her son have created a massive rift between you two. You really think you have this under control?”

Ian turned and sat back on the sofa, pouring himself another drink.

“Chloe’s always relied on me. I just need to give her some space to cool off. She’ll come around.”

“Oh, she’s come around, all right,” Patrick retorted, sitting across from him. “She told me tonight that if she’d known you’d treat her like this, she would have married me instead.”

Ian’s hand, holding his glass, froze.

Patrick’s tone became pleading. “Ian, Chloe grew up trailing after us. She adored you for over twenty years. You can’t just wound her like this and give her the silent treatment for another woman.”

“Is that what she told you?”

“She told me more than that.”

The two men locked eyes, and Patrick’s expression turned serious. “She said if she can’t get a divorce, she’ll kill herself.”

Ian’s face went rigid.

He looked away, setting his glass down. He fumbled with a pack of cigarettes, his hand shaking slightly as he pulled one out and lit it.

The smoke veiled his eyes.

“Marrying her was a calculated decision, but I’ve taken care of her and her family for the last three years. She’s wanted for nothing. I don’t have any vices, I don’t control her. I thought her life with me was better than

most.”

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He paused. “Okay, I handled the situation with Andrea and her son badly, but it’s not as dire as Chloe is making it out to be.”

Patrick stared at him in disbelief. “So, what? Does she have to be dead in front of you for it to be ‘dire‘?”

Jan looked down. “She won’t do it.”

‘She’s too devoted to her family, he thought. ‘For her parents and for Carl, she’ll stay alive!

Patrick was speechless. Furious, he just turned and walked out.

Late at night, Ian lay on his side in bed, reaching out to the empty space where Chloe used to be.

The faint ache in his shoulder made it clear–she’d just been here.

The next morning, Chloe ran into Andrea while she was out picking up some anti–inflammatory medication for her brother.

Andrea was decked out in stilettos and a tight dress, her makeup flawless. She didn’t look like someone who’d just been in a car accident.

Seeing Chloe, she walked over. “Ms. Irvine, is your brother feeling any better?”

Chloe glanced at her and said nothing.

When Chloe ignored her, Andrea walked over to a counter and bought two boxes of condoms.

She caught up with Chloe at the pharmacy door, pulling a box out of the bag.

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The window of the car behind Ian slid down.

When Andrea saw Miranda, a wave of panic washed over her.

Feeling guilty, she rushed to explain, “Ian, I was just here to buy some medicine and happened to run into your wife. I was just saying hello.”

She quickly made another excuse and left.

Ian walked up to Chloe, his eyes fixed on her expression. “My parents are here. They want to meet with yours.”

“Aren’t you going to ask who slapped her?” Chloe said, nodding toward Andrea’s retreating figure.

Ian’s brow furrowed. “Chloe, this is about us.”

“Then there’s nothing to talk about unless it’s the divorce,” Chloe replied without hesitation. “If you agree, we can go sign the papers right now. If not, you can wait for my lawyer to serve you.”

Ian’s face darkened. He lowered his voice. “My grandfather is here too. You know what his temper is like.”

Chloe looked down.

The Hamilton Group was a publicly traded company, and her marriage to lan was public knowledge.

If she filed for divorce, the scandal of his infidelity would inevitably explode.

Edward, obsessed with the family’s reputation and the company’s future, would intervene with force.

It seemed this meeting with the families was unavoidable.

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Knowing Edward and lan’s father were not coming in peace, Chloe called her own father to warn him.

A few minutes later, she led the Hamiltons into her family’s home.