The Billion-Dollar Divorce (Ian and Chloe) novel Chapter 91

Chapter 91

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Chloe scoffed, unable to hold back. “Wasn’t it you who pushed me to come back?”

They stared at each other in silence, and lan let go of her.

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He said, “Chloe, don’t forget we have that marriage agreement. Even if you didn’t want to come back, you did Now that you’re here, you need to play by the rules.”

Chloe looked him in the eyes, steady as ever. “My family and my career–that’s where I draw the line.

“If I can’t even keep hold of those, then honestly, there’s no point in me sticking around.”

Fixing lan with a stare, Chloe said, “Threaten me all you want, play whatever power games you’ve got, cling to that marriage contract–none of that matters to someone who’s dead, right?”

Ian caught the unyielding determination in Chloe’s eyes.

He tightened his grip on her shoulders, his knuckles turning white. After a long, tense silence, he finally asked. “Chloe, do you really have to see me as someone that awful?”

Chloe shook her head. “No, you’re not awful–you just don’t love me. If Andrea was the one you married, you’d probably make the perfect husband.”

Ian tightened his grip on Chloe’s shoulders and yanked her forcefully toward him.

He warned in a cold, low voice, “I’m trying to work things out between us–don’t involve anyone else! Keep her out of this!”

Chloe snapped, shaking herself free from Ian’s grip.

She snapped back at Ian, her words cutting through the tension.

“Why shouldn’t I bring her into this?”

“Isn’t she the real reason there’s a rift between us?”

“Hasn’t our marriage ended up like this because of her?”

“The reason I’ve reached this breaking point–isn’t it all because you kept forcing me for her sake?”

“I’m the victim, and I can stand tall in front of the woman you actually love. But you–the one who put me through all this–what are you so afraid of?”

“Why can’t you just admit it? You love Andrea, and you love your son. What’s so hard about saying it out

loud?”

“Why not just be real with me? You dragged me back here just to use me as a decoration, a shield for your romance. Is it really that impossible to say?”

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By the end, Chlor was dronning

Holy, der det smacks the way law conted be a complete and a heart, got will play the ” victing the moment the confronted his

Kown when he brought set up, every fight was her bathing it one drone–the was ways the one throwing ose all the words, putting herself out there

Unlike Lan, the just diber’t have it in her to keep her cool, may rational and act like nothing ever bothered ber

Deep down, the knew–fighting, with fan would never get her anywhere.

But the wait about to let all this pent–up misery make her sick

Even if she couldn’t escape this marriage, the was still going to hang on to who she was–and fight like bell to stay herself

For a moment, the room fell silent

Both of them were fighting to keep their emotions in check, doing their best to hold it together.

I’m going to take a shower fan said quietly

He turned and walked toward the bathroom

Chloe kept her eyes on his back, making no move to stop him.

Showering and changing first thing after getting home was a habit lan had stuck to for years–even if he was hurt, he never skipped it.

Chloe went into the master bathroom, took a quick shower, and laid out the first aid kit and supplies, getting everything sorted.

Jan pushed open the door, shirtless, just wearing a pair of dark sleep pants.

Chloe pulled back the covers and gestured for lan to take a seat on the edge of the bed. Sit down. I’ll clean your wounds”

Jan sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Chloe carefully prepared the antiseptic cotton swabs.

Her expression was frosty, calm as ice, as if she hadn’t just been arguing with him a moment ago.

Chloe turned fan around and began cleaning the wounds on his back.

One hand locked tight around her waist, the other gripping the back of her head–his kiss was so possessive it felt like he was trying to crush her.

He wiped away her tears from the corners of her eyes, watching her breathing grow ragged and her cheeks finally flush with warmth. Looking satisfied with the way she looked, Ian released her at last.

“I’m going to wash my face,” Chloe said, her voice steady.

turn in first.

When Chloe woke up early the next morning, she noticed lan was still asleep beside her.

She got up, took care of her morning routine, picked out an outfit, did her makeup, and styled her hair.

Spotting lan getting up in the reflection, Chloe said over her shoulder, “I’ve laid out your suit on the dresser. Your watch and lapel pin are there too. The gray tie works best, by the way.”

Ian stood behind Chloe, gazing at her exquisite face reflected in the mirror while she gave him those caring

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Chapter 91

reminders. He didn’t know why, but his moord felt incredibly heavy.

Cora had set out breakfast for them, but neither of them couched a thing

At seven o’clock tharp, Chloe showed up at the menue, Aver arm booked and land’s as they made there

entrance.

Surrounded by a sea of flashing cameras and ruthless reporters, Chloe handed it all with polished grace, her smile perfectly in place

When Chloe turned to look at lan, his face was dark and forbidding–making it premy dear to everyone that they shouldn’t even think about getting too done.

Chloe stepped closer and, right there in front of everyone, reached cor to straighten lan’s te

After the host wrapped up the intro, it was Chloe’s turn to take the stage.

She waved off the speech Mitchell tried to hand her, stepped up to the podium, and faced the blinding flashbulbs head–on.

She explained that, while visiting her mom at the hospital, she’d accidentally busted a little boy’s squint gon So she asked her husband to help her pick out a new one to make things right

She added that the boy lan was holding was actually their relative’s little boy, and she was right there with them the whole time.

Fingers entwined with Ian’s, Chloe showed the world just how solid their marriage was. She made it clear that the Hunter Corp. Legal Department would hunt down the rumor mongers and hold them accountable.

Once Chloe had smoothed everything over, she didn’t miss the chance to lay on the charm. In front of all the flashing cameras, she turned to Ian and, in her sweetest voice, teased him about craving the pancakes he cooked just for her.

Ian barely got a word in the entire time; Chloe ran the show start to finish, solved every problem with ease. and walked off like a total queen.

Faced with Chloe taking charge so effortlessly, lan was left speechless–he just couldn’t say a word, sinking into a deep, lingering silence.