Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 129
Chloe endured her thirst and went to take a shower. Ian didn’t stop her.
When Chloe stepped out of the bathroom, she saw that the light in Ian’s study was still on.
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Chloe walked over to the drink station, eyed the water dispenser for a few seconds, but decided not to risk it.
Neither she nor Ian were into sugary drinks, so the only things in the fridge were milk and yogurt–nothing else.
Chloe picked up an unopened bottle of milk and twisted off the cap, but just as she was about to take a sip, she heard footsteps behind her and stopped.
When her eyes met Ian’s steady gaze, Chloe hesitated, then quietly screwed the cap back on and set the bottle aside, deciding against drinking.
Chloe shot Ian a quick look, messaged Arthur, and waited at the door.
Not long after, Arthur showed up with two bottles of water.
Relieved, Chloe finally let herself drink and finished almost half a bottle in one go.
Later that night, they lay side by side in the same big bed.
Lying there, Chloe listened to Ian’s steady, rhythmic breathing. She didn’t toss and turn–she just stared into the dark, sleep refusing to come, her mind quietly wide awake.
She’d tried, right in front of all Ian’s friends, to get Andrea to slip something into his drink—but her plan never got anywhere.
From the moment she came home until they went to bed, Ian hadn’t said a word to her. Not a question, not even a glance.
Chloe ran it through her mind over and over. ‘Something’s really not right,‘ she thought.
Early the next morning, Chloe went through her morning routine, getting ready for work.
Cora called out from the doorway, “lan, Chloe, breakfast is ready p>
Seeing Jan still lingering in the walk–in closet, Chloe made her way to the dining room alone.
She finished half a bowl of millet porridge, then got ready to leave for the office.
As Chloe stepped out of the dining room, lan reached out and caught her by the wrist.
Ian turned to Cora and said, “Cora, you can go now p>
Cora took off her apron and left.
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Chapter 129
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Once Cora was out of earshot, Chloe pulled her wrist free from Ian and snapped, “If you’ve got something to say, save it for tonight. I’m already running late for work p>
Ian’s gaze didn’t waver, his expression stone–cold. “I called your office and gave you the whole day off p>
Chloe’s eyes widened, her irritation bubbling over. “Seriously, Ian? You just took a day off for me without even asking? Who do you think you are to decide that p>
Ian just stared at her, not saying a word.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, Chloe felt herself grow dizzy, her mind going fuzzy.
She stumbled backward, clutching the glass doorframe like her whole body was about to give out.
Chloe whipped around, her eyes went straight to the half–finished bowl of millet porridge. Shock written all over her face, she glared at Ian. “Did you really…? ”
Ian moved swiftly to catch Chloe before she fell, meeting her gaze coldly. “This is the only way you’ll remember,” he said.
Chloe shoved Ian off, scrambling for her phone in a panic and dialing Patrick’s number.
Before she could even finish dialing, Ian snatched the phone straight out of her hand.
For the first time, Chloe could actually see real anger flicker in Ian’s eyes.
As the drug started working inside her, Chloe desperately grabbed Ian by the collar. “Take me to the hospital, now! ”
Ian put Chloe’s phone up on a high shelf, way out of reach.
He steadied her and reminded her flatly, “That thing you messed with? It’s just hit the market–no antidote, not a chance. Even if you go to the hospital, it won’t help p>
Chloe’s frustration boiled over, and she was in tears.
She thought she’d covered all the bases, but in the end, she still got played.
As the drug slowly took over Chloe’s mind, Ian eyed her coldly and said, “If you need help, say it out loud p>
Chloe didn’t even let him finish. She sank her teeth into his arm, hard.
Jan kept a firm grip on Chloe’s arm, standing still as stone, watching as the drug slowly overtook her strength and she collapsed, unable to resist any longer. When her body finally went slack, he bent down and scooped
up, carrying her bridal style without saying a word.
her
Hours later, Chloe slowly came to.
Seeing Ian standing right by the bed, all dressed up and looking annoyingly fresh, Chloe was so exhausted from his antics she didn’t even have the energy to curse him out–not that she didn’t want to.
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Chapter 129
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Ian bent down, pulled the blanket up for Chloe, his voice as calm as ever: “Lunch’s waiting in the kitchen. I’m heading to the office for a bit–just try to rest, okay p>
Ian stood there in his immaculate suit, totally unruffled, speaking in a soft, gentle tone–as if he weren’t the same man who’d just lost control with her in a frenzy moments earlier.
Chloe was worn out beyond words. She simply shut her eyes, not even trying to muster a response.
Ian watched her in silence for quite a while before silently turning and leaving the bedroom.
As soon as Ian left the room, Chloe opened her eyes.
She crawled to the edge of the bed and reached out, tipping the trash can over onto the floor.
She counted the condoms and the wrappers that spilled out, and finally, her tightly drawn face relaxed a notch.
Ian and Andrea already had a son, so it wasn’t likely that he wanted Chloe to get pregnant.
What really worried her was Ian trying to use a child as leverage–to keep her tied to him with no escape.
Ian was so calculating and unreadable, Chloe knew she had to stay on her guard at all times.
“If you’re really that uneasy, take the pill,” Ian said, his tone almost casual.
He came in with a glass of water, peeled a birth control pill out of the pack right in front of Chloe, making sure she saw, and handed it over.
Chloe checked the packaging–didn’t even hesitate, just swallowed it down.
So she guessed right–Ian clearly didn’t want to have a kid with her.
Seeing Chloe pop the pill without the slightest hesitation, looking instantly relieved, Ian’s hands unconsciously tightened into fists at his sides.
He gave Chloe a cold glance, then left the bedroom in silence.
Chloe slept straight through until two or three in the afternoon.
She forced herself out of bed, muscles aching all over. When she saw herself in the mirror, marks everywhere, she just stared for a moment, completely numb. Then she sank into the bathtub and soaked for a long time, letting the warmth try to chase away the exhaustion.
Chloe had been drugged–her thoughts were all over the place, barely able to think straight.
Jan didn’t hold back at all, working her over with fierce intensity. She could sense the anger burning beneath his self–control, every touch sharper than the last.
Sometimes he’d be unexpectedly gentle, but the next second he’d turn commanding and demanding, switching things up again and again. Chloe found herself crying, pleading, promising anything he wanted— completely at his mercy.
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Chapter 129
After going through that, trying to pull the same stunt again was out of the question.
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Andrea was a mystery. Every time she got near lan, she’d shrink like a scared mouse facing a hungry cat- completely freaked out, no backbone at all.
Chloe just couldn’t figure it out. Ian adored Andrea, showered her with affection, and she’d even given him a son. If Andrea wanted to make a play for the top spot, it should’ve been easy. So why was she so terrified of lan, like he might turn on her any second?
Clearly Andrea was a lost cause. Chloe would have to go back to the drawing board and think up another way.
Meanwhile, in the CEO Office of the Hamilton Group, Ian was pouring Miranda a cup of coffee.
“Mom, what brings you here?” he asked.
Miranda settled gracefully onto the sofa, setting her bag down. “You and Chloe haven’t been back to The Old Hamilton Manor much lately. I was just passing by, so I thought I’d drop in and see how you two are doing p>
Ian lowered his gaze. “We’re fine p>
Miranda put down her coffee, her face serious. “You took Chloe and Andrea with you to a party with your friends? That’s what you call ‘fine‘? ”
Ian kept his cool. “Mom, don’t listen to what Raina says p>
Miranda looked at Ian with worry in her eyes. “Ian, every mother hopes for their children to have a good marriage. But you can’t just walk away from Andrea and your son. And with you and Chloe having no children to keep you connected, it’s only a matter of time before your relationship fades out p>
Ian pressed his lips tightly together, saying nothing.
Miranda’s tone was gentle but pained as she pleaded, “Son, please listen to your mother. Why not get a divorce from Chloe? It’s better to part on good terms p>
Ian sat stiffly on the sofa, tension coiled through his whole body.
With a steely resolve, he told Miranda, “Mom, I’m not divorcing her p>
As for kids, Chloe and I will definitely have them.
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