Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Chloe felt her heart shatter into pieces. At this moment, she realized something painfully clear. In front of lan, she didn’t even have the right to say “no p>
He forced her compliance with money, and forbade her from seeing Andrea and Clint.
Of course, he also forbade her from confronting him. And if a scandal ever leaked, she, as Mrs. Hamilton, would have to clean up the mess and preserve his dignity.
Chloe lay quietly on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
She’d heard whispers about Ian and Andrea before.
Apparently, it was a mismatch of social status. The Hamiltons had deemed Andrea too ordinary to marry Ian and forcibly separated
them.
Unable to marry her, Ian kept Andrea and Clint supported quietly outside the family.
Chloe knew that Ian wasn’t divorcing her. He just wanted to make her comply and cover for him.
“Tan. I don’t have the money to pay you,” replied Chloe, her voice was barely more than a whisper. “I can’t meet your demands. Is there any other way out for me p>
“No,” said Ian. He lay down beside her and tucked the blanket over her.
His touch was gentle, yet his refusal was absolute, leaving no room for argument.
After switching off the bedside lamp, Ian pulled Chloe into his arms under the covers. “Sleep well. I’ll take you to visit your family this weekend p>
Bur Chloe couldn’t sleep.
All these years, she’d been fooled by him. Ian looked like a devoted, respectful husband to her parents–but behind every act of kindness, she knew it was calculation, a trade of interest.
She had endured so many days of torment, thinking a divorce would free her. Instead, he had cornered her completely.
To Ian, Andrea and Clint were irreplaceably important, but she barely even counted.
Chloe opened her eyes, letting the faint light through the curtains trace the lines of Ian’s face. Memories of their childhood flickered in her mind.
When she was one year old, during her first birthday ceremony, her family held a party for her, bringing all kinds of gifts.
Everyone watched, but she didn’t reach for anything, except Ian’s ring finger, which she clutched tightly.
Miranda suggested lan giving Chloe a kiss in return. He did–right on her lips.
Jill laughed and teased, saying, “Looks like Chloe’s lost her first kiss p>
That was when Miranda proposed a childhood engagement between the Hamilton and the Irvine families.
After a brief discussion, the elders arranged it, sealing their betrothal as a family alliance.
Chloe’s fondness for lan had been obvious since childhood, but she had to admit that Ian’s indifference towards her was equally clear.
Yet somehow, they ended up married and sustained a three–year loveless marriage. A miracle of its own kind,
Recalling their past, Chloe lay wide awake till morning.
Ian woke to the sight of Chloe beside him, pale and still. Only her faint breathing proved she was still there.
He looked away, got up, and went to the bathroom.
Chloe hadn’t brought up divorce
e again, nor had she caused a scene. To lan, she seemed resigned.
2:56 PM
Chapter 13.
Dressed and ready, Ian stepped out of the walk–in closet–and noticed the wedding photos were gone.
“Where are the wedding photos?” he asked, frowning.
Chloe said flatly, “I threw them away p>
She had discarded more than one yesterday, not just a single photo. And yet Ian only noticed one missing now.
Chloe laughed bitterly inside. Those things she had once treasured? To Ian, they had never mattered.
“Doesn’t matter,” Ian said lightly. “I’ll have the studio send new copies p>
Ian knew that if Chloe had thrown them away, it wasn’t just one. She probably got rid of most of them, just to vent.
He shrugged, thinking it was better than keeping the anger bottled up.
Just as he was about to leave the bedroom, Chloe suddenly spoke up, “I’ll find a job soon, Ian p>
She knew Ian was right. She touldn’t have it both ways.
She had married him, and he had not only saved the Irvine family, but also handled their debts.
He gave her a marriage, dignity, material comfort. And in return, she had to tolerate his affair.
Their marriage, in his eyes, was a trade. If that was the case, she had the right to negotiate terms.
Ian glanced at her and replied, “Fine p>
‘It’s good to keep busy, he thought. ‘Better than sitting around and stewing herself in her own thoughts.
But then Chloe continued, “I’m moving out p>
Ian’s foot stopped mid–step. He turned to face her and shut her down cold, “No way p>
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“You’ve got to give me time to process this, to breathe,” Chloe’s voice hardened. “I’ve loved you for so many years, and I’ve been your wife for three. You cheated, you betrayed me, yet you still refuse to divorce me. I’m human, lan, I hurt too p>
Even if walking away felt impossible, Chloe understood that she’d find a way to break free.
Her
gaze followed Ian as he moved in, his hands clamping firmly on her shoulders, forcing her to sit on the bed.
He leaned on the nightstand, staring into her dull, lifeless eyes.
“Chloe,” he said, “Hamilton Group is a publicly listed company. My marital status is absolutely public. Every action we take affects the future of the Hamilton family business p>
“That is, as long as we’re married,” he continued, “you stay here p>
“You say it’s for Hamilton Group, yet you keep a woman on the side,” Chloe shot back. “Aren’t you worried about scandal affecting the company p>
Ian’s voice was calm, unwavering. “If anything goes wrong at Hamilton Group, I take full responsibility. But can you p>
Chloe fell silent.
Even without a divorce, she already owed him 300 million. If her actions rattled the Hamilton stock, she could never cover it.
Knowing she couldn’t do anything, Ian reached out, tucking her hair behind her ear, his tone softening.
“They made some breakfast for you at the manor. Mia will bring it over soon,” he said. “Have your breakfast, and rest well at home p>
He left for the office. Chloe stayed lying there, utterly drained.
Her panic, her outbursts–they did nothing to move Ian. No compromise, no concession. Exactly as she had feared, he remained unmoved.
Chloe felt like she was dying inside. Ian thought she was overreacting. She had loved him all these years, never imagined he could be so cruel, so heartless.
2:56 PM
Chapter 13
Silently, he stripped her even of the right to lose control.
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By nine, Miranda and Mia arrived with breakfast and some gentle words, but Chloe said nothing about Ian settling debts with her.
Miranda had cared for her deeply. But lan was her biological son. Chloe knew that at heart, Miranda didn’t want to see Ian’s marriage
end.
As for Mia, she could confide in her, but she was a chatterbox.
If she spilled the beans about Ian demanding 300 million before a divorce, the whole world would know. Chloe couldn’t allow that.
At noon, Chloe returned to the Irvine family. Jill and Frank weren’t relieved she hadn’t divorced. They were worried.
“Chloe, tell me, is Ian giving you a hard time?” Jill pulled her into the bedroom, whispering.
Chloe couldn’t reveal the depth of her hurt. She forced a shrug. “He explained. It was a misunderstanding. He didn’t have an affair p>
Jill exhaled, relieved. “As long as there’s no affair, that’s fine p>
She then tugged Chloe out of the bedroom. “Your dad and I worked it out yesterday. Your uncle William’s family is moving to Newcrest, and their old house will just be sitting empty. So we figured we might as well move in there ourselves p>
She then pulled out a bank card from her pocket and handed to Chloe. “Here, it’s for you. All the money in this card comes from Ian every month,” said Jill.
“Everything’s in there except what we used for hospital bills. Your dad found a consultancy gig at a factory, and the pay’s enough for us to get by,” she explained. “Take this card and settle things with Ian p>
AD