Chapter 167
pter 168
lan asked, “Is my wife back yet p>
“Not yet,” Cora replied. Ian headed straight for the walk–in closet in the master bedroom.
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He reached into the very bottom of the closet and pulled out his old blue–and–white school uniform jacket. Back when he was just a kid, he’d overheard his parents fighting and learned his dad had cheated–turns out, he suddenly had a half–brother, Chris Hunter, someone he’d never met and never even wanted to.
I always hated him, lan thought to himself, ‘this brother I’d never even seen. Just knowing he existed made
me mad.
Because of him, my whole family was shattered. Everything good just turned into one big mess, Ian couldn’t help but think.
He remembered it was during his second year of college, at the big school basketball tournament. The sun was shining, and the weather couldn’t have been better.
Ian was out on the court, sweating like crazy, playing his heart out.
Up in the bleachers, Chris–still just a teen–was shouting his lungs out, nearly bouncing off his seat trying to get his attention.
After the game, Chris, still in his blue–and–white school uniform, rushed up and pressed a cold bottle of water into Ian’s hand.
Then, smiling, Chris shrugged off his jacket and spread it out on the grass. “Here, sit! You look totally wiped out,” he said.
Chris Hunter was tall and skinny, wearing a crisp white shirt, his two small but sharp canine teeth showing when he smiled up at Ian. “Hi, big bro! I’m Chris Hunter–your little brother p>
Worried Ian might dislike him, Chris hurried to wave his hands, blurting out, “Please don’t be mad, Ian. My mom told me I had a brother, and I just really wanted to meet you. I lied to her and said I was coming home to see my teacher, but the truth is, I just wanted to see you. I’ll leave right after, I swear–I’m not here to take anything from you p>
Right then, Ian found that maybe, just maybe, having a brother wasn’t as terrible as he’d always thought.
When Chris was about to leave, he tilted his head up and asked, his voice soft and full of hope, “Ian, when I’m older, can I come back to see you p>
Almost before he realized it, Jan nodded.
Chris stood in the golden sunlight, his smile impossibly bright, two sharp canines showing as he beamed at
Ian.
Then, Chris turned and walked away.
All he left lan was his blue–and–white school jacket.
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Four years later, word reached the Hamilton family–Chris Hunter had died in an accident abroad.
He died far from home, in the winter of his eighteenth year.
Just a dozen hours before, Ian had gotten a message out of the blue from Chris.
Chris told Ian that come tomorrow, he’d officially be eighteen.
He said he was going to book his own ticket and fly home to see his big brother.
That basketball, which Chris had secretly gotten signed by a basketball star without his parents knowing, was still locked away in his closet–forever waiting for its owner, who would never come home.
Hearing those familiar footsteps coming from outside, Ian carefully placed the school jacket back into the closet.
If there was anything hidden behind Chris Hunter’s death, Ian wouldn’t rest until he uncovered the truth.
After all, Chris had called him “big brother“-Ian owed it to him not to let that trust go to waste.
Chloe saw lan come out of the walk–in closet, and it was obvious something was off with him.
She hesitated for a moment, then turned away without saying a word.
Seeing how cold Chloe was toward him, Ian didn’t say a thing. He just went out to the balcony, feeling heavy and frustrated, and lit up a cigarette.
After her shower, Chloe came out of the bathroom and sat down at her vanity, doing some crafts with her hands.
Ian walked in and came up beside her.
He stood there for quite a while, uncertain, before finally saying, his voice low, “Chloe, if I ever have something I need you to face with me… would you be willing to do that p>
Andrea was the prime suspect right now, and to keep her from bolting, Ian had to make sure she stayed in Kingsford–he couldn’t risk exposing her just yet.
If Chloe was up for it, he could finally tell her the truth about Chris Hunter, and let her in on what he planned to do next.
Chloe glanced up at Ian for a moment, then kept on with her crafts. “That’s got nothing to do with me. Count
me out p>
His biggest hurdle was that Andrea’s son wasn’t his. No matter what he did, he just couldn’t convince the Hamilton elders to let him and Andrea be together openly.
Ian just stood there next to Chloe, staring at her cold, indifferent face in the mirror.
‘Yeah… figures, Ian thought, a bitter smile ghosting his lips.
Chapter 168
‘She really hates me now p>
‘How could she ever trust me again, understand me, or want to be with me p>
Ian’s eyes drifted down, settling on the little craft Chloe had just finished.
He asked, “Why’d you suddenly decide to start making crafts p>
Chloe stood up.
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She looked lan straight in the eyes, her voice trembling a little as she said, “Ian, I had a nightmare last night. There was a tiny baby in it, calling me ‘Mommy.’ His little voice kept saying how cold it was that day… so, so cold p>
Their eyes met, and Ian’s eyes were red with emotion.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he couldn’t help reaching out to hold Chloe’s hand. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault p>
Chloe pulled her hand away from Ian’s grasp and placed the pendant in his hand.
She said, “I drew a picture of our child, used AI to turn it into a photo, and locked it inside this crystal pendant p>
Chloe added coldly, “You’re so full of love, Ian–even your fake son gets all your devotion. If your real son ever feels cold, I’m sure you’d be able to warm him up… right p>
Chloe finished talking and turned on her heel, leaving the room without looking back.
At the bedroom door, she paused and looked over her shoulder–only to see Ian collapsed onto the vanity chair, totally defeated, like all the strength had left his body.
His eyes were bloodshot, and he clung to the crystal pendant Chloe had just made for him, pressing it to his chest like it was his only lifeline.
Chloe turned away, her expression cold and distant.
With all his top–notch credentials, Ian knew–crystal glass barely holds any warmth at all.
Even if he held it forever, that crystal pendant sealing his child’s photo would never feel warm in his hands.
AD
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