Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Under everyone’s shocked and bewildered stares, Ian calmly took the divorce papers from his father Shane’s hand and passed them right to Mitchell.
Mitchell braced himself and forced a smile. “Sorry, everyone. The assistant outside got it mixed up–this document is actually mine p>
With Shane yelling after him, Mitchell hurried out of the conference room, clutching Ian’s divorce agreement.
Everyone saw things differently–each person had their own idea of what had really happened.
After the board meeting, Shane stormed into the CEO’s office, his face dark with rage.
“If you hesitate, you invite disaster. Who gave her the nerve to hand you divorce papers right during the board meeting?” Shane spat.
He jabbed a finger at Ian, voice trembling with anger. “Ian, I’m telling you–get her out. Divorce her, make her leave the Hamilton family with absolutely nothing p>
Ian stayed cool, his expression unreadable. “Dad, my marriage is my choice. Whether I get divorced or not, that’s up to me p>
Shane’s forehead veins bulged with anger. “This isn’t your decision p>
“Find that lawyer for me–I want to see who had the nerve to get involved in a Hamilton divorce case!” Shane snapped.
Shane roared some more, then slammed the door and stormed out.
That evening, as Chloe stepped out of the supermarket, Ian forcefully pulled her into his car.
The driver and Mitchell got out, keeping their distance by standing a few meters away.
In the back seat of the luxury car, Chloe and Ian sat close, staring each other down.
Chloe could feel the anger radiating off Ian.
If she was right, Jan must have gotten the divorce papers by now.
Ian was visibly struggling to keep his temper in check.
He said, “Chloe, I know some of the things I did were inexcusable. You went behind everyone’s back and terminated our baby–that was the harshest punishment you could give me. I’ve tried to respect your feelings and take care of your health. I even agreed to live apart so you could have space to cool off. What more do
you want from me p>
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Chloe locked eyes with him and answered clearly, “I want a divorce. Right now p>
Ian gripped Chloe’s shoulders, making her look him straight in the eye.
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“Chloe, you were the one who said you loved me, who wanted to marry me. Now you just decide you can have me and then walk away whenever you feel like it?” Ian said, voice tight with frustration.
Chloe’s temper flared as Ian ripped open old wounds.
She shoved him away, her voice rising. “Ian, I was blind back then. Is it so wrong for me to regret it now p>
“Regret it?” Ian repeated, his eyes narrowing and his voice tinged with disbelief.
He turned his gaze away, his hands left hanging uselessly between them.
For a beat, he fell silent.
Then he said, “You think getting divorced is just something you can snap your fingers and make happen p>
“Hamilton Group isn’t some small business–everything we do gets dragged into the spotlight. Our marriage, our divorce–it’s all out there. There’s way too much riding on this. Don’t kid yourself, Chloe,” Ian said, his frustration barely contained.
Chloe tilted her chin up, her eyes fierce. “Ian, you’re always worried about your image and your status, but that didn’t stop you from getting involved with Andrea. Now you want to lecture me, acting all righteous–do you really think I’d listen to you p>
Ian stared into Chloe’s icy eyes, his chest tight with frustration.
“I know I messed up with Andrea, and I’ve been trying to make it right. Can’t you just stop making a scene?” Ian said, his voice strained.
Chloe let out a bitter laugh. “You made Edward so furious he ended up in the hospital, just to keep Andrea and her kid around. And you call that making it right p>
Ian looked Chloe straight in the eyes. “I had my reasons. Let me explain–I only kept Andrea around because
Chloe cut him off, her tone biting. “Ian, go ahead and say whatever you want. I still won’t believe a single word p>
They locked eyes, neither willing to back down.
The air between them was thick with tension.
For what felt like ages, the two of them sat there in heavy silence.
Ian shifted gears, suspicion in his voice. “Chloe, do you even know Philip bills by the hour–and in dollars, no less? He’s only ever taken business cases, never personal ones. Yet he just breaks his own rule for you, no questions asked. Have you stopped to think what he really wants out of this p>
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Chloe fired right back at Ian, “Just because you think I’m worthless doesn’t mean everyone else does. Philip’s a good father–I did everything I could to help his son recover. He’s helping me now because he owes me, plain and simple. If you want to imagine something more, that’s your problem, not mine p>
Ian hesitantly reached out to take Chloe’s hand, but she pulled hers away, glaring at him in anger.
Ian restrained himself; when he spoke again, his voice had softened.
He asked quietly, “Honestly, even if we split, do you really think you’ll find someone better than me p>
Chloe met his eyes, her gaze unwavering. “Women don’t need men to make it in life. Marriage isn’t all that
matters p>
The tenderness in Ian’s eyes faded, his gaze turning cold and distant.
He spoke with icy calm, “Chloe, if you really think just one Philip can get you everything you want, you’re fooling yourself p>
Chloe shot back, “Ian, with or without Philip, I’m getting this divorce–no matter what p>
Ian let out a cold laugh and ordered the driver to drive off.
Chloe kept fighting him the whole way, but Ian still brought her straight back home.
Chloe kept her eyes on Ian, every bit of her on guard.
It was the first time since they’d met that Ian had really lost control–angry and out of sorts, right in front of her.
Chloe couldn’t stop herself from remembering that famous case where a professor killed and chopped up his wife after their messy divorce.
Ian bent down and put a pair of slippers at Chloe’s feet. “Keep trying all you want if you want a divorce. But you’re not leaving this house–not until you’ve got the divorce papers in your hand p>
Seeing Chloe clutching her phone, frozen by the shoe cabinet, Ian felt all the fight drain out of him.
He said quietly, “You don’t have to be so guarded around me. Trust me, I’m not that crazy. I’d never hurt my own wife p>
With that, lan turned and headed straight for the study, shutting himself away,
Chloe’s thoughts spun out of control; she couldn’t make sense of anything anymore.
Ian seemed right on the verge of snapping.
Thankfully, the night passed in tense silence, with nothing bad happening after all.
The next day at noon, Chloe met up with Philip at a restaurant.
Chloe said, “Mr. Foster, the Hamilton family’s kind of a big deal. If taking my divorce case is making things
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too tough for you, don’t feel like you have to go through with it p>
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Philip asked, “Dr. Irvine, if there’s still even a tiny chance you and Mr. Hamilton could work things out, I can hold off and withdraw the case. Why not take some extra time to really think it through p>
Chloe’s voice was rock solid. “Not gonna lie, Mr. Foster, I do have my worries–but trust me, I’m seeing this divorce through, no matter what p>
Philip said, “Yeah, Hamilton Group’s legal team’s got a reputation for being ruthless, and the Hamilton family has a lot of influence in Kingsford. But Mr. Hamilton’s the one who messed up this time. If you’re sure about this, you don’t need to worry about a thing from me p>
After a long night of running every scenario through her head, Chloe finally felt a sliver of relief.
No wonder he was a top lawyer–this guy really knew how to handle things. Always sharp, always left some wiggle room for both sides.
That afternoon, Chloe showed up at Rowe Estate.
Julian noticed Chloe seemed distracted. “So, did Philip agree to take your divorce case p>
Chloe lit a stick of incense. “Word gets around fast with you, Sir Julian p>
As Chloe spun around, her incense stick accidentally jabbed Julian’s suit pants.
She was quick–yanking the incense back before it could really do any damage.
Julian stared at the fresh burn hole in his pants and deadpanned at Chloe, “So this is how you show respect to an ‘old man‘ in his thirties? ”
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