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lan was in terrible shape, but he refused to go to the hospital. Mia was at her wit’s end and insisted on calling Miranda. Reluctantly, lan agreed to go to the hospital the next morning.
After Mia got lan home, she had the family doctor check him out and start an IV. She stayed up all night, keeping watch over him.
Early the next morning, Mia threatened lan that if he didn’t go to the hospital, she’d call Miranda. After some serious nagging, lan finally agreed to go for further tests and treatment.
On the way, Mia pulled over to grab some breakfast.
Ian hopped out and got himself a cup of sugar–free flat white and a blueberry bagel.
Mia couldn’t help but glance at Ian. Chloe loved sugar–free flat white and was crazy about blueberry bagels.
When he and Mia got to the hospital, she was about to look for his doctor but paused when she saw the paper bag in his hand. “lan, want me to drop that off for you p>
lan didn’t hand it over. “Chloe’s probably not in yet. I’ll leave it at her office p>
Mia paused for a second before giving in.
About ten minutes later, Ian knocked on Chloe’s office door and found her already inside. They locked eyes for a silent moment.
Chloe glanced at the time on her phone and shot Ian a frosty look. “Did the Hamilton Group go bankrupt? Mr. Hamilton, don’t you have work to do p>
lan stepped into the office and set the breakfast down on her desk. His eyes landed on another breakfast already sitting there.
Chloe glanced at the breakfast Ian had put down and said coldly, “Just take it back. I’ve got work to do, so I’m not seeing you out.” She grabbed her own breakfast and turned to leave.
Ian, acting on impulse, caught her by the wrist. Chloe turned back, and he asked, “Are you taking breakfast to Philip p>
Chloe yanked her hand free. “What does that have to do with you p>
Jan pointed at the breakfast in Chloe’s hand, his face clouded with frustration. “You had to cross several intersections and take a half–hour detour from your place just to pick up breakfast before coming to the hospital.
“Why would you go through all that hassle for Philip p>
Chloe nodded with complete seriousness. “That’s nothing if it’s for him. I got up early to grab him breakfast, and I’ll be feeding him too. Do you have a problem with that, Mr. Hamilton p>
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Her words hit lan right in the heart. The familiar ache washed over him, and fan leaned heavily on the desk just to keep himself upright.
As Chloe was about to leave, lan doubled over and blocked her way. “Chloe, my stomach hurts p>
Chloe shot him a deadpan look. “This is a hospital. Go downstairs, get a number, and let them slice out whatever’s bothering you p>
Chloe turned to leave again, but then she heard a strange sound behind her. When she looked back, Ian was on the floor, blood spilling from his mouth.
As a doctor, Chloe instinctively put down the breakfast and steadied him. “What’s wrong p>
lan braced himself against the desk, holding Chloe’s hand tightly. His eyes red and voice choking with emotion, lan pleaded, “Chloe, you do still care about me, don’t you p>
Standing so close that their eyes met, Chloe said, “Ian, I’m a doctor. I don’t get to walk away and let someone die. That’s it p>
Ian shook his head, pain etched on his face. “I don’t buy it p>
Chloe released Ian’s arm and said, “Ian, if my actions gave you the wrong idea, I can just act like none of this ever happened p>
As Chloe turned away, Ian lost it and pulled her into his arms from behind. With his voice rough and strained. Ian cried out, “Chloe, we’ve known each other since we were kids–over twenty years–and we were
married for three.
“After all that, do I really matter less to you than Philip? He’s just some guy you’ve known for a few months p>
Chloe calmly pulled free from Ian’s hold. She turned to face him, totally composed. With an icy calm, Chloe said, “You should talk. Haven’t I always meant less than Andrea, the woman you truly love p>
With that, she grabbed her breakfast and walked out of the office without ever looking back.
Ian couldn’t hold himself up any longer and collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud.
Chloe heard the noise behind her and stopped in her tracks. She quickly flagged down two passing nurses. “There’s a patient in my office with severe gastric bleeding and he’s unconscious. Get a doctor and take the patient to the ER, now p>
Mia arrived just in time to see the medical staff rushing lan out of Chloe’s office, completely unconscious. She noticed Chloe some distance away, clutching her breakfast and simply watching from afar without coming any closer.
Mia burst into the office and saw the breakfast lan had bought for Chloe still on the desk, with a vivid splash of blood staining the floor.
Tears streaming down her face, Mia hurried out, chasing after the medical team as they brought lan into the
emergency room.
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As she passed by Chloe, Mia gave her a silent, tearful look with her reddened eyes, but didn’t say a word.
Chloe watched as the medical staff wheeled lan into the elevator, then walked away.
Around eight that night, lan finally woke up in his hospital room. He glanced around, weak and groggy. Miranda, Shane, and Mia were all there. But Chloe wasn’t. He looked away, eyes drifting up to the ceiling, empty and quiet.
Just then, Hector walked into the room. Shane immediately pressed him, “Mr. West, how’s my son doing p>
Mr. West just glanced at lan, not saying a word.
Miranda stepped forward, blocking Hector’s view. “Mr. West, just tell us the truth p>
Mr. West had no choice but to lay it all out for them. Seeing the shock on Shane and Miranda’s faces, Hector tried to reassure them. “Mr. Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton, don’t worry.
“As long as Mr. Hamilton avoids any more stress and keeps his mind at ease, and gets a specialist to help him sleep better, that’ll make a big difference in his recovery.
“His stomach issues will take time to heal, so you’ll need to pay extra attention to his diet and emotions. Just be prepared for the long haul p>
After Mr. West left, Mia turned to Miranda and Shane. “Dad, Mom, you stay here. I’ll go get us something to
eat p>
With Ian’s condition getting worse, Miranda and Shane parents couldn’t even think about food.
Miranda told Mia, “It’s been almost twelve hours since Ian got out of the ER. Head home and tell the chef to make him something light p>
Mia stepped out of the room, phone pressed to her ear as she called the chef and rummaged through her purse for her car keys.
Just then, Chloe walked out of Philip’s room next door and spotted a lipstick that had fallen from Mia’s bag. She bent down, picked it up, and handed it over.
Mia caught sight of Chloe, her gaze lingering for a second before she hung up the phone. She looked at the lipstick Chloe was offering but didn’t reach to take it.
Mia’s eyes were red. “Chloe, ever since we were kids, have I ever been anything but good to you p>
Chloe put the lipstick back in Mia’s bag and said, “Yeah, you’ve always been like a sister to me, Mia p>
Mia finally broke down, tears streaming down her face. “And my mom? Hasn’t she always treated you like family too p>
Chloe lowered her head. “Yes, she’s loved me like her own daughter p>
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Chapter 262