Chapter 260
Chapter 262
Chloe answered firmly and without a second thought.
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Mia burst into tears and she said, “I know lan hurt you, and he doesn’t deserve you coming back. But we’ve grown up together. I always thought of you as family, and my mom treated you just like her own daughter.
“To stop you from being hurt, she personally stepped in to break off your relationship with fan, hoping to help you get free p>
Mia gestured at her heart as she questioned Chloe, “Even if Ian deserves whatever punishment he gets, at least the care Mom and I have for you is real.
“Even if you don’t care about me, for Mom’s sake, how could you stand idly by while Ian collapsed in your office, coughing up blood p>
Chloe lowered her gaze, masking the emotions in her eyes as Mia confronted her. After a moment’s pause, Chloe explained, “Mia, I did call the doctor for him p>
In the hospital corridor, Chloe and Mia–once inseparable, able to talk about anything like sisters—stood wordlessly, exchanging a heavy, silent look.
Chloe’s face was tangled with emotion, her feelings almost impossible to read. Mia couldn’t stop crying, her tears falling one after another.
Mia’s lips trembled, and after a long pause, she finally whispered, “Thank you, then p>
After watching Mia run into the elevator crying, Chloe turned around. For a second, her vision blurred with tears. She understood why Mia was heartbroken. After all, Ian was the big brother who’d protected her for as long as she could remember.
Chloe treasured the sisterhood she shared with Mia, and cherished the mother–daughter bond she had with Miranda. But she couldn’t convince herself to ever get entangled with Ian again.
Chloe walked into Philip’s hospital room and met his worried gaze. She lowered her head, then wiped away her tears. “You saw that p>
Philip wore the standard hospital gown, towering above with his steady, low–key presence. He handed Chloe a tissue, softening his voice to comfort her. “Miss Hamilton’s a straightforward person. Once she’s had a chance to calm down, you two will work things out p>
Chloe couldn’t help but ask Philip, “Are you really that sure Mia and I can patch things up p>
Philip smiled and nodded. “People attract friends like themselves. You’re extraordinary, so of course your friends won’t be anything less.
“Maybe Miss Hamilton isn’t perfect, but if you two could stay close since you were kids, she must have some unique strengths you won’t find anywhere else p>
Chloe looked up at Philip and said, “Philip, thank you.” No matter how down or upset she felt, just talking to Philip for a bit always made her feel better.
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Chapter 262
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During her time with Philip, Chloe found that even though he came from such a prominent family, there was something unexpectedly warm about him.
That warmth always came with a sense of gentle distance; he never crossed any lines, and being with him was effortless, never stressful.
Philip said. “Dr. Irvine, really, you don’t need to be so formal. If you hadn’t stepped in to protect Simon, you wouldn’t have ended up in danger. Honestly, Simon and I should be the ones thanking you p>
Chloe was amused by Philip’s earnestness.
Miranda and Shane were walking past Philip’s hospital room when they saw Chloe and Philip together, getting along so well it was almost like they were in their own world. Miranda and Shane exchanged uneasy glances before moving away.
For the next three days, Ian kept his eyes glued to the doorway, watching as Chloe came and went right past
his room.
Sometimes she’d be carrying fruit, sometimes a lunchbox, and sometimes leading Simon along… but not once did she set foot in Ian’s room. She didn’t even spare him a look.
Mia sat beside the hospital bed, peeling an apple. “Ian, focus on getting healthy, okay? When winter comes, let’s go on a trip abroad—all four of us, just family p>
Ian’s gaze shifted from his laptop to Mia. He glanced down and then said, “Okay, but only if you come and work with me at the company p>
Mia froze for a second. After her eighteenth birthday, Edward and her parents handed her ten percent of Hamilton Group’s shares.
She’d graduated in finance and Shane had forced her to squeeze into all kinds of fancy executive programs, but after graduating, she hadn’t worked a single day in her life.
The annual dividends alone were enough for her to splurge, and not to mention her own side hustles- getting a normal job just didn’t make sense at all.
Mia watched Ian’s face, trying to read him. “Ian, you promised back then. You said Chloe and I would never have to work a day in our lives, that you’d take care of everything p>
Remembering how Chloe looked so blissfully happy when he vowed to take care of her forever, a bitter smirk tugged at lan’s lips. He dropped his eyes, sinking into silence for quite a while,
Then he told Mia, “If you come work at the company with me, I’ll finally be able to focus on my recovery.
“I’ll teach you myself, and Mitchell will be your assistant. Do a good job, and by year’s end, we’ll take a family trip to Ovanpe. Everything you want, I’ve got it covered p>
What really got to Mia wasn’t the part where lan said he’d got it covered, but that he’d finally focus on getting better. She held out her pinky. “Pinky swear p>
Ian let out a fond sigh, and the two of them hooked pinkies.
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Only then did Mia agree. “Don’t worry, lan. I’ll start at the company tomorrow p>
lan looked at Mia, his expression unreadable, then silently looked away. “Go get me discharged p>
Mia’s smile instantly froze.
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lan explained. “I don’t like staying in hospitals. I’ve got a private doctor at home. It’s way more convenient p>
Mia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Even though this whole floor was just for VIPS, people still came and went at night. Ian had always been a light sleeper, and honestly, he’d be able to rest better at home.
As Mia stepped out of the hospital room, she ran right into Chloe and Simon. Both women froze for a second, while Simon nodded politely at Mia.
Mia shot Chloe a glance, then handed the orange she was holding over to Simon. Mia walked up to Chloe, looking a little uncomfortable as she apologized, “I didn’t mean to say that the other day p>
Chloe let out a sigh and took Mia’s hand. “I know you care about Ian, and I understand how worried and anxious you’ve been. It’s nothing p>
Mia glanced back toward Ian’s room, her eyes still red but softening into a small smile. “Ian’s finally starting to pull himself together. He said he’s going to focus on getting better, and by the end of the year, we’ll go abroad for a family trip p>
Chloe nodded, a quiet wave of relief washing over her. If Ian could finally let go of trying to win her back, that was the best outcome she could hope for.
That evening, after Chloe left the hospital with Simon, Ian showed up to check in on Philip. They stood by the window–Ian looking every inch the executive in his tailored suit, while Philip remained in his patient
gown.
Philip, noticing Ian still didn’t look well, said, “Mr. Hamilton, are you sure you don’t want to stay a few more days before checking out p>
Jan’s eyes were fixed intently on Philip, studying his reaction. “Philip, in your view, what kind of feelings between a husband and wife truly count as love p>
The two stood silently, holding each other’s gaze as the tension hung in the air.
Philip said, “If one’s really in love, they tread carefully. They never put themselves in a position where they might lose the one they love p>
Philip’s brief, piercing words cut lan to the core, and a flush of red crept into lan’s eyes as emotion welled up
inside him.
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Chapter 263
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