Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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The modest ninety–square–meter apartment felt cramped with the Hamiltons filling the living room.
Jill patted Chloe’s shoulder reassuringly while Frank showed the elder Hamiltons to their seats.
lan walked straight to Carl, his gaze fixed on his left wrist. “How’s your wrist healing? Do you need a follow–up at the hospital p>
Carl glared at Ian, instinctively reaching for a nearby stool. Chloe stopped him.
She pushed her brother toward his room. “They’re here to talk about the divorce. Just stay in your room p>
Carl nodded, his anger simmering.
After closing the door, Chloe glanced at Ian before walking back to the living room.
Ian’s complicated gaze followed her, and he trailed behind her without a word.
The two families sat facing each other in the small living room.
Chloe sat next to her mother, Jill, while Ian took a separate armchair next to Chloe.
Prompted by a look from Edward, Miranda began. “Jill, we’re here today to discuss the children’s divorce p>
She hesitated, then forced herself to continue. “Our families have known each other for a long time, and Ian and Chloe have so much history. It would be a shame for it to end like this p>
Miranda offered an apology. “We failed to raise our son right, and Chloe has suffered for it. I apologize. We came today hoping to hear your thoughts, to see if we might persuade Chloe to give lan another chance p>
Jill looked at her daughter, then answered bluntly, “There’s no need. We support Chloe’s decision to divorce p>
The Hamiltons‘ expressions soured.
Ian’s deep eyes were fixed on Chloe, but he remained silent.
Chloe sat quietly beside her mother, her head down.
‘If Miranda had come alone, I might have believed they wanted to reconcile,‘ Chloe thought. ‘But with Ian’s father and grandfather here, this is definitely not a peace mission p>
As expected, Ian’s father, Shane, spoke with a sharp tone. “When the Irvine family went bankrupt, if it weren’t for my son stepping in, you could have sold off everything you owned and still not have covered that debt p>
Chloe shot up, but Jill pulled her back down.
Shane sneered, “A broke heiress landing a spot in the Hamilton family? Let’s be real–this was way out of your league p>
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Chapter 63
Frank stood up abruptly. It’s true that Chloe was marrying up when she joined the Hamilton family, bear we never begged you to take our daughter?
Shane scoffed. ‘Since you know you were punching above your weight, you should have been more gra
Jill fired back. “Even if the Hamiltons are the most powerful family in Kingsford, we won’t let our funtser suffer like this anymore. This divorce is happening”
Shane’s eyes widened in anger. “Since you’re the ones who want the divorce, you can leave with nothing,
Chloe looked up and met lan’s deep gaze.
Childhood friends, three years of marriage, and he just sat there, cold and silent, letting his family humiliate her and her parents.
A bitter feeling, rose in her throat, and it was suddenly hard to breathe.
She slowly stood up to face the elder Hamiltons.
She said, “Shane, your son has already calculated how much of your family’s money we’ve used. We have the 300 million ready. As soon as your son signs the divorce papers, we’ll transfer the money p>
Ian remained in his seat, his eyes locked on her, unmoving and silent.
The atmosphere in the room was suffocating.
After a few tense seconds, Edward looked at his butler, Thomas.
Thomas placed a file on the coffee table.
Edward finally spoke. “I had someone review lan’s financial records for the last three years. The money he spent on the Irvine family is far more than 300 million p>
Chloe’s parents exchanged a look, and Jill turned to go into the bedroom.
Chloe knew what they were doing. With tears in her eyes, she pulled out the bank card lan had put in her pocket the night before.
She said, “Since you’ve checked the accounts, you must have an exact number p>
“Since you’re so set on divorce, I won’t stop you,” Edward said, his face grim. “The principal is 450 million. With interest, the total comes to 500 million. Pay it back, and I’ll have lan sign the papers p>
Chloe’s mind went blank, and she nearly stumbled.
Five hundred million. That was exactly what she had gotten for her mother’s jewelry.
If she gave it all to the Hamiltons, her parents‘ retirement would be gone, and her brother would have to drop out of school.
Ian moved quickly to steady her.
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Chapter 63
His complex gaze was fixed on her pale face as he murmured her name,
“Chloe
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He was about to pull her into his arms when Frank pushed him away and helped his daughter back to the
sofa.
Chloe watched her mother come out of the bedroom with another bank card, and she lowered her head in
shame.
She had gotten involved with the wrong person, and now her entire family was paying the price.
Jill took the card from Chloe’s hand and placed both on the coffee table. “We’ll pay it. Just write up a receipt, and you can take the cards p>
Edward, helped by his butler, slowly got to his feet. “Since your minds are made up, there’s nothing more to discuss. You can have your divorce, but the Irvine family will have to bear all the negative public consequences p>
In other words, to protect Ian’s reputation, Chloe would have to be the one at fault.
Frank’s face turned livid. “Don’t push us too far p>
Jill looked at her daughter, her eyes welling with tears.
Chloe looked at her parents, her own eyes red. “Dad, Mom, as long as I can get this divorce, I’ll do anything”
Ian turned his head away, a tightness constricting his chest.
Edward said, “Next month, the Hamilton Group has a multi–billion dollar signing ceremony with the Grand Horizon Group. After that’s over, I’ll personally arrange for the lawyers to handle the divorce p>
He glanced at his son.
Shane immediately took out a pen and paper to write a receipt.
Just as Thomas was about to hand the bank cards to Shane, Chloe snatched them back.
All eyes fell on her.
“What, having second thoughts?” Edward sneered.
Chloe ignored him and turned to face lan.
A flicker of light entered lan’s dark eyes. He stepped toward her, his hand closing around her arm.
‘Three years of marriage, he thought. ‘I knew she couldn’t leave me p>
Chloe looked straight into his eyes and said, enunciating every word, “I’ll pay back the principal. But you’re not getting a single cent of interest p>
The hope on Ian’s face slowly froze.
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Chapter 68
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Shane interjected, ‘Do you have any idea how much prode VX) million conld promote in leo’s hands cover three years? The interest is just a symbolic fee. If we calculated the real
afford it p>
Chloe ignored Shane, her focus entirely on lan.
Her eyes were red and brimming with tears.
She had to save enough for her brother’s education, no matter what.
over your family could rever
Her lower lip trembled as she spoke. “With my looks, I could have earned more than that interest sleeping with anyone else for three years.
Her face was pale, her voice cracking I’ve been in your bed for three years, lan. Are you telling me you expect all of that for free p>