Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Ian’s head snapped up, following the direction of the boy’s pointing finger.
El 65 vouchere
There she was–Chloe, tall and elegant in a cream–colored coat, her hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. She was stunning, impossible to look away from.
Their eyes met across the busy street, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Chloe’s face was expressionless as she lifted her phone, focused, and snapped a photo of the scene.
lan’s gaze darkened instantly.
He handed the child to his driver, Robert, and strode purposefully toward her.
But before he could reach the curb, Chloe had already slipped into a waiting cab and disappeared into the evening traffic.
In three years of marriage, they had spent nearly half a year apart when all the separate days and weeks were tallied up.
This fleeting, wordless encounter spoke volumes.
Perhaps neither had imagined their paths would cross again like this.
“Uncle Ian, I want KFC!” Clint called out, snapping Ian back to the present.
The boy tugged on Ian’s leg, calling his name until Ian finally refocused.
“Alright, Ian said, picking him up and settling him into the car. He turned to Robert. “Head to KFC p>
An hour later, Patrick found Ian parked outside the apartment complex where Andrea lived.
Patrick jabbed a finger toward the building. “Chloe’s back in town–so why are you camped out here instead of going to see her p>
Ian shot him a complicated look, then got in the car without a word.
Patrick stood by the driver’s window. “Did you bring the incredibly expensive pink diamond ring you purchased for Chloe at the auction p>
Ian ignored the question. “We saw each other at the kindergarten today,” he said instead.
Patrick scoffed. “You ignore your wife, who was overseas for half a year, while you play dad to someone else’s kid. If I were Chloe, I’d be pissed p>
Ian’s expression remained unreadable.
“Andrea’s mother had a family emergency out of state,” he explained, his tone even. “Andrea was buried in a critical project and couldn’t get away. She had no one else to call p>
13:30 Thu, Oct 2
Chapter 73
2000
He spoke calmly, as if it were the most logical thing in the world. “Chloe’s staying in Avalonia this time. We’ve got plenty of time to sort things out p>
Patrick just shrugged. “Whatever, man. I’m throwing a get–together for her tomorrow night. Be there?
The next morning, Chloe received Patrick’s invitation and declined without a second thought
Her reason was simple–she had no desire to run into lan.
Around seven, however, Mia showed up at the Irvine family home with a whole routine of dramatic whining and sweet–talking, practically begging Chloe to come along.
Outmaneuvered, Chloe reluctantly agreed to tag along to the “welcome back”
At eight o’clock sharp, they arrived at the exclusive Royal Court Club.
Mia excitedly tugged Chloe into the private suite.
party.
The moment she walked in, a group of friends gathered around, hyping her up with non–stop compliments and warm welcomes.
Chloe quickly scanned the room–it was a crowd she knew well, mostly friends she’d hung out with for years.
Ian claimed the central seat on the sofa, dressed in a sleek dark suit–effortlessly elegant, radiating an untouchable, regal aura.
The vacant spot beside him had always been reserved for Chloe.
For a split second, their gazes locked across the room. Without hesitation, Chloe turned away and deliberately chose the seat furthest from him.
That one move was all it took: the entire room went cold, sharp and sudden.
Everyone exchanged furtive glances, no one daring to break the thick silence.
Patrick leaned in, trying for a light tone. “Hey, Chloe–lan saved you a spot right next to him. You went and took Irene’s instead p>
Chloe’s voice was easy, almost too casual, as she replied. “Come on, Patrick. You know he’s got a new wife and a child. There’s no place for me beside him anymore p>
Time and again, she’d backed down. And time and again, lan had pushed his luck, crossing lines that only kept getting blurrier.
If a clean, quiet break was off the table? Fine. She’d make sure neither of them walked away unscathed.
She had nothing left to lose–so why not throw caution to the wind?
Her words landed like a bomb. The room plummeted into an eerie hush.
13:30 Thu, Oct 2
Chapter 73
Ian’s face hardened, his jaw tight.
2900
Patrick shot lan a quick, uneasy look before rubbing his nose. “Chloe, you and fan have been married three years. That’s not the kind of thing to joke about p>
Others jumped in, scrambling to defuse the tension.
“Chloe, come on–lan’s crazy about you. If he ever had a mistress, I’ll eat my hat, I swear it p>
“Ian’s the whole package: successful, family–focused. He’s basically the guy everyone here looks up to
Yeah, Chloe–everyone knows Ian’s loyal to the core p>
Chloe listened to their chatter coolly, not a flicker of reaction on her face.
She met Ian’s eyes, her voice flat. “We’re in the middle of a divorce. If you don’t believe me, just ask him. ”
Every eye in the room snapped to Ian.
He set his glass down with a sharp clink and stood.
He crossed to Chloe, grabbed her bag, wrapped his hand around her wrist, and pulled her straight out of the room—no hesitation, no fanfare.
In the hallway, they faced each other, the air so thick with tension you could almost touch it.
Behind them, the party guests crowded the doorway, craning their necks to watch the drama unfold.
Ian’s voice was tight, like he was holding himself together by a thread. “Let’s go somewhere and talk. Just the
two of us p>
Chloe’s tone was solemn, no warmth left. “Be real–we’re never going to agree on anything. Why not bring the woman you actually care about? Maybe she can help us sort this out p>
Jan’s face darkened.
He gritted his teeth. “Chloe, do you really have to drag someone else into our mess p>
Chloe wrenched her wrist free and snatched her bag back.
“She’s not ‘someone else‘–she’s the one you love. The mother of your kid,” she blurted out,
They stood inches apart, staring each other down, every breath heavy with unspoken anger, hurt, all the things they’d never said.
Ian’s lips twisted into a tight, bitter half–smile–he didn’t bother explaining.
Chloe’s eyes were ice as she spat the words. “lan, you could own Kingsford lock, stock, and barrel. But even with the Hamilton Group’s fancy lawyers, you can’t cover up that you cheated on me and that you had a kid
out of wedlock p>
13:30 Thu, Oct 2
Chapter 73
50 vouchers
She leaned in, her voice sharp with menace. “I’m only here to warn you: three days from now, if you skip that court hearing, I won’t just drag your name through the mud. I’ll make sure that woman you ‘love‘ gets torn apart as a homewrecker. Everyone will see it. Forever p>
With that, she turned and walked away–no glance back, no hesitation.
Ian stood there, watching her go, his feet rooted to the floor.
Patrick stepped out of the suite, fished a pink diamond ring from Ian’s pocket, and handed it to Mia.
He nudged her toward the hallway. “Go on–deliver this to Chloe for your brother. I wanna see if she even takes it p>
Mia took off after Chloe, while Patrick turned back to the room, barking orders to cut the music downstairs and queue up a new song.
Then he hauled Ian into a quiet corner upstairs. “Ian, listen to me–if Chloe takes that ring? She still can’t let you go. If she turns it down? You need to quit fighting. Just sign the divorce papers p>
Ian stood rigid in the shadows, his gaze fixed on the downstairs crowd, every muscle coiled tight with nerves.
Down below, Mia caught up to Chloe, pulling the diamond ring from her pocket and holding it out.
“Chloe, this–Ian bought it at an auction a month before your birthday. He brought it tonight, but after you two started fighting? He couldn’t bring himself to give it to you. I’m just his messenger. You guys have been through everything–childhood, over twenty years. Can’t you give him one more chance? ”
Before Chloe could answer, Mia pressed the ring into her hand and sprinted off.
Chloe held the pink diamond ring up, its surface catching the lights, brilliant and unyielding.
Through that glow, memories flashed–all the little moments with Ian: the warm ones, the heartbreaks, laughter that felt like sunshine, tears that soaked her pillow, the kind of despair that hollowed her out.
The live singer’s voice filled the room then, raw and full of feeling, impossible to tune out.
Chloe recognized the song the second it started–she’d heard it more times than she’d ever admit, back when things were still good.
She leaned against the wall, tipping her head back, eyes closed, letting the music wrap around her for one quiet, fragile moment.
When the song swelled to its climax, Chloe slowly opened her eyes.
She looked down at the ring in her palm, lifted her hand–and let her fingers splay.
The diamond slipped through, falling to the floor with a soft, final click. Without a moment’s hesitation, Chloe turned on her heel and walked out, leaving everything–and everyone–behind.
13:30 Thu, Oct 2
Chapter 74