Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

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Chloe stayed at her parents‘ place for two days. Checking the calendar, she realized it was already mid–June, the middle of the rainy

season.

Stepping outside, she found a steady rain had just ended. The downpour had washed the color from the streets, leaving the world muted and gray. The air hung thick and humid, making her chest feel heavy and damp.”

Chloe deliberately waited until Monday, when Ian would be at work, to return home and pack her things. Though she hadn’t been the one to cheat, she no longer knew how to face him.

‘Whether we argue, fight, or say nothing at all, the outcome will remain the same. It’s better to part with whatever dignity we’ve left, she thought.

After she arrived home, she went straight upstairs. The bedroom was exactly as she had left it. The bowl of broth Ian had set on the nightstand remained untouched, and the quilt she had thrown aside was still a mess.

It was clear Ian hadn’t slept there while she was gone. Unwanted images of Ian and Andrea together flooded her mind, and her heart ached with a pain she could no longer suppress.

She entered the walk–in closet, pulled out a suitcase, and packed a few of her everyday outfits along with some undergarments.

Since the Irvine family went bankrupt before her marriage, Ian had been supporting her for the past three years. Nothing in this house had been bought with her own money.

Her eyes landed on a white graffiti T–shirt, and she froze. Reaching out, she took it off the hanger. It was a couple’s shirt she bought in the summer after she and Ian got married.

That summer, she secretly went to the city where Ian was on a business trip and convinced him to go shopping with her. The design was hand–painted by a local art student.

When the student asked what she wanted, she kissed Ian right there in public and said, “My husband is already so handsome. Make me look beautiful, or I won’t deserve him.”

But after her shirt was finished, Ian claimed something urgent came up and refused to wait for his to be painted. In the end, his remained plain white, completely blank.

Chloe opened Ian’s wardrobe, pulled the plain white T–shirt from the bottom drawer, and threw it, along with her own, into the trash can. For three years, no matter how she begged him, lan never wore it, not even once.

After a moment of silence, Chloe called in a cleaning crew. She asked them to thoroughly clean the entire house, room by room, erasing every trace of her presence.

At one point, a cleaner hesitated and asked, “Madam, are you sure you want to discard these wedding photos as well?” Chloe nodded with a brief “yes“.

As dusk fell, Chloe paid the cleaners and had them take all the trash away. Standing in the clean, spacious room, she finally felt like she could breathe easily again. She set her suitcase by the door and sent Ian a text.

When lan saw Chloe’s message, he didn’t reply right away. ‘Good, she has cooled off and came back on her own. I’ll just let bygones be bygones and pretend the whole thing never happened.

His assistant, Mitchell, entered the office. “Mr. Hamilton, the car is ready whenever you are.” He stood by the door, poised and professional, awaiting further instructions.

“Cancel tonight’s dinner engagement,” lan said without looking up. “Send my apologies and reschedule for next week.”

Mitchell agreed without another question. His wife was missing for days, but he didn’t even look for her, just having me stationed at the hospital. Now that she’s back, he’s canceling his evening to go home. So he does care after all.

At the entrance of the Hamilton Group Building, lan was just about to get into his car when Andrea came rushing through the rain toward him. He held the door open for her. “You shouldn’t be out here. You need to be resting.”

In the back of the luxury car, Andrea reached out and grasped lan’s sleeve, her voice firm. “lan, I’ve made up my mind,” she said, meeting his gaze steadily. “I need to leave.”

2:55 PM

Chapter 10

lan’s expression darkened. “You’re still recovering. Don’t be ridiculous,” he said.

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Andrea looked at him with worried eyes. “Ian, your wife is furious. If you don’t make things right, she may never forgive you.”

She hesitated, then added quietly, “But these past few years, what I’ve been through left me with scars I can’t ignore. I don’t want to be judged anymore.”

“Maybe this is just my fate, Ian. We come from different worlds. Even if I were to die for you, I’d never earn your family’s respect. I won’t hold you back. I’d rather make my own way than live under your wife’s resentment.” With that, Andrea stepped out into the rain.

Ian chased after her and caught her arm, his gaze earnest. “Enough of that foolish talk. While I’m here, no one will dare disrespect you. No matter what happens, I won’t abandon you.” He carried Andrea back into the car.

Andrea struggled in his arms. “Let me go,” she cried. “I’d rather die with my son than have your wife call me a greedy home–wrecker one more time. I won’t live under that shame.”

Ian reassured her. “Andrea, listen to me. I won’t tell her anything about you or your son. She won’t have anything to use against you. You have my word.”

oked

Andrea stopped crying. She looked at him, uncertainty still lingering in her eyes. “And what if she demands a divorce when refuse to explain?” she asked.

you

Ian’s tone was firm. “Don’t worry. She won’t.” He knew Chloe might make a scene, but deep down, he was certain she would never actually go through with a divorce.

A faint smile broke through Andrea’s tear–streaked face. She wiped her eyes, ignoring Ian’s attempts to stop her, and pushed the car door open.

“Don’t worry about me. Go comfort your wife. I’ll be fine on my own.” With that, she turned and hurried away into the rain.

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