Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Ian picked up the divorce papers, flipped through them briefly, and put them back with a soft thud.

“So, Chloe,” he lifted his gaze, cold and steady. “You’ve finally got the guts to bring up divorce. Look at you.”

Chloe stood, her body stiff but her resolve firm.

She had loved lan for years. Even now, she still wanted to leave with a shred of dignity.

Her eyes fell on the document again.

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“You’ve helped the Irvine family plenty. I’ll walk away clean,” said Chloe, forcing her voice steady. “Everything you do ties back to the Hamilton Group, so you can’t afford a scandal. If needed, I’ll face the press myself, and clear the name of Andrea and Clint.”

“Go on,” said Ian. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, pressing his fingers against his brow like the weight of it all bored him.

“I’ve already signed,” Chloe answered, voice empty, and her face drained of life. “Whenever you’ve got the time, we’ll go get the certificate.”

She slid the ring off her finger–at least she tried to.

Ian’s hand shot out, clamping around hers. He rose to his full height, pinning her with an intense gaze.

“Chloe, wait,” he explained. “It’s not what you think between me and Andrea.”

Chloe ripped her hand away, fury boiling in her chest. Her eyes went bloodshot, voice trembling.

Then what is it? You rush out in the middle of the night, pouring rain, just to pick her up, and then you vanish for weeks!” Chloe demanded, breath came faster.

“Don’t tell me there wasn’t hugging, kissing, a bed involved. And don’t insult me by saying that kid isn’t yours.”

Ian didn’t answer directly. His jaw tightened. “Chloe, you keep saying you love me. And yet you can’t trust me this much?”

“What did you say?” Chloe almost laughed. “Trust?”

She staggered back a step, then shoved him hard in the chest.

“I cooked dinner and bought you a gift on our third anniversary, but where were you?” her voice cracked as it rose. “You were renting out the entire Riverfront Promenade to set off fireworks with precious Andrea and her son! And you dare throw trust in my face?”

Ian frowned, his face darkened. “You hear it from Mia, don’t you?”

Chloe’s tears spilled. She had expected Ian to admit it, but not in this humiliating way.

“From the day 1 married you, I learned how to cook, how to wash your shirts, how to tie your ties, how to keep your house running,” Chloe’s voice shook, raw and jagged. “I bent over backward to fit into your world. I was terrified I’d never measure up… but what have you done?”

Her sobs broke loose. “I asked you to make me a pancake once, and you tossed me cash. But for Andrea and Clint? You rolled up your sleeves and baked a blueberry cake!”

Jan stood silent. His calm was like a blade against her skin.

He remembered that night–Chloe asked him to make a pancake for her. It wasn’t until now did he realize that Chloe had been testing him, and he’d failed.

The quieter he stayed, the more it shredded Chloe.

“You used to come home every night. But for them? You forgot our anniversary, and you slipped out at three am!” Chloe almost yelled. “Of course you gave me a bracelet as an anniversary gift, but you gave Andrea the exact same one!”

Jan’s brows pulled tight. He didn’t expect Chloe to lose the bracelet on purpose. And, of course, he didn’t realize she’d seen him and

Andrea in the ward.

“You ditched your so–called principles!” in the

Chloe’s voice broke into a scream. “You skipped work to shop with her. And when I

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Chapter II:

caught you, you protected her and kicked me out!”

Her chest heaved. She could barely breathe. Clawing at her hair, she sobbed like she was coming apart.

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“I vanished for days, sobbing myself to sleep in a dump of a motel,” she cried. “I thought my world had ended. And you? You didn’t even blink–not a single phone call!”

“Chloe!” Ian reached for her, but she shoved him back.

“Ian, what am I to you?” Chloe’s voice ripped raw. She choked out another scream. “If you loved Andrea so much, why did you marry me?”

Ian didn’t reply. He caught her wrists, dragged her into his chest.

“Listen, Chloe,” he tried to coax. “I wasn’t careful enough. I promise it won’t happen again.”

Not careful enough? Chloe’s whole body went cold hearing Ian’s words.

Cheating on her, caught red–handed–and his takeaway was he “wasn’t careful enough“… Chloe knew she couldn’t stand it anymore.

She shoved him off with everything she had and bolted for the door.

Ian grabbed her arm and yanked her back, feeling her body shake. He hauled her into his arms.

But all she could see was the memory of him shielding Andrea, protecting her like she was fragile glass. It made her stomach turn.

“Don’t touch me, lan!” she thrashed wildly, tears streaming. “You’re disgusting!”

Ian’s face hardened. He crushed her tighter, refusing to let go.

“Chloe, I’m not the bastard you think I am,” he replied.

Chloe trembled in his arms. All she could smell was Andrea’s perfume on him–and bile rose in her throat.

“Please, Ian. I can’t do this,” her voice broke as she begged. “Don’t touch me. You really make me sick!”

Her words cut Ian deeper than he expected. Still, he tightened his hold, murmuring low, “Don’t. It’s not what you think…”

But before he could finish, Chloe’s body convulsed, then, she threw up.

Ian scooped her up and rushed her into the bathroom. She clung to the toilet, retching, while he watched, face clouded with something unreadable.

They’d used protection every time. So Ian knew she couldn’t be pregnant.

And yet she’d always wanted a baby with him. Watching Chloe throwing up, Ian couldn’t help but doubt that she’d tried something behind his back.

He ordered a pregnancy test from the pharmacy as Chloe spending her time in the bathroom.

It arrived quickly. Holding the test kit, he entered the bathroom and handed it to Chloe, “Here, take it

Chloe took it, her lips pressed tight.

She knew he never wanted her pregnant. Ian was always so careful, like she was some ticking time bomb.

She tested herself. Minutes later she emerged, shoved the stick at lan.

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