Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Chloe froze on the spot. Jan shut the front door with a decisive click, tugged her suitcase out of her hands, and caught her wrist.

“Come on,” he said, pulling her toward the living room.

“No,” she yanked her hand free. “lan, what did you mean by that just now?”

“Let’s talk upstairs.” Ian reached for her again.

“I’m not staying here!” Chloe flared, jerking away.

Jan’s voice was calm, almost too calm. “Chloe, we’re still married.”

Chloe’s emotions snapped like a frayed wire. She shoved him hard and bolted for the door.

But before reaching the door, Ian caught her around the waist, slung her over his shoulder, and carried her into the bedroom despite her furious kicking.

By the time he dumped her on the bed, both of them were breathless, and sweat had damped his shirt.

“You cool off a bit, okay?” he said, straightening. “I’m taking a shower.”

Before stepping into the bathroom, he tapped a few keys on the digital lock, changing the code. Now Chloe was trapped in the bedroom, not going anywhere.

Listening to the steady rush of water behind the door, Chloe could feel every ounce of fight draining out of her

It had always been this way between them. She’d rage, she’d cry, she’d hurl words like stones while lan stayed maddeningly composed, unshaken, as if her storm barely ruffled his sky.

And when he said she couldn’t afford to leave him? Chloe knew it was always about the money.

When lan came out, clean and fresh in his nightclothes, Chloe was still sitting there, staring at nothing.

“Chloe,” Ian fluffed the pillows, smoothed the covers, then turned to her. “Come here.”

His gaze fell on the wedding ring lying on the vanity. Without hesitation, he picked it up and slid it back onto her finger.

Chloe immediately reached to pull it off, but his hand closed around her wrist, stopping her.

“Listen,” his voice was low but firm, “marriage isn’t a game. You chose to marry me. Divorce isn’t yours alone to decide.”

Chloe’s voice was bitter. “Ian, I want out,” she replied. “The Irvine family owes you, I know that. I’ll pay you back.”

Ian finally released her, stepping back a few paces before settling on the edge of the bed. His eyes narrowed, voice cuping. “And how exactly are you planning to pay me back?”

The question hit her like a slap. She had nothing.

She’d married him fresh out of college, promised to be a full–time housewife. For years, Ian had supported not just her, but her parents and Carl too.

She had no way to pay him back. And he knew it.

“Fine, let me remind you of the math, lan continued, “When your family went bankrupt, I covered 300 million in debt.”

He loomed over her, bracing one hand on the vanity and the other on the chair, caging her in. “The downtown apartment for your parents and Carl? That’s another four million.”

“Every month, my office transfers thirty thousand into your parents‘ account. Carl’s fancy private school costs over a few hundred thousand in tuition and fees each term.”

He paused to examine Chloe’s expression, then continued, voice measured and merciless. “And none of that even includes you.” Chloe’s chest constricted like a fist was squeezing her lungs. She forced herself upright, anger fueling her voice.

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Chapter 12

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“Ian, when you married me, you got more than your pound of flesh. You bought goodwill,” she protested. “We never signed a prenup, and after your affair, I walked away with nothing. I never touched a dime of marital assets. What more do you want from me?”

Ian didn’t flinch. “Chloe, I’m a businessman. I don’t do anything without returns. No prenup? That’s because I knew you’d never take a cent from me.”

His tone was ice, sharp enough to cut. Chloe’s throat tightened.

Of course. She knew that to him, their marriage had always been a transaction. Nothing more.

Blinking back tears, she grabbed a pad and pen, scrawling furiously. “Fine. Say the word. How much do I owe you, principal and interest?”

Ian plucked the pen right out of her fingers. “You think a scrap of paper can cover what I’ve poured into the Irvine family? Real money went out. A simple IOU isn’t going to cut it.”

“Then what do you want from me, Ian?” Chloe’s voice cracked, raw and desperate

Ian stared her as he stood tall, expression coldly businesslike. “A divorce? Sure. I’ll even give you a discount for three years of marriage. Three hundred million. Cash only.”

Chloe’s eyes burned. “I don’t have that kind of money!”

“Then stay my wife,” Ian settled his hands on her shoulders, changing his voice into a softened, almost gentle tone. “Stop fighting me.”

“I can’t!” Chloe cried, shoving him away.

“But I only spent money on your family to stabilize our marriage,” Ian let go of her. “If you can’t give me that, then the Irvines will cough it back up. You can’t have it both ways.”

Chloe stared at him, hollow–eyed. Was this really the man she’d loved all these years? Treating their marriage like a profitable deal? She couldn’t believe it.

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