Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 157

20 Sat, Oct 4

Chapter 157

Chapter 157

It was late at night at the Rowe Estate.

Thomas led Arthur and Chloe into the living room.

Chloe greeted Carrmen Rowe politely.

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Carrmen glanced at the antique quartz clock on the wall and said, “Dr. Irvine, what brings you and Mr. Logan here so late? Is it something urgent?”

Chloe spoke up without hesitation, “Carrmen, I had a fight with my husband tonight, and I’m hoping to stay at the Rowe Estate for a few days.”

While outsiders might not know about Ian’s affair or their messy divorce, it was an open secret among Kingsford’s elite. She didn’t need to pretend otherwise.

Carrmen kept his composure and turned her down. “Couples fight, but they always make up. Dr. Irvine, if you’d rather not go home, I can help you find a hotel or a resort instead.”

Just as Carrmen finished speaking, Julian called out from upstairs, “Grandpa, I’ll handle my guests myself.”

Chloe looked up and saw Julian standing by the railing on the second floor.

She shot Arthur a look, and he turned and left. Chloe headed up the stairs without hesitation.

Julian’s narrow gaze landed on Chloe’s tear–stained eyes. “He managed to disgust you again, huh?” Julian asked.

Chloe crouched by Julian’s wheelchair, her face full of grievance as she gave a solemn nod.

She looked up at him and said, “Uncle Julian, Ian lied to me–he said he had a business dinner, but he was actually sneaking off to see his mistress. I caught him right in the act.”

Julian couldn’t help but smirk.

After spending time with Chloe, he’d learned all her little quirks.

When it came to his treatment, she was the boss–and she never let him forget she was in charge.

When they were hanging out, she’d just call him “Sir Julian.”

But as soon as she needed a favor, she’d start buttering him up and switch to calling him “Uncle Julian.”

Julian arched his brow at Chloe, his tone playful. “So, how long are you planning to lay low at my place?”

Chloe hesitated, then answered honestly, “About a week, if you don’t mind.”

Jan had always had his doubts–he didn’t believe Chloe’s nasty bout of vomiting was just a cold. He suspected it was morning sickness all along.

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She tried to mislead him by saying she was just on her period.

But Ian had tested her a couple of times already, and it was pretty clear he wasn’t fooled.

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This latest fight was the perfect cover–Chloe figured she could use it as a reason to hide out at the Rowe Estate for a week, safely dodging Ian’s suspicions and any more of his so–called “tests.”

Seeing Julian lost in thought and not saying yes right away. Chloe quickly added, “Uncle Julian, if I’m not in a good mood, it’ll mess with your recovery too. If a week’s too much, I’ll just stay for five days—just five, I promise.”

Julian shot her a sideways glance. “With mental fortitude like yours, if you ever sat down at a negotiation table, you’d probably end up trading away the whole Irvine family estate.”

Chloe didn’t even try to argue.

She was usually pretty sharp.

But whenever Patrick or Julian got involved, her brain just seemed to short–circuit.

When it came to playing mahjong or going head–to–head in mind games, she was utterly hopeless up against these guys.

Julian smiled, “As long as I’m around, you can stay at Rowe Estate for as long as you like.”

Chloe finally felt relieved and patted her chest.

Julian said, “Do you want me to send someone to pick up your things for you?”

Chloe shook her head. “No need, Sir Julian. I’ll handle it myself.”

She planned to wait until tomorrow, when Ian would be at the office and the house was empty, then go back and pack a few clothes to bring over.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket; Chloe barely glanced at the caller ID before hitting hang up, not interested in dealing with anyone right now.

It was late at night at Blue Cove Residences. When Ian got home, he realized Chloe hadn’t come back at all.

He tried calling her, but she hung up on him.

He sent her a message, but she didn’t even bother to reply.

Ian, irritated, lit a cigarette.

A few minutes later, he headed up to the eleventh floor.

Arthur opened the door, and Ian walked straight into his room.

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Not seeing Chloe, Ian asked Arthur, “Where’s Chloe?”

Arthur was fresh out of the shower, lounging in a white bathrobe and some slippers he barely bothered to put on. “She hopped out of the car halfway and just took off,” he replied.

Ian pressed, “Where did she go?”

Arthur just shrugged. “Beats me.”

The two men locked gazes for a few seconds before Ian turned and walked out.

‘She didn’t just cry–she looked absolutely shattered tonight. No way she’d fall apart like that if she didn’t care,‘ Ian thought to himself.

‘I need to find her and make things right,‘ he told himself.

Without hesitating, Ian rushed out into the night to look for her.

He checked every spot he could think of–the Irvine family home, the Lewis family place, The Old Hamilton Manor, even Mia’s apartment–but Chloe was nowhere to be found.

By one in the morning, Ian finally showed up at the Rowe Estate.

At the front gate, Quentin was there, quietly pushing Julian’s wheelchair, both of them waiting just inside.

Ian stood outside, separated from them by the wrought–iron gates.

The two men stared each other down in silence for a few seconds, the iron gate standing between them.

Ian spoke up from outside the gate, “Is she sleeping?”

Julian was chilling in his wheelchair, wearing a robe with a low neckline and a light blanket tossed over his legs.

He spun the bead bracelet around his fingers, gave a small nod, but kept his mouth shut.

Ian stood outside, brows drawn tight, hesitating at the gate for what felt like forever.

He finally spoke, “Didn’t mean to disturb you.”

Jan turned around, got in his car, and drove off.

Julian raised his hand, and Quentin turned the wheelchair around.

Quentin asked in confusion, “Sir Julian, Mr. Hamilton must have searched everywhere to get here this late. Why didn’t he just force his way in and take her home?”

Julian let out a cold snort.

‘Chloe was in rough shape tonight and she’s got work tomorrow. At least lan had the sense not to disturb her. Smart move, Julian thought.

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It was past three in the morning when Ian stumbled out of his car, reeking of alcohol, and barely made it into the elevator.

Just as the doors were about to close, Patrick slipped in at the last second.

Spotting Ian, Patrick almost jumped back. “Whoa, you’re coming back at this hour too?”

Ian’s stomach burned from all the booze. Leaning against the elevator wall, he glanced at Patrick but said nothing.

When the elevator doors slid open, Ian stumbled out.

Patrick hesitated for a second, then followed him out.

They walked in one after the other, and Ian just flopped onto the couch.

Patrick planted himself in front of the couch, staring down at Ian with that sharp, no–nonsense look.

Patrick said, “Of all of us, you tied the knot first and your kid’s the oldest. By all accounts, you ought to have the smoothest ride.”

Ian didn’t open his eyes, the movement of his chest betraying how riled up he was. “You already know that kid’s not mine,” he said, voice flat.

Patrick shrugged. “Does it really matter whose kid it is? As long as you’re willing to own up, they’re yours.”

Ian felt like he couldn’t breathe, the weight on his chest almost unbearable.

Patrick kept going, “You couldn’t help yourself tonight, could you? Hugging Andrea out on the street in front of everyone. Just admit it, man–you love her.”

Ian kept his eyes shut, his voice almost a mumble, heavy with denial. “I didn’t hug her. Chloe just misunderstood.”

Patrick sat down on the coffee table and started ticking things off on his fingers. “So Chloe caught you tonight and you’re calling it a misunderstanding. Then what about you sneaking out in the dead of night to pick Andrea up from the airport, not telling Chloe–was that also just a misunderstanding?”

Patrick didn’t let up, his words cutting deeper. “You lied and disappeared for a whole month, spent every day and night tangled up with Andrea. Is that all a misunderstanding? You bought her a luxury home, hired her a driver and servants–just another misunderstanding? You claimed her kid as your own–still a misunderstanding? Every single time you ran off to her, every single time Chloe got hurt, you’re telling me that’s all just a big misunderstanding?”

Patrick stared him down, voice cold. “With so many ‘misunderstandings‘ racked up, did you ever even try to stop for Chloe’s sake? Was someone holding a gun to your head, forcing you to do any of this?”

Patrick said flatly, “Stop lying to yourself. None of this was a misunderstanding. You did it because you wanted to–you chose all of it.”

Patrick leaned in, his voice low and serious. “lan, whether you want to admit it or not, for Andrea, you let go

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of Chloe–the woman who loves you most.”

Seeing Ian in this state, Patrick could tell he wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight.

Patrick stood up and said, “You two grew up together, lan. Stop forcing her–don’t let it get to the point where she hates you.”

After Patrick left, lan just lay there on the couch, motionless.

His empty eyes stared up at the living room ceiling, the rims slowly reddening, lashes trembling as he struggled not to let himself break down.

Early the next morning, by the curb in front of the hospital entrance, Chloe had just stepped out of her car when she noticed Ian waiting there.

He was holding a breakfast bag and dressed in a sharp business suit–looking every bit the refined executive- but the exhaustion written all over his face was impossible to miss.

Seeing lan heading her way, Chloe stopped in her tracks.

as the doors were about to close, Patrick slipped in at the last second.