Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Chloe rolled her eyes at lan, grabbed her bag, and headed out.

Right on the sidewalk outside the bar, lan stopped Chloe in her tracks.

“It’s getting late. Want me to take you home?” Ian offered.

Chloe was surprised lan wasn’t insisting she go home.

She stopped and stood right in front of him.

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She said slowly, “Ian, we’ve known each other for more than twenty years. Honestly, dragging this out any longer just feels pointless now.”

Ian closed the distance between them, testing the waters as he reached for Chloe’s hand.

He pressed, “So, what is it that you want?”

Chloe’s gaze was icy, utterly resolute as she looked at him.

She jerked her hand away, a mocking smile flitting across her lips. “You ask me that like what I want even matters.”

Ian held her gaze, unwavering.

“Seriously, Chloe, could you not look at me like that?” Ian said, his voice tight.

Chloe met his stare, calm and unyielding.

“The way I’m treating you now doesn’t even come close to how you treated me back then,” she replied.

Ian lost control for a moment, grabbing Chloe by the shoulders.

Ian looked her straight in the eyes, voice tense with regret. “Chloe, I know I screwed up. Please… just give me one more chance.”

Chloe laughed, the sound edged with irony.

Her smile curved coldly, almost mocking.

She fired back, “Oh, so you want another chance? Is it just so you can set Andrea up with some fancy place again, keep her as your little secret?”

Jan’s hands dropped helplessly from her shoulders. “So you found out?”

Chloe took a step back, putting a clear distance between herself and lan

She scoffed, “Tan, quit looking so devastated. If anyone saw you like this, they might actually believe you’re madly in love with me”

12:31 Sat, Oct 4

Chapter 173

Ian, the corners of his eyes streaked red, blurted out in desperation, “But what if I do love you?”

Chloe just laughed, the sound cold and full of irony.

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She covered her mouth, letting the laughter spill out for a while before patting her chest, trying to catch her breath.

Chloe sneered, her tone cutting. “lan, do you even understand what love is?”

Late at night on the sidewalk, they locked eyes in an unspoken, heavy silence.

Chloe finally spoke up, her tone calm, but there was a hint of pain in her words.

“Back in the day, whenever my parents made something good to eat, you were always the first person that popped into my head. I’d sneak a piece and save it just for you, had to make sure you got a bite.”

“Whenever I heard your folks were fighting again, I wouldn’t even think about my homework. I’d just rush straight to your place to see if you were okay.”

“Every time some cute girl tried to get close to you, I’d do whatever I could to scare her off—I was always worried someone would snatch you away.”

“And when I found out you couldn’t sleep at night, I didn’t even give it a second thought. I gave up my own dream and went into medicine, just so I could help you.”

“After we got married, I was always scared you’d be overwhelmed at work, so every time you got home, I’d greet you with the biggest smile, tell you jokes, cling onto you and act all silly just to see you smile.”

“I always worried you weren’t eating right, so while you were out working, I’d hole up in the kitchen for hours just to master some new recipe, all so I could surprise you with a meal you’d actually like.”

“Whenever you were in a bad mood, I’d be totally lost, worried sick I’d say the wrong thing and make you unhappy. If you couldn’t sleep, I’d stay up with you all night, studying medicine like crazy just so I could help ease your insomnia. And whenever your stomach acted up, I’d worry myself sick, probably even more than you did.”

Chloe said, “That’s what real love is–what I gave you.”

She continued, “You never had to say anything. I could read you like a book–every little mood swing, happy or sad.”

Chloe went on, I took on all your bad days, all that negativity, willingly and without a word of complaint. I was always scared I wasn’t enough for you, that I didn’t give you enough. I cared so much about you, you were always on my mind, and honestly, if I could’ve handed you my heart, I would’ve done it without a second thought.”

Chloe said, “Tan, real love means always aching for someone. I once did that–for you.”

12:31 Sat, Oct 4

Chapter 173

“Chloe!” Ian cried out, his voice breaking.

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His eyes were bloodshot, and he pulled her into a desperate, crushing hug, completely losing control.

Chloe struggled in his arms, but Ian just held her tighter, refusing to let go.

Ian choked out, his voice thick with emotion, “I’m sorry, Chloe. I let you down. It’s all my fault.”

Chloe looked him dead in the eye, her voice low but sharp. “Ian, the way you hurt for Andrea–it’s exactly how I used to feel about you. Back then, I loved you as much as you’re aching for her now. No matter what you say.”

lan’s grip on her arms slackened just a little.

He caught her arm, staring right into her eyes. “Fine, I’ll admit it. When Andrea first came back, I was all over the place. That was my bad, I know. But I never loved her.”

Chloe cut in before he could finish, her words icy. “Let’s be real–even if she means nothing to you, you never really loved me either.”

They locked eyes, and Ian tried to muster a smile, but for a long moment, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

He just stared into Chloe’s eyes, completely lost, and it was a long while before he finally managed to speak.

His voice broke as he pleaded, “Chloe, just give me one more chance. Let me try to learn how to actually love you.”

Chloe smiled, but her eyes stayed cold. “Any guy out there is free to love me–except you. You’re the only one who can’t, and honestly, you don’t deserve it.”

If she hesitated even for a moment, she’d be betraying everything she’d endured—all that pain—and the child she never got to meet.

Chloe pushed Ian away, her tone ice–cold. “Starting now, we’re officially separated. I’m hiring a lawyer and filing for divorce. This marriage ends here, and there’s no way I’m backing down.”

Ian met Chloe’s determined eyes, his chest twisting with pain.

Red–eyed, Ian clutched his chest, barely keeping it together. “Yeah, I screwed up bad. Fine, we can separate for now if you need time to clear your head–but divorce? Forget it. That’s not happening.”

The car Chloe ordered rolled up quietly to the curb.

She gave lan a fleeting glance, voice light as air. “Alright, let’s separate for now.”

No matter what, there was no way she’d ever back down from the divorce.

Watching Chloe hop in the ride and disappear down the street, lan clung to the tree for support, utterly spent and barely holding himself together.

A few minutes later, Mitchell rushed over. “Mr. Hamilton, cameras just caught Ms. Sherman heading out late

12:31 Sat, Oct 4

Chapter 173

last night.”

Ian pulled himself together, turned on his heel, and climbed into the car.

Late at night, two days later, Ian was still wide awake–his insomnia was hitting with full force.

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