Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194

Under the streetlights, their shadows stretched long and far behind them.

Chloe tidied up and stepped out, only to see that Ian’s study door was firmly shut.

She grabbed a bite to eat, then went back to her room to rest.

Even though she tried to look calm, Chloe was freaking out inside.

All she wanted was for Monday morning to come–the waiting was killing her.

It was late. Ian sat alone in his study.

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He stood by the tall windows, smoking in silence, bathed in the faint glow from the city outside–utterly alone in the darkness.

Behind him, the coffee table was littered with empty wine bottles. The relentless ticking of the wall clock seemed to echo louder with every second, gnawing at his nerves. Ian couldn’t get comfortable, couldn’t still his restless mind. ‘Why can’t I calm down?‘ he thought, shifting aimlessly as midnight dragged on.

It was the weekend, and Chloe woke up with nothing better to do, so she wandered into the kitchen to whip up some breakfast.

Ian came in and sidled right up next to her. “Let me give you a hand,” he said.

When Chloe saw Ian reaching for the pan to make some eggs, she immediately twisted off the stove, stopping him before he could start.

Ian grabbed her wrist, his gaze steady on her. “Is it too much to ask to make breakfast together?” he said softly, his eyes searching hers.

Chloe took the eggs from his hand, a bit reluctantly.

She sighed in frustration. “Ian, honestly, I can’t eat a thing you’ve touched. And if you make it yourself? It’s even worse. It just brings back that memory of you making that blueberry cake for Andrea… I just can’t do it.”

Ian’s face twisted with pain, speechless.

He looked at her, completely devastated. “Chloe, I know I was wrong. Just tell me, what can I do to make it right?”

Chloe asked him quietly, “If you were me, could you honestly move past it?”

They just locked eyes in heavy silence, neither saying a word, and eventually lan stepped out of the kitchen.

About ten minutes later, Chloe sat alone in the dining room, staring at her freshly made breakfast, and found she just couldn’t bring herself to eat a single bite.

In the study, lan slumped onto the couch, totally spent and defeated.

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He was out of options and out of strength–completely at the end of his rope. ‘There’s nothing left for me to try,‘ he thought, bitterness seeping into every part of him.

Chloe thought the weekend would just pass by uneventfully.

But that evening, Ian came out of his room all dressed up, saying he’d already booked a restaurant.

Chloe paused to think, then changed her clothes and went out with him.

By eight o’clock that night, the two of them were sitting across from each other in one of Kingsford’s upscale restaurants, the city lights outside flickering through the window, lending an air of quiet intimacy to their

dinner.

Ian ordered Chloe her go–to meal and a pancake–he remembered exactly what she liked, down to the littlest

detail.

Once the food arrived, Ian carefully sliced the steak and nudged the plate over to Chloe, making sure everything was just the way she liked it.

Seeing Chloe with her hands in her lap, not reaching for her knife or fork, Ian tried to sound light, but his voice couldn’t quite hide the concern in his eyes. “You’ve always loved this spot. They brought in a new chef yesterday. Come on, give it a taste. What do you think?”

Chloe picked up her fork and knife, forcing herself to take a small bite, then set them down again.

Ian glanced up at her, worry evident in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Chloe met his gaze, her voice honest. “Ian, have you ever noticed that every time we come here, I barely eat anything? And when we get back, I always end up looking for something else in the fridge?”

Ian’s expression slowly grew more grave. He kept his eyes on Chloe, gently setting his fork and knife down.

Chloe met his gaze and said, “I used to like it just because you did—even if it wasn’t my thing, I went along with it for you.”

Ian struggled to swallow, his words tight. “How about now?”

Chloe shook her head. “Now? You’re not worth it anymore. I don’t like it, so every bite just feels forced, like I’m only pretending for the sake of it.”

Jan’s fist tightened on the table, the tension showing in his knuckles.

He lowered his head, eyes downcast, and took a steadying breath.

Then he looked up at Chloe, his voice soft. “If you’re not hungry, don’t force yourself. Why not have a bite of your favorite pancake?”

A faint smile appeared on Chloe’s lips, tinged with a hint of sadness.

She glanced at Jan and said quietly, “Did you ever notice? After you told me ‘everyone has their own specialty, I haven’t had a single pancake since.”

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Ian closed his eyes, feeling utterly defeated.

He remembered that day when Chloe had asked if he could make her a pancake himself.

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He’d shrugged her off with, “Some things are better left to the pros. Even those rookie chefs at the restaurant would do a better job than me. Why don’t you just grab one from the bakery?”

By then, Chloe had already seen that Instagram post he’d put up.

She just wanted to test him–if he could make a blueberry cake from scratch for Andrea, would he ever make her favorite pancake himself?

But he turned her down right then and there.

He didn’t leave even the smallest chance.

They ended up having a huge fight over it.

After that, he’d still buy her pancakes, but she wouldn’t touch them–not even a single bite.

Looking back on what he’d done, Ian was eaten up with regret.

When he met Chloe’s icy stare again, Ian was on the verge of losing it.

His eyes were turning red, and when he stood up, his movements were awkward and flustered.

He turned to Chloe, his voice rough. “If you’re not eating, let’s get out of here then.”

They walked out of the restaurant, neither of them looking happy.

They’d promised to get along this weekend, to make things better between them.

But instead, all they shared was wave after wave of silence.

They stood there at the edge of the street. Ian stared at Chloe, lost and dazed, as if the whole world had gone silent around him.

That’s when the truth really sank in.

They’d long since lost any chance of being a normal couple–whatever was left between them, it wasn’t love like before.

Chloe looked at him, her voice soft. “Let’s just head back and get some rest. We’ve got to be at the courthouse first thing tomorrow.”

As Chloe turned away to leave, lan couldn’t hold back anymore–he reached for her and wrapped her in a desperate embrace.

Beneath the streetlights, their shadows stretched endlessly. lan held Chloe tightly, as if refusing to let go could stop time itself.

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Chapter 194

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He pressed his face into her shoulder, eyes squeezed shut, desperate to hide the turmoil raging inside him.

He said softly, “Just stay with me a little longer.”

Chloe couldn’t shake off Ian’s arms–he was holding her too tight. In the end, she could only sigh inwardly, ‘There’s no way out of this… and just let herself stay there with him.

It was late at night, and they found themselves strolling through a brightly lit street in the heart of the city’s night market.

Chloe just let Ian hold her hand and walked beside him without protest.

Ian’s steps were slow, but Chloe’s pace was a bit quicker.

Back then, Ian was always the one striding ahead, his long legs eating up the distance. Chloe would have to jog to keep up, constantly calling out for him to slow down.

Now, he was the one slowing down, making sure she was right there with him.

But Chloe just wanted to get it over with, to reach the end as fast as possible.

They’d walked this street together countless times over the years, ever since they were kids.

She knew most of the vendors by name.

Ian stopped at a small street stall and glanced down at Chloe. “Want to grab a couple hair ties?”

Chloe shook her head.

After they’d walked a while longer, Ian slowed down again. “Want me to buy you a milk tea?”

Chloe shook her head once more.

After a bit more walking, Ian paused again.

He glanced at Chloe. “We’ve still got time. How about we sit down at one of the craft stalls and make something together before heading back?”

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