Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Carrying Andrea in his arms, lan turned, his gaze locked on Chloe as she walked away.

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Lately, Chloe had been storming at him, throwing tantrums over Andrea. Yet now… she had calmly told everyone that he and Andrea were married.

Ian wasn’t expecting this at all.

Andrea sneaked a glance at Ian, trying to gauge his reaction. Though his face was calm, she could sense the stiffness in his body.

“Ian?” she called him several times before he snapped back to the moment.

After sending Andrea back to her room safely, Ian was pulled aside by Patrick.

They hung around a bit, then went to the small park behind the hospital together, Standing by the riverbank, Ian lighted a cigarette.

“What’s on your mind?” he asked Patrick.

He and Patrick had grown up together, so he knew about Patrick. He had dragged him out here obviously to have a private conversation.

Patrick cleared his throat. “I’ll be upfront. I’m just stating the facts, not taking sides.”

Ian flexed his fingers, letting the smoke curl into the air. “Go ahead.”

“It’s about that night. Andrea herself said she came back for you. And her housekeeper Linda was even more aggressive than Mia,” Patrick’s expression stayed serious. “She threatened Mia, saying she’d call you to get Mia kicked out of Kingsford.”

Ian shot Patrick a look, eyes darkening with something deeper.

Patrick continued, casually pressing, “Mia’s your sister. Family comes first. You can’t just ignore her for some outsider.”

“Andrea is not an outsider,” Ian’s jaw tightened. “If it weren’t for my family blocking us, I would have married her.”

Patrick sneered, then sighed, “Look, six years is enough to change a person. But Mia grew up with you. Isn’t she just as innocent as Andrea?”

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Ian didn’t reply. Patrick leaned in, probing further. “After Andrea sent you that breakup text and went abroad, do you even know why she ended things with you?”

Ian’s expression darkened, almost frightening in its intensity. But Patrick pressed on.

“That’s what she said that these past six years haven’t been easy, and everything she did was for you,” said Patrick. “But did you even check with Edward if it was true?”

“It had to be.” Ian replied. “I know my grandfather. He’s capable of anything.”

Ian knew Andrea feared Edward. If he confronted Edward about the so–called truth, Edward might stir up trouble behind his back. He couldn’t risk putting Andrea and Clint in danger.

“Fine, Patrick nodded, “but admit it, Andrea came back for you, didn’t she?”

lan corrected him flatly. “Don’t read too much into Andrea. She and I are over.”

“Over?” Patrick blinked at him in disbelief. “And yet you’re acting as stepdad, taking care of her and her son?”

Seeing lan’s expression darkened, Patrick smirked slyly. “Let me guess. You didn’t get lucky six years ago… and now you’re making up for lost time?”

“Stop it,” Ian shot him a warning look. “I’m picky about women. I don’t sleep with Andrea, no matter what–no matter the history.”

“Impressive,” Patrick clicked his tongue. “I heard it from Mia. Even when Chloe threatened to kill herself, you didn’t budge. And now you’re telling me you two are over?”

Jan rubbed his temple, sighing. Mia really was a megaphone–everything came out eventually.

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2:57 PM P.

Chapter 21

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Patrick leaned in, serious. “You always complain about Chloe being ‘spoiled‘ and ‘temperamental. But she’s no longer the proud heiress she used to be.”

Ian remained silent. Chloe had changed after marrying him, and he could sense that. She’d grown clingy, gentler.

But the core of her temper and her manipulative streak? Ian didn’t believe that would ever go away.

Back in the hospital room, Linda was helping Andrea with her meal.

“Linda,” Ian pulled out his phone and settled Linda’s monthly wages. “Starting tomorrow, you’re off the job.”

Linda froze, stunned. “I don’t understand, Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Sherman,” she mumbled. “What did I do wrong? Please tell me, and I’ll fix

it.”

Ian lowered his gaze, masking his emotions. “This job isn’t for you. Just pack up and leave.”

Linda looked at Andrea for help, but Andrea lowered her head in silence. Linda had been hired by Ian. She couldn’t say a word against

him.

She was actually happy with Linda–just yesterday she’d mentioned it to Ian, and he had promised a raise next month. So why fire her all of a sudden?

Andrea thought of what happened that night, then she thought of Mia.

That night, Mia had caused trouble, and Linda had spoken up to defend Andrea–probably a bit too bluntly.

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