Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 263

Chapter 263

Philip said. “Mr. Hamilton, do you know why Dr. Irvine won’t forgive you?”

lan lowered his gaze, his hands clenched tightly.

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Philip continued. “Making a mistake once might be accidental, but doing it again–that’s a choice. Hurting someone on purpose really isn’t something you can expect to be forgiven for.”

Ian’s voice trembled as he asked, “She told you all that?”

Philip said, “One time, when Dr. Irvine had a bit too much to drink, she was crying and she told me something she’d been holding onto.

“When she found out about your affair, she said she tried everything to get you back. But your coldness made her every attempt feel pointless.

“She tried to use suicide to make you care and you just dismissed her. She said at that moment, she felt completely worthless.”

Ian pressed his hands to the window frame, eyes squeezed shut in agony.

Philip said, “When one truly loves someone, they soften without even realizing it. They bend, they give, they’re always there to back their loved ones up.

“If you really loved her, you’d never want to break her spirit. You’d hold her up through her darkest times, and never leave her alone when she’s hurting.

“Real love is about lifting each other, leaning on each other, sharing strength. It’s never one–sided.”

Ian listened quietly, then lowered his head and turned to leave.

As Ian reached the door, Philip said, “Mr. Hamilton, she spent more than twenty years with her life orbiting around you. You never supported her–you nearly ruined her. You never truly loved her, not for a single

moment.”

Ian had no idea how he even managed to leave the hospital. He drifted home, his mind lost and haunted by Philip’s words looping endlessly inside his head. Exhausted, Ian collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.

He remembered back when he and Chloe were getting ready to tie the knot, Edward and Shane insisted that Chloe quit her job and become a stay–at–home wife. She didn’t even blink–just agreed without a second thought.

That night, after lan dropped her off, as Chloe was getting out of the car, she looked at him and said, “I’m not that capable, but if compromising can bring peace to your family and help you focus on your work without worries, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.”

After their honeymoon, a major project at the company hit a wall. Ian was hesitant to use the emergency backup plan suggested by a new hire.

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Chapter 263

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It was Chloe who had been massaging his shoulders that night, persuading him to give the rookie a shot and see how the plan worked out.

The second year of their marriage, lan faced his first real rival in business. Chloe was always right by his side, encouraging him, making sure he never lost hope.

To help him pull through those tough times, she accompanied him to one fancy business dinner after another, gracefully mingling and charming her way through circles of wealthy wives, just to open doors for him.

Again and again, Chloe gave in to Edward and Shane, just to keep the peace at home for a little while.

She had given up her dreams and career for him. She cooked for him, even learned about medicine just so she could take care of him herself.

She forced herself to attend all those social events she couldn’t stand, mingling with people she wished she never had to see–all for his sake.

Whenever he couldn’t sleep, she’d stay up with him. When he was away on business, she’d call him three times a day, always checking if he’d eaten and if he was getting enough rest.

If anyone ever said a word against him, she’d immediately snap back, getting into a heated argument to defend him.

Turned out, all along, it wasn’t her who was leaning on him for strength. It was him. He’d been leaning on her, drawing all his strength from her, right up until now. And just like that, everything hit Ian.

When Patrick stepped inside, he saw Ian curled up on the couch, trembling all over. Without hesitating, Patrick rushed over and made Ian take some medicine.

There were pills for his stomach, for his heart, for insomnia–all sorts of brightly colored tablets all jumbled together. Patrick didn’t even bother counting, just poured the whole bunch into Ian’s mouth.

Once Ian swallowed the pills, Patrick helped him back to his bedroom. It only took a few minutes, but Patrick was already drenched in sweat from the effort.

Ian lay stretched out on the bed, his forehead damp with sweat from the pain. With his eyes red–rimmed, Ian stared at Patrick and asked, “If I love her now, is it still possible? Or am I too late?”

Patrick’s eyes went wide. “Love? Seriously? There’s no love in this world. It’s all just lust or people calculating pros and cons.”

Ian lay on the bed, utterly broken, and muttered, “Chloe really did love me.”

Patrick plopped down at the edge of the bed and patted Ian’s shoulder. “Chloe? That troublemaker? She only stuck around because you’re good–looking and loaded.

“Her family went broke, and she needed someone rich to bail her out. Be real, man, what she felt for you was never love.”

Ian turned his back to Patrick, eyes shut tight to hide the tears. “Get out.”

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Chapter 263

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Patrick rubbed his nose, hearing lan’s quiet, choked sobs. He circled to the other side of the bed. “So, you finally figured it out?”

Seeing lan remain silent, Patrick sighed. “It’s all too late now, lan.

“Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many guys are after Chloe. Just from what I know, there’s at least five or six heavy hitters, and trust me, none of them are small fry.

“There’s no going back. Even if you suddenly decide you love her for real, it doesn’t change a thing.”

Patrick waited a while, but lan stayed silent. So Patrick leaned over and gave him a shove, rolling lan onto his back. Patrick sucked in a breath, hurriedly checking if lan was still breathing.

“Holy crap!” Patrick exclaimed and patted his chest, trying to steady his nerves. Turned out it was just the sleeping pills–Ian had fallen asleep.

Early the next morning, as Chloe walked past Ian’s hospital room, she saw two nurses busy tidying up inside.

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