Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 264

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Chloe changed her clothes and came out of her room. Miranda and Shane were already waiting in the living room. Shane kept his head down, silent, completely lacking the arrogance he’d shown during his last visit to the Irvine family.

When Miranda saw Chloe, it was as if she’d finally found someone she could rely on. Her eyes were red as she clasped Chloe’s hand tightly.

Chloe could feel Miranda’s hands trembling, and she could sense the panic and fear inside her. Chloe couldn’t bear to see Miranda like this. She gently said, “Miranda, take your time.”

Miranda shook her head in shock. “Chloe, I’m so sorry for bursting in so late, but we really had nowhere else to turn.”

Her voice trembled as she went on, “Ian had been hiding how bad things really were and still went on that business trip overseas.

“This morning, Mia walked in right as he spits up blood and nearly passed out in his room. If she hadn’t called us, we’d still be thinking he was getting better.”

Miranda hunched over, her voice pleading. “Chloe, no one can get through to him right now. You’re our only hope. Please, I’m begging you, try to talk to him. If he keeps this up, he might not make it.”

Chloe helped Miranda sit down on the couch. She tried to comfort Miranda. “Miranda, his life belongs to him alone. If he truly wants to end it all, no one can stop him. I wish I could help, but there’s nothing I can do.”

Miranda stared at Chloe, her helplessness and desperation written all over her face. She shot a desperate look at Jill and Frank, silently begging them for help.

Jill and Frank looked just as shaken. Being parents themselves, they couldn’t bear to see Miranda break down like this.

Still, Jill could do nothing. She said, “Mrs. Hamilton, whatever Chloe decides, that’s exactly how we feel too.”

Miranda glared at Shane with red, tear–stained eyes, full of frustration and blame.

Shane stepped into the center of the room, fussed with his suit jacket, then apologized to Jill and Frank. “The Hamilton family has let you down. I’m truly sorry, and I give you my heartfelt apology.”

Frank and Jill exchanged a glance, then Frank said, “No need to apologize. If Chloe’s not willing, you all should just head home.”

But Shane didn’t budge. He stepped up to Chloe and said, “If you can get lan to snap out of it, I’ll agree to any condition you want. Just tell me.”

Chloe faced Shane, her expression flat. “Shane, I know your family has money and power, but I don’t need any of it–and I can’t help you.”

Shane’s eyes were rimmed with red. Maybe something about Chloe’s answer hit him, because tears suddenly

rolled down his face.

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Chapter 264

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Miranda never thought she’d see Shane cry, especially not over lan, and especially not with the Irvines standing right there. She shot up from the couch, stunned.

Frank and Jill had always seen Shane as the proud, untouchable type, so watching him break down over Ian floored them too.

Chloe looked at Shane, disheveled and raw. Once, he’d been arrogant and impossible to deal with. Now, het was just a father hurting for his kid. And that, somehow, got to her.

Shane turned to Chloe, his eyes red and desperate. “Everything that happened before was my fault. I’m sorry. You’ve known lan since you were kids–please, talk to him. Give him a reason to fight, help him find his strength again.

“He is my son. We’ve placed all our hopes on Ian. He’s the future of the Hamilton family, the one who should inherit Hamilton Group. He can’t fall apart now.”

Chloe was cold as ice. “Whatever happens to him has nothing to do with me anymore, and there’s nothing I can do for you.” Then, she headed straight for her room and locked the door behind her.

Ian was a shrewd strategist through and through–a businessman who lived for profit and cared for little else. A man like that didn’t cry out of regret. If he shed tears, it had to be part of the plan.

After Frank and Jill finally managed to get Miranda and Shane to leave, they returned to find Chloe back in the living room.

Jill looked at Chloe, worry clear in her eyes. “Chloe, whatever you do, we will always support you.”

Instead, Chloe ended up sitting with Frank and Jill, trying to comfort them for a bit. They’d always been such warmhearted people.

They’d known Ian since he was just a kid. Sure, they were angry at him, but deep down, they still cared. You couldn’t just erase that.

But Chloe’s heart was as solid as a rock. She’d thrown away the brightest years of her youth for Ian.

Because of his betrayal and how heartless he was, Chloe almost didn’t make it through those darkest times- there were days she really thought about ending it all. Their story was long over. Chloe didn’t owe Ian a thing,

not now, not ever.

Even so, sleep was impossible for anyone in the Irvine family that night.

Two days later in the evening, Patrick showed up at Chloe’s office.

Chloe poured him a glass of water. “Patrick, if you’re thinking of trying to talk me into anything, don’t even start. I mean it.”

Patrick sat on the couch, idly shaking the glass in his hand. He studied Chloe’s expression for a while, then finally broke the silence.

“If Mia hadn’t caught him that morning, he would’ve had all of us fooled. He never got over it, you Patrick sounded weary.

know.”

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Chapter 264

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