Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 272

Chloe stared intently at Eric’s face, her mind lagging as she tried to process what he just said. She didn’t say a word for nearly half a minute. Then Chloe burst out laughing. “No way.”

Eric’s expression grew unusually heavy. “The Hamilton family hasn’t left yet. Do you want to go to the morgue and see him one last time?”

They held each other’s gaze for a moment, until Chloe abruptly turned away. With her back to Eric, she tidied her hair, then took a sweeping glance around her familiar office.

She picked up her bag, drew in a deep breath, and turned to face Eric again. “Eric, I’d like to take two days off.”

Eric nodded.

Chloe left the office, her footsteps faltering with uncertainty.

Eric, looking concerned, followed her to the hospital entrance. “Let me drive you home. Get some rest.”

Chloe didn’t say a word the whole ride. Eric stayed silent too. When they got to her place, Chloe hopped out of the car and rushed straight for her front door, completely forgetting to say goodbye to Eric.

Chloe pushed open the gate and walked into her garden. Frank and Jill, who were trimming the plants outside, looked up in surprise when Chloe showed up so suddenly.

Frank put down the flowerpot he was holding. “Didn’t you have a consultation this morning? Why are you home so early?”

Chloe clutched her bag tightly, her lashes trembling with anxiety.

Jill could tell right away something was off with Chloe. She set down her scissors, peeled off her gloves, and reached for Chloe’s hand. Chloe’s fingers were clenched so tight they were trembling.

Jill asked with concern, “Chloe, did something happen?”

Chloe looked at them and forced a small smile, but she couldn’t get any words out. Frank and Jill exchanged worried glances, tension written all over their faces.

“What’s going on? If you won’t tell us, I’ll just call Mr. Jordan,” Frank said, starting to pull out his phone.

Chloe quickly reached out to stop him. “Dad, really, I’m okay.” She gazed at her parents, her voice shaky. “It’s Jan he’s gone

Frank and Jill traded a glance, their faces going pale. They both shook their heads in disbelief. “No way.”

“He had a heart attack at home last night. They got him to the hospital, but he didn’t make it,” Chloe said.

Frank turned away and let out a long sigh while Jill’s eyes went red, her emotions catching up with her.

Seeing Frank and Jill fighting to keep it together, their eyes clearly red, Chloe felt a tangled mess of emotions

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Chapter 272

she couldn’t even name.

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Even if lan had hurt her over and over, the guy had been around Frank and Jill since he was a kid. There was no way this wasn’t going to hurt. But Chloe still had to tell them about his death. She couldn’t keep it from

them.

Chloe mumbled a few words to try and comfort them, then shut herself in her room and locked the door.

By midday, Arthur dropped by to see Chloe. Jill mentioned that Chloe had been holed up in her room all morning since she came back, not coming out once.

Carl hesitated, then said, “On Thanksgiving Day, I saw Ian coughing up blood. He was in really bad shape. He apologized and asked me not to tell Chloe.”

Arthur couldn’t help but grimace. “From now on, Chloe’s birthday will be the same day as Ian’s death anniversary. He sure knew how to pick a day.”

Everyone exchanged glances; all anyone could do was sigh. Ian had died on Chloe’s twenty–seventh birthday. Nobody could’ve seen that coming.

Inside her room, Chloe changed into a white dress and stood by the door. She listened quietly to the voices outside, keeping her gaze down.

The first time Ian lied to her was about that business trip. He was actually spending a whole month secretly looking after Andrea. The second time was on Thanksgiving Day, when he insisted he wasn’t sick at all.

Chloe quietly opened the door. She spoke in an unusually calm voice, “It’s stuffy in here. I’m going out for a walk.”

Everyone exchanged glances, worry written all over their faces, but no one tried to stop her.

As soon as Chloe stepped out of the living room, Jill called after Carl, “Carl, it’s chilly outside. Take a jacket and keep an eye on Chloe, okay?”

Arthur scooped up a thin blanket from the sofa and dragged Carl with him.

Chloe left the neighborhood, wandering slowly down the sidewalk, her pace aimless and unhurried.

December in Kingsford brought an early winter chill that settled quietly over everything, a silent shroud painting the world in biting cold. The cold seeped so deep, Chloe felt numb and sluggish.

Her eyes were flat, her reactions slow, and even her steps dragged as if she were moving through thick fog. She had no idea how long she’d been walking, and before she knew it, she found herself standing in front of the old Irvine house.

Chloe stood at the gate, peering into the yard. Everything was neat and tidy, clearly someone had been keeping it up. The old swing had been fixed and freshly painted.

For a moment, she just stood there, lost in thought. She could almost see her younger self on that swing, with Jan behind her in a white shirt, giving her a push.

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Chapter 272

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She’d laughed and called his name, asking him to push harder, to make her fly higher. He pushed with one hand, the other hovering close, ready to catch her if she fell

Chloe tore her eyes away and kept walking. Whenever she got tired, she paused for a breath, then kept on

moving

It was the middle of the afternoon in Kingsford, the streets bustling with traffic. Chloe stopped by a tree, gently running her hand along its trunk.

A few years back, this whole area had still been a neighborhood. After the Irvine family went bankrupt, Jill and Frank had to rent a place here with her and Carl, and they stayed for years.

Back then. Chloe had learned just how cruel people could be, putting up with way too much crap. There hadn’t been many people who truly cared about her, just her grandma’s friend Maria, Miranda, and the childhood friends she’d grown up with–Patrick. Mia, and Ian.

With those guys in her corner, Chloe could at least keep her footing in the high–society circles.

She remembered, once she and Ian had set a wedding date, he’d show up at her place nearly every night without fail.

They’d hide behind this very tree, stealing kisses and holding each other close. When Chloe couldn’t resist Ian’s advances, she’d just let him carry her off to his car.

Most of the time, Ian kept himself in check. He’d take her to the apartment they’d picked out for after the wedding, then drive her back a few hours later.

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