Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 278

Chapter 278

It was late at night, and the streets were deserted.

Chloe stood on the curb, while Ian was down on the street, facing her.

Ian’s probing tone was obvious, and Chloe’s gaze slowly became wary.

She shot back at him. “Have you ever done anything to hurt me?”

They locked eyes, each searching for answers in the other’s gaze.

Ian felt a bit of the tension leave his shoulders.

( (40).

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Man, I was just overthinking things,‘ he told himself, a wry smile tugging at his lips. ‘If Chloe really had time- traveled, there’s no way she wouldn’t have warned me to stay the hell away.

‘She would’ve drawn a hard line, laid it all out that we’d never have a shot ever again. She would’ve made it crystal clear—we are done, no going back.

Back when we were at the courthouse taking wedding photos, there’s no way she would have just turned and left without saying a thing.‘

Ian stared at Chloe, a dazed look in his eyes, flickering uncertainly.

He couldn’t let Chloe find out he’d been given a second chance in life, carrying all the memories from a life he’d already lived.

If Chloe ever confronted him about it, he wouldn’t have a clue how to begin explaining.

If he ever came clean about what he knew of Chloe’s past, there’d never be another chance for the two of

them. That much he was sure of.

No way could he ever tell her.

Ian hesitated before explaining, “When we were at the courthouse taking our wedding photos, you just walked out without saying a word. I must’ve messed up big time to make you so mad–that’s why I’m asking.”

Chloe gave lan a thorough once–over.

His face looked distant and cold, eyes cast down so she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

‘Maybe I’m just being too sensitive, Chloe thought, quietly second–guessing herself. ‘With how lan is, if he’d really come back with all those memories from his last life, there’s no way he’d be this chill talking to me.’

Chloe lifted her chin, her face cold as she explained, “I just graduated from college this year. I’m still pretty young, and your dad and grandpa always act like I’m not good enough for you. I really don’t want to spend my life tiptoeing around your family.”

Ian visibly relaxed, the tension draining from his body.

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Chapter 278

‘So that’s what it is, he thought.

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He looked into Chloe’s eyes and said, “I know Dad and Grandpa said some harsh things to you last week. You don’t need to worry about what they think or care about anything they say. After we get married, you can keep living the way you do now–it’s just that you’ll be moving to a new place, that’s all.”

Chloe stared at lan, feeling like she barely recognized him anymore.

He was always cold and quiet, barely ever spoke, and never gave anyone the time of day, let alone explanations.

What’s gotten into him today?‘ Chloe wondered. ‘Could it really be that I bruised his ego in front of everyone when I bailed at the courthouse, and now with me suddenly backing out, it stung worse?‘

Chloe thought it over carefully. ‘He’s probably just worried the wedding might not happen and it’ll make him look bad.’

Chloe gathered her mess of thoughts and looked at Ian. “Anyway, I’m calling off this wedding. We’ll handle our families separately, and whatever my family owes you, I’ll pay it back ASAP.”

She turned to leave, but Ian grabbed her by the wrist.

Chloe wasn’t expecting it; her foot slipped off the curb, suddenly throwing her off balance.

Reflexively, she reached out toward Ian for support, and he stepped forward, catching her squarely in his

arms.

Shaken, Chloe tried to wrench herself free from Ian’s hold, but he just locked her in his arms, refusing to let

1. go.

As they wrestled, Ian’s voice was low and heavy. “You promised you’d marry me–the date at the courthouse, that was all you. You don’t get to back out now!”

Chloe struggled to break free, but Ian’s grip was too strong. She worked up a sheen of sweat from all the

exertion.

She pressed her palms against Ian’s chest and said impatiently, “If you really want to hear the truth, you need to let me go first.”

Ian carefully loosened his hold on Chloe, though he still didn’t let her go completely.

Chloe took a deep breath.

Staring straight at him, she spoke slowly and firmly, “Ian, the reason I called off the wedding is that I realized my feelings for you aren’t anything like what I thought they were.”

Ian’s expression turned colder and colder. “If it’s not what you thought, then what is it, huh?”

They stared each other down, neither backing off.

Chloe paused, then said, “Growing up, I hung around you and relied on you, but I only saw you as a friend—I

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Chapter 278

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said I liked you and wanted to marry you, but honestly, those were just words. I never really understood what love was.”

Her tone grew sharper as she went on, “When the Irvine family went under and everyone kicked us when we were down, you were just our last straw, the one thing I could grab before drowning. Do you get that?”

“That’s a lie!” lan blurted out, cutting her off.

Chloe broke free from Ian’s hold.

She took a step back onto the curb, staring him down. “I messed up–couldn’t tell family from love. I swear, Ian, I always saw you as my dear friend!”

Before Chloe could finish, Ian cupped her jaw and pulled her in for a fierce, hungry kiss.

His lips were urgent, possessive, almost desperate–as if he had to prove something, to her and to himself.

The more Chloe fought back, the harder and deeper Ian kissed, his grip only tightening.

She barely realized when he pressed her up against the trunk of a tree on the sidewalk, and he only let up when her strength finally gave out, leaving her weak and breathless.

Slumped against the tree, Chloe’s breathing was uneven, her eyes reddened with emotion.

She looked up and met Ian’s eyes–burning red, tormented by desire–and, reacting on instinct, Chloe slapped him hard across the face.

The crisp slap rang out in the silent night, leaving them both stunned for a moment.

Chloe kept her gaze locked on Ian’s face, her palm stinging as she lowered her hand.

The slap snapped her back to her senses, cooling her emotions in an instant.

She believed that Ian had no memories of their past life–he didn’t remember a thing about what he’d done to her before.

He was cold–blooded and unfeeling, flipping his mood faster than anyone could blink; nobody had ever dared to cross him like this.

After that slap, Chloe honestly felt like she might be signing her own death warrant–who knew what kind of hell fan would unleash on her now.

But before she could process what he’d do, lan did the unthinkable–he lifted the hand that had just struck him, bowed his head, and deliberately pressed a kiss onto her palm.

Jan looked up at her and asked in a husky, strangely gentle voice, “Does your hand hurt?”

‘What the heck? Is he a creep?‘ Chloe wondered, staring in disbelief.

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