Marriage Lies and a Dangerous Obsession novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56

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Late that night, at Kingsford General Hospital. By the time lan and Patrick arrived, Andrea had already been moved to a private room.

Andrea was lying in bed, but when she saw Ian walk in, she shoved the nurse away.

With a sob, she ripped the IV from the back of her hand and scrambled out of the bed. “Why did you save me? You should have just let me die.”

Ian dismissed the nurse and gently helped Andrea back onto the bed. “You tried to kill yourself. Did you even think about Clint?”

Andrea’s voice was filled with a twisted sort of righteousness. “I already took Clint to an orphanage. He won’t be a bother to you. I really don’t want to live anymore, Ian. Just leave me alone.”

Ian held her injured wrist, keeping her still. “Andrea, you’re all Clint has. Don’t do something so foolish again.”

At Ian’s words, Andrea broke down, her sobs wracked with self–pity.

“Ian, back then, your grandfather threatened me. He said if I stayed with you, he would disinherit you and give the Hamilton Group to your half–brother.

“For your future, I forced myself to break up with you. But to make sure we were finished for good, your grandfather forced me to go abroad and marry someone else.”

Her voice trembled.

“I was abused for six whole years. He beat me until I miscarried, over and over. Even Clint… that man forced me to have him. And still, I didn’t dare come back. I was afraid I’d be a burden to you.

“Ian, everything I sacrificed for you, I did it willingly. I only came back because I had no other choice. I never, ever wanted to get in the way of your marriage.

“I’m just so scared. If your grandfather finds out Clint isn’t your biological son, he’ll do the same thing he did six years ago. He’ll force us out of the country or marry me off to some degenerate. I’d rather be dead than live in fear like that!”

Without warning, Andrea dropped to her knees in front of Ian.

Ian’s face was a thundercloud as he hauled her up, but she clung to his pant leg, refusing to stand.

She looked up at him, pleading, “lan, I’m begging you. For what we used to have, for the life I gave up for you, please… don’t tell your wife the truth about Clint. Please?”

Ian stood frozen, his gaze distant.

Panic flared in Andrea’s chest as Ian remained silent.

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Chapter 56

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She cried, “lan, your grandfather ruined me just to keep us apart. All of this happened because of you. My life is already destroyed. I just want a fresh start with my son. Just take pity on us. Don’t tell anyone about him. I’m begging you.”

As she spoke, she started to bow her head to the floor.

His expression darkening further, lan grabbed her arm with one hand and yanked her to her feet.

After a long silence, he said, “I promise. I won’t say anything.”

lan had given in again. A tearful smile broke through Andrea’s despair. “Thank you, Ian. I promise I won’t be a bother anymore. I won’t let your wife misunderstand things again.”

Ian gave a distracted nod. “Just get some rest. I’m going to step out for a minute.”

He pushed past her and quickly left the room.

Outside, Patrick had heard every word.

He pulled Ian around the corner of the hallway. “You can’t see she’s doing this on purpose?”

Ian said, “Andrea sacrificed too much for me. I can’t say no to her.”

“So you’re going to divorce Chloe?”

Ian shot him a look. “I’m not divorcing Chloe.”

Not wanting to discuss it further, Ian started walking toward the doctor’s office.

Patrick followed right behind him. “Ian, for Andrea and her son, you’ve already lost your home and your wedding ring. Chloe is next!”

Ian stopped and turned around. “Shut up. You’ll disturb the patients.”

Patrick kept at it. “I struck a nerve, didn’t I? You just can’t stand to hear it.”

Ian stopped again.

“Your sister heard you ran to the hospital for Andrea,” Patrick said before lan could speak. “She went to Tecnovia to tell Chloe everything.”

Ian frowned. “Why didn’t you stop her?”

“To be honest,” Patrick said, “I hope Chloe divorces you too.”

Ian was speechless.

*****

The next day at noon, in Tecnovia. Mia left her hotel and took a cab to the hospital where Chloe worked.

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Chapter 56

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When Chloe got Mia’s call, she ran to the hospital entrance. The two friends squealed and spun around in a joyful hug.

Chloe picked a nearby restaurant to treat Mia to lunch.

They chatted as they ate, but the cheerful atmosphere slowly grew heavy.

Chloe knew Mia couldn’t keep things bottled up.

Seeing her hesitate, Chloe asked directly, “You came all this way. Is there something you need to tell me?”

Mia couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Chloe, you won’t believe it. My mom took that woman’s–Andrea’s–house, so she tried to kill herself. And now my brother is at the hospital looking after her.”

Chloe subtly set down her silverware, lowering her eyes to hide the flicker of emotion.

Hearing about Ian and Andrea still stung, but at least now she could handle it with composure.

Chloe looked at Mia. “From now on, you don’t have to tell me anything about them.”

After they finished their meal, Chloe urged Mia to head back. “Thanksgiving is in a little over a month. We can meet up again when I’m back home.”

For the next month, Chloe left the divorce entirely in her lawyer’s hands and threw herself into her work and studies.

The day before Thanksgiving, after calling her parents, she booked a flight home.

By that evening, Chloe was back in Kingsford.

After work, lan drove alone to the entrance of the neighborhood where Chloe’s parents lived.

He pulled into a spot on the side of the road, unbuckled his seatbelt, and stared at the envelope on the passenger seat. It was from a lawyer. About a divorce.

Ever since he’d gone to Tecnovia to get her, only for her to throw away her wedding ring and refuse to come back with him, they had barely spoken.

His last message to her on WhatsApp was from that night, just before he left.

He’d thought they were both taking time to cool off.

He never expected she would hire a lawyer to file for divorce.

His gaze drifted through the windshield just as a taxi pulled up in front of him.

Chloe stepped out, dressed in a beige, three–quarter–sleeve A–line dress perfect for early autumn. The wind tossed her long, silky hair, and she was so beautiful he couldn’t look away.

Ian stared, mesmerized by the sight of Chloe after so long. He swallowed hard.

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Chapter 56

He glanced down at the divorce papers on the passenger seat, then opened his door and got out.

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Chapter 56

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Late that night, at Kingsford General Hospital. By the time fan and Patrick arrived, Andrea had already been moved to a private room.

Andrea was lying in bed, but when she saw lan walk in, she shoved the nurse away.

With a sob, she ripped the IV from the back of her hand and scrambled out of the bed. “Why did you save me? You should have just let me die.”

lan dismissed the nurse and gently helped Andrea back onto the bed. “You tried to kill yourself. Did you even think about Clint?”

Andrea’s voice was filled with a twisted sort of righteousness. “I already took Clint to an orphanage. He won’t be a bother to you. I really don’t want to live anymore, Ian. Just leave me alone.”

Ian held her injured wrist, keeping her still. “Andrea, you’re all Clint has. Don’t do something so foolish again.”

At lan’s words, Andrea broke down, her sobs wracked with self–pity.

“Ian, back then, your grandfather threatened me. He said if I stayed with you, he would disinherit you and give the Hamilton Group to your half–brother.

“For your future, I forced myself to break up with you. But to make sure we were finished for good, your grandfather forced me to go abroad and marry someone else.”

Her voice trembled.

“I was abused for six whole years. He beat me until I miscarried, over and over. Even Clint… that man forced me to have him. And still, I didn’t dare come back. I was afraid I’d be a burden to you.

“Ian, everything I sacrificed for you, I did it willingly. I only came back because I had no other choice. I never, ever wanted to get in the way of your marriage.

“I’m just so scared. If your grandfather finds out Clint isn’t your biological son, he’ll do the same thing he did six years ago. He’ll force us out of the country or marry me off to some degenerate. I’d rather be dead than live in fear like that!”

Without warning, Andrea dropped to her knees in front of lan.

Jan’s face was a thundercloud as he hauled her up, but she clung to his pant leg, refusing to stand.

She looked up at him, pleading, “lan, I’m begging you. For what we used to have, for the life I gave up for you, please… don’t tell your wife the truth about Clint. Please?”

Ian stood frozen, his gaze

distant.

Panic flared in Andrea’s chest as Ian remained silent.

13:25 Thu, Oct 2

Chapter 56

?),

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She cried, “lan, your grandfather ruined me just to keep us apart. All of this happened because of you. My life is already destroyed. I just want a fresh start with my son. Just take pity on us. Don’t tell anyone about him. I’m begging you.”

As she spoke, she started to bow her head to the floor.

His expression darkening further, Ian grabbed her arm with one hand and yanked her to her feet.

After a long silence, he said, “I promise. I won’t say anything.”

Ian had given in again. A tearful smile broke through Andrea’s despair. “Thank you, Ian. I promise I won’t be a bother anymore. I won’t let your wife misunderstand things again.”

Ian gave a distracted nod. “Just get some rest. I’m going to step out for a minute.”

He pushed past her and quickly left the room.

Outside, Patrick had heard every word.

He pulled lan around the corner of the hallway. “You can’t see she’s doing this on purpose?”

Ian said, “Andrea sacrificed too much for me. I can’t say no to her.”

“So you’re going to divorce Chloe?”

Ian shot him a look. “I’m not divorcing Chloe.”

Not wanting to discuss it further, Ian started walking toward the doctor’s office.

Patrick followed right behind him. “Ian, for Andrea and her son, you’ve already lost your home and your wedding ring. Chloe is next!”